What Is The Value Of Species That Have No Practical Use To Humans?

Yale University Press is pleased to announce the publication of THE VALUE OF SPECIES by Edward L. McCord ($25; publication date: May 1, 2012).  This pithy and wide-ranging book proposes a new framework for thinking about what a species means and why we should care about species loss.

In the face of accelerating extinctions across the globe, what ought we to do? Amid this sea of losses, what is our responsibility? How do we assess the value of nonhuman species? In this clear-spoken, passionate book, naturalist and philosopher Edward L. McCord explores urgent questions about the destruction of species and provides a new framework for appreciating and defending every form of life.

THE VALUE OF SPECIES draws insights from philosophy, ethics, law, and biology to arrive at a new way of thinking about the value of each species on earth.  (See a description of the book’s development here: http://www.utimes.pitt.edu/?p=25056) With meticulous reasoning, McCord demonstrates that the inherent value of species to humanity is intellectual: individual species are phenomena of such intellectual moment—so interesting in their own right—that they rise above other values and merit enduring human embrace. Edward McCord discusses the threats other species confront and delineates the challenges involved in creating any kind of public instrument to protect species. No other scholar has advocated on behalf of biodiversity with such eloquence and passion, and none provides greater inspiration to defend nonhuman forms of life.

“Eloquent, succinct, and compelling, Edward McCord’s book shows brilliantly why we should all care about other species, not just for their sake, but for ours.”
—Paul R. Ehrlich, author of The Dominant Animal
 
“A valuable resource for all audiences, but an essential read for those interested in environmental sciences.”—Choice (Named a 2013 Outstanding Academic Title)

“McCord’s well-written book is a highly recommendable contribution to the discourse on the value of species.”—Kurt Jax, BioScience

“Brilliant and haunting.”—Poughkeepsie Journal

“Ed McCord’s The Value of Species shows us the way to a brighter mutual future.”
—Kate St. John, WQED.com “Outside My Window”
 
Read the National Parks Magazine featured cover story here:   http://goo.gl/CdF9f2

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Edward L. McCord is director of programming and special projects, University Honors College, University of Pittsburgh. He also is director of the university’s Yellowstone Field Course and the Allen L. Cook Spring Creek Preserve near Laramie, Wyoming. He lives in Pittsburgh.
 
THE VALUE OF SPECIES • By Edward L. McCord • 978-0-300-17657-5 • $25.00, 184 pages • May 1, 2012
 
Get the book at   http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/book.asp?isbn=9780300176575

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Alden Ferro

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Yale University Press

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