Biological Holism and the Evolution of Ethics

For nearly two decades, J. Baird Callicott has been writing and teaching at the frontier of ethical theory. Perhaps more than almost anyone else, Callicott has been working to extend this frontier in ways that correct the anthropocentric bias of many moral thinkers. Not merely a philosopher who writes about environmental issues, Callicott has been creating a new environmental ethics, one grounded in the thought of Aldo Leopold. His volume, In Defense ofthe LandEthic. is an excellent summary of his position. I It is also a good example of his poetic brilliance and his most effective insights. After highlighting the main contributions of Callicott's book, I shall summarize some of (what I take to be) his best ethical insights. In closing the discussion, I shall suggest several reasons why community ecology and natural selection may not be able to provide support for all of the arguments in which Callicott and others enlist their help.