Abstract
The paper presents and discuss results from my ph.d. thesis
concerning environmental ethics as a concept of practise. The
theoretical purpose has been to link the highly theoretical
questions of environmental ethics as it exists as a philosophical
enterprise with practise and to make environmental ethics as a
concept of practise a relevant conceptualising of what guides
professionals in action with nature (farmers, agrono-mists,
engine-ers and the alike) when deciding which solution is
pre-ferable regarding sustainabili-ty.The empirical work examines
the explicit as well as the implicit expressed views of nature,
ethical stands, learning processes, knowledge sources and identity
of six selected Danish organic farmers. These findings are related
to their actual manuring strategies, diversity in crops and
products and ways of treating the herd. The empirical study gives
evidence to the thesis that the view of nature influence practise:
The focus of the organic farmers on environmental concerns,
product quality concerns, earth-fertility concerns, utilitarian
ethics or bioethics means different practical choices. Four
paradigms of knowledge related to organic farming has further more
been identified and analysed regarding concepts of nature and
philosophy of science. The paradigms are shared by farmers,
agronomists in extension and advisory service and agroscientific
researchers.The general lack of acknowledgement of these different
views of nature among the farmers and of the different paradigms
has impact on the development of the organic farming and on the
conceptualising of environmental issues in society and thereby the
initiatives taken: Priority is given to the more conventional ways
of understanding: obtaining sustainability by not using poison,
treating manure as a question of optimising nitrogen and the other
nutrients. On the other hand learning processes take place in and
around the organic farms extending the farmers concepts of
sustainability.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Sociologia Ruralis |
| ISSN | 0038-0199 |
| Publication status | Published - 1997 |
| Event | Local Responses To Global Integration. Towards a New era of Rural Restructuring, XVII Congress of the European Society for Rural Sociology - Chania, Greece Duration: 25 Aug 1997 → 29 Aug 1997 |
Conference
| Conference | Local Responses To Global Integration. Towards a New era of Rural Restructuring, XVII Congress of the European Society for Rural Sociology |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Greece |
| City | Chania |
| Period | 25/08/1997 → 29/08/1997 |