Episode 43 Professor Martin Bunzl wonders if viruses have rights

Nature Magic

Today Mary is talking to Professor Martin Bunzl. Martin taught Philosophy at Rutgers University in New Jersey for 40 years Much of his work has revolved around the nature of scientific knowledge and in his new book Thinking While Walking reflections on the pacific quest trail….. He delves into difficult topics such as these.
•Millions of trees along the trail are being destroyed by beetles. If we have a duty of respect to nature, why does that respect not extend to the beetles?
•We have rights, and perhaps other animals do as well, but does nature itself have rights? If not, how do we ground our duty to respect it?
•We have inherited a distinction between the natural and the “man-made”. How does that affect how we think about nature and our relationship to it?
It was a lot of fun discussing nature and ethics with Martin and I am sure you will enjoy trying to figure out these mind riddles that will inhabit your thinking for days after the conversation…
Check out Professor Bunzl's book
'Thinking While Walking, reflections on the Pacific Crest Trail' at
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0949J8939
Contact Professor Martin Bunzl at
www.mbunzl.com
Recommended books
A Theory of Justice
By: John Rawls
Naming and Necessity
By: Saul Kripke
An Inconvenient Truth
By:Al Gore
Contact Mary Bermingham at
[e-mail]
Check out Burren Nature Sanctuary at
www.burrennaturesanctuary.ie
Support the Nature Magic Podcast at
https://www.patreon.com/naturemagic
Show website
www.naturemagic.ie