Ecology and Metaphysics: Metaphysical Foundations for Ecological Thought and Action

Abstract

This thesis argues that process metaphysics provides a more suitable foundation for ecological thought and action than the historically dominant substance-attribute metaphysics. Chapter 1 provides a brief historical review of substance-attribute metaphysics. Chapter 2 compares substance-attribute metaphysics to process metaphysics with emphasis on its connection to ecological thought. Chapter 3 discusses the contemporary figure of the earth, Gaia, and how process metaphysics can help us understand the earth and disentangle the many conceptual difficulties of thinking ecologically.