The Earth Community and Ecological Jurisprudence

Authors

  • Peter David Burdon University of Adelaide

Keywords:

Earth community, earth jurisprudence, ecology, legal theory, environmental philosophy, social ecology, Thomas Berry, Murray Bookchin, natural law, Comunidad de la tierra, jurisprundencia de la tierra, ecología, teoría jurídica, sociología, filosofía ambie

Abstract

Legal philosophical discourse tends to be animated by some conception of self and the parameters of community. Reflecting a vast heritage of humanist philosophy and theology, western legal concepts reflect anthropocentric values. Theories of law and legal concepts promote human beings as separate to the environment and define frameworks for the exploitation of nature. Against this paradigm, environmental philosophers have sought to redefine human beings as integral members of a greater Earth community – nature is a community of subjects, not a collection of objects. This alternative conception of self carries important consequences for legal philosophy. This paper explores these consequences first by analysing the ecological conception of self and community articulated by ‘geologian’ Thomas Berry (1914-2009). Second, this paper uses Berry’s analysis to develop an ecological theory of jurisprudence. This theory connects human law with ecological integrity and holds that human law attains legal quality (in part) when enacted for the common good of the comprehensive Earth community. Throughout this analysis, the paper also highlights the limitations Berry’s philosophical and legal writing and seeks dialogue with leftist political theory.

El discurso filosófico jurídico tiende a estimularse por una concepción del individuo y por parámetros de comunidad. Como reflejo de una vasta herencia de la filosofía humanista y la teología, los conceptos jurídicos occidentales reflejan valores antropocéntricos. Teorías del derecho y conceptos legales promueven seres humanos separados del medio ambiente y definen los marcos para la explotación de la naturaleza. Frente a este paradigma, los filósofos ambientales han tratado de redefinir los seres humanos como miembros de una comunidad de la Tierra más amplia – la naturaleza es una comunidad de sujetos, no una colección de objetos. Esta concepción alternativa del individuo conlleva importantes consecuencias para la filosofía del derecho. Este artículo explora estas consecuencias, primero mediante el análisis de la concepción ecológica del individuo y de la comunidad articulada por el geólogo Thomas Berry (1914-2009). En segundo lugar, este trabajo utiliza el análisis de Berry para desarrollar una teoría ecológica de la jurisprudencia. Esta teoría conecta el derecho humano con la integridad ecológica y sostiene que el derecho humano alcanza (en parte) la calidad jurídica cuando se promulga por el bien común de la comunidad global de la Tierra. A lo largo de este análisis, el informe también pone de relieve las limitaciones de la escritura filosófica y jurídica de Berry y busca el diálogo con la teoría política de izquierdas.

DOWNLOAD THIS PAPER FROM SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2247826

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Author Biography

Peter David Burdon, University of Adelaide

Peter Burdon is a Senior Lecturer at the Adelaide Law School and a member of the management committee of the University of Adelaide Research Unit for the Study of Society, Law and Religion (RUSSLR). Peter holds a BA (History/Philosophy), LLB (hons) and a PhD from the University of Adelaide. His PhD won the Bonython Prize and a University Research Medal for best original thesis. It will be published as part of the Routledge 'Law, Justice and Ecology' series. Since 2005 Peter has worked with Friends of the Earth Adelaide in the Clean Futures Collective. In this role he has engaged in community advocacy, developed submissions in response to mining projects in South Australia, acted as media spokesperson, organised working trips to aboriginal communities in northern South Australia and organised significant public conferences. Peter also sits on the Ethics Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the executive committee of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and on the management committee of the Environmental Defenders Office (SA). From 2007-2011 Peter sat on the executive committee of the Conservation Council South Australia. Peter is a National Tertiary Education Union delegate for the law school.

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Published

30-01-2013

How to Cite

Burdon, P. D. (2013) “The Earth Community and Ecological Jurisprudence”, Oñati Socio-Legal Series, 3(5), pp. 815–837. Available at: https://opo.iisj.net/index.php/osls/article/view/251 (Accessed: 23 December 2024).

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 5 (2013): Human Rights and the Environment: In Search of a New Relationship

Section

Theme I: Philosophical Re-Investigations

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