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3 - The philosophical foundations of international wildlife law

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2011

Michael Bowman ,
Peter Davies  and
Catherine Redgwell
Michael Bowman
Affiliation:
University of Nottingham
Peter Davies
Affiliation:
University of Nottingham
Catherine Redgwell
Affiliation:
University College London
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Summary

Introduction

Although it would be unrealistic to claim that international wildlife law has evolved in accordance with any grand philosophical strategy, all legislative initiatives are plainly intended to advance some significant underlying policy, and over time the sheer proliferation of treaty regimes has highlighted the need to establish some broader, overall direction and coherence in the system, based upon the developing aspirations and values of the international community. As it happens, wildlife law is nourished by a particularly rich tradition of theorising about the relationship between humankind and ‘nature’, and in recent decades environmental ethics have become a central concern of moral philosophy. Underpinning these deliberations is the recognition that the natural world embodies significant value, and should therefore be protected.

This chapter accordingly explores the question of natural value, first examining the various forms of value that have been identified within the natural world, before seeking to identify more precisely the specific entities in which such value resides. It concludes by analysing the mechanisms through which these various values may be quantified and compared. In each case, attention is given to the extent to which philosophical concepts and arguments have exerted any practical influence upon the evolution of international wildlife law.

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Lyster's International Wildlife Law , pp. 61 - 91
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010

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