List of Richard Sylvan's Works on Environmental Philosophy and Ethics

Richard Sylvan's early work was so heavily dominated by logic that it is easy to forget that his very first independent work, his unpublished Wellington M.A. thesis of 1958, was on moral scepticism. Sylvan was always interested in ethics, so it was no change of direction when, in 1973, he published an uncharacteristically short paper, "Is there a need for a new, an environmental, ethics?", which quickly became one of the seminal papers in environmental ethics. In the same year he and Val Routley published The Fight for the Forests (reprinted and enlarged through three successive years), not a philosophy book, but an influential critique of Australian forestry practices: his concern for the environment was always practical as well as theoretical. Much of Sylvan's early work on the environment was done in collaboration with Val Routley, e.g., the two very long papers which make up the bulk of Environmental Philosophy (1980), a collection edited by Sylvan, Don Mannison and Michael McRobbie. In the 1980's he began a similarly sustained collaboration with David Bennett, culminating in their book The Greening of Ethics (1994). Much of Sylvan's work on ethics was on applications, especially to the environment, e.g. on energy and population, and an examination of inter- and intra-species predation, provocatively entitled "In Defence of Cannibalism" (1982). But he wrote also on the ethics of nuclear war and pacifism and even a paper, with Louise Sylvan, on "The Ethics of Gambling" (1985). Although he called his position "deep environmental ethics" (and sometimes "deep green theory"), he was critical of deep ecology, as an incoherent amalgam of metaphysical, religious, and psychological elements.

For the listing which follows, the label "Environmental Philosophy" is inaccurate. Included under it are all Sylvan's publications on ethics (whether concerned with the environment or not) and his known publications on the environment (whether philosophical or not) as well as his publications on politics and political theory.

1962

Nozick R., and R. Routley.
"Escaping the Good Samaritan Paradox." Mind 71:283 (July 1962): 377-386.

1966

Routley R., and V. Macrae.
"On the Identity of Sensations and Physiological Occurrences." American Philosophical Quarterly 3:2 (April 1966): 87-110.

1972

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"Pine Planting and Environmental Irresponsibility." Australian Quarterly 44:4 (December 1972): 5-27.

1973

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"Compromise in the Wilderness Battle." The Canberra Times, 13 January 1973, p.9

Routley, R.
"Is There a Need for a New, an Environmental, Ethic?" Proceedings of the XVth World Congress of Philosophy, Varna, 1 (1973): 205-210.

Reprinted in:

M. Zimmerman, ed., Environmental Philosophy: From Animal Rights to Radical Ecology. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1993, pp 12-21.

Andrew Light and Holmes Rolston III (eds.) Environmental Ethics. An Anthology. Oxford: Blackwell, 2003, pp.47-52

J. Baird Callicott and Robert Frodeman (eds.) Encyclopedia of Environmental Ethics and Philosophy. New York: Gale, 2009, vol. 2, pp. 484-489.

Finnish Translation:

Richard Routley: "Tarvitsemmeko uutta ympäristöetiikkaa?" in Markku Oksanen and Marjo Rauhala-Hayes (eds.).
Ympäristöfilosofia: kirjoituksia ympäristönsuojelun eettisistä perusteista. Helsinki: Gaudeamus 1997, pp. 145-155 (2nd edition 1999).

French Translation:

"A-t-on besoin d'une nouvelle éthique, d'une éthique environnementale?" in Hicham-Stéphane Afeissa (ed.), Éthique de l'environnement. Paris: Vrin, 2007, pp.31-49.

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"Ryle's Reductio Ad Absurdum Argument." Australasian Journal of Philosophy 51:2 (August 1973): 124-38.

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
The Fight for the Forests: The Takeover of Australian Forests for Pines, Wood-Chip and Intensive Forestry. Canberra: Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University Monograph 1973, 290 pages. Illustrated.

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"On the Verge of a Gigantic Forest Sellout", Nation Review, 19-25 October, 1973, p.30

1974

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"A Note on the Recovery of Phytophthora Cinnamoni from the Budawang Ranges." Transactions of the British Mycological Society 163:2 (1974): 413-419.

Routley R., and Val Routley.
The Fight for the Forests: The Takeover of Australian Forests for Pines, Wood Chips, and Intensive Forestry, 2nd Ed. Canberra: Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University Monograph, 1974, 407 pages.

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"The Semantics of Belief and the Laws of Thought and Myth." Abstract. Journal of Symbolic Logic 39:1 (March 1974): 206-207.

Routley, R. and V. Routley.
"Three Million Acres of Pines - A Misallocation of Public Resources." National Parks Journal (National Parks Association of N.S.W.) (April 1974).

1975

Routley, R.
"Alternative Futures for Tasmania's Forests." A Tasmanian Conservation Trust Occasional Publication (1975).

Routley R., and V. Routley.
Fight for the Forests, 3rd Ed. Canberra: Research School of Social Sciences Australian National University Monograph, 1975, 407 pages.

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"The Role of Inconsistent and Incomplete Theories in the Logic of Belief." Communication and Cognition 8 (1975): 185-235.

1976

Routley, R.
"The Semantical Metamorphosis of Metaphysics." Australasian Journal of Philosophy 54:3 (December 1976): 187-205.

1977

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"Destructive Forestry in Australia and Melanesia." In J.H. Winslow, ed., The Melanesian Environment. Canberra: Australian National University Press, 1977, pp. 374-397.

1978

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"Nuclear Energy and Obligations to the Future." Inquiry 21 (Summer 1978): 133-79.

Reprinted with revisions in:

E. Partridge, ed., Responsibilities to Future Generations: Environmental Ethics. Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1981, pp. 277-301.

1979

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"Against the Inevitability of Human Chauvinism." In K.E. Goodpaster and K.M. Sayre, eds., Ethics and the Problems of the 21st Century. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press 1979, pp. 36-59.

Reprinted in:

Elliot, R., ed., Environmental Ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995; pp. 104-128.

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"Some Ethical Aspects of Energy Choice." In M. Diesendorf, R. Bartell, C. Casey, A. Day, L.H. Day, R.M. Gifford and H. Saddler, eds., Energy and People: Social Implications of Different Energy Futures. Canberra: Society for Social Responsibility in Science (A.C.T.) 1979, pp. 113-116.

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"Whose Little Boxes?" National Parks Journal (National Parks Association of N.S.W.) 1979.

Routley, R.
"Repairing Proofs of Arrow's General Impossibility Theorem and Enlarging the Scope of the Theorem." Notre Dame Journal of Formal Logic 20:4 (October 1979): 879-90.

1980

Mannison, D., R. Routley, and M. McRobbie, eds.
Environmental Philosophy. Canberra: Department of Philosophy Monograph Series #2, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University, 1980, 394 pages. Reprinted (with minor corrections) 1982.

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"Human Chauvinism and Environment Ethics." Environmental Philosophy, 1980, pp. 96-189.

Routley, R and V. Routley.
"Social Theories, Self Management and Environmental Problems." Environmental Philosophy, 1980, pp 217-332.

Routley, R.
"An Alternative Angle on the Humanities." Cooperative Education Newsletter, University of Victoria (Fall 1980): 2-3.

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"Cool Temperate Rainforest on the South Coast." Bogong 6 (October/November 1980) 4-5.

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"Destructive Forestry in Melanesia and Australia." The Ecologist 10:1 (1980): 56-67.

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"Rainforest - a Semantic Illusion." Forestry Log 13 (1980): 43-49.

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"Rainforest on the South Coast." Bogong 5 (September/October 1980) 4-5.

Routley, R.
"On the Impossibility of an Orthodox Social Theory and an Orthodox Solution to Environmental Problems." Logique et Analyse 23 (1980): 145-66.

1981

Routley, R.
"Alleged Problems in Attributing Beliefs and Intentionality to Animals." Inquiry 24:4 (December 1981): 385-417.

Routley, R.
"Necessary Limits to Knowledge: Unknowable Truths." In E. Morscher, Neumaier, and Zecha, eds., Philosophie als Wissenschaft/Essays in Scientific Philosophy. Bad Reichenhall: Des Sammelbandes Comes Verlag, 1981, pp. 93-113.

1982

Routley, R., and N. Griffin.
"Unravelling the Meanings of Life?" Discussion Papers in Environmental Philosophy #3, 1982, 49 pages.

Reprinted in:

Journal of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research. 4:1 (Autumn 1986): 23-71.

P. Bilimoria and P. Fenner, eds., Religions and Comparative Thought: Essays in Honour of the Late Dr. Ian Kesarcodi-Watson. New Delhi: Sri Satguru Publications, 1988, pp. 407-459.

German Translation (slightly amended):

'"Dem" Sinn des Lebens auf der Spur?', in Fehige, Christoph, Georg Meggle and Ulla Wessels (eds.) Des Sinn des Lebens. Munich: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 2000, pp.445-478

Routley, R., and V. Plumwood.
"The Inadequacy of the Actual and the Real: Beyond Empiricism, Idealism and Mysticism." in W. Leinfellner et.al. Language and Ontology. Vienna: Verlang Holder-Pichler-Tempsky, 1982, pp. 49-67.

Routley, R., and V. Plumwood.
"World Rainforest Destruction - the Social Factors." The Ecologist 12:1 (January/February 1982): 4-22.

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"Nuclear Power - Ethical and Social Dimensions." In D. Van der Veer and T. Regan, eds., And Justice For All. Rowman and Littlefield, 1982, pp. 116-138.

Routley, R., and V. Routley.
"The Irrefutability of Anarchism." Social Alternatives 2:3 (1982): 23-8.

Routley, R.
"In Defence of Cannibalism I. Types of Admissible and Inadmissible Cannibalism." Discussion Papers in Environmental Philosophy #2, 1982, 47 pages.

Routley, R.
"Roles and Limits of Paradigms in Environmental Thought and Action." Discussion Papers in Environmental Philosophy #1, 1982, 44 pages.

Reprinted in:

R. Elliot and A. Gare, eds., Environmental Philosophy: A Collection of Readings. New York: University of Queensland Press, 1983, 260-293.

1983

Routley, R.
"On the Alleged Inconsistency, Moral Insensitivity, and Fanaticism of Pacifism." Discussion Papers in Environmental Philosophy #9, 1983.

Reprinted in:

Inquiry 27:1 (March 1984): 117-128.

Sylvan, R.
"Nihilisms and Nihilist Logics." Discussion Papers in Environmental Philosophy #4, 1983, 53 pages;

Reprinted and Extended in:

Apostel, L., Vandamme, F.J., Pinxten, R., and I. Van Dooren, The Philosophy of Leo Apostel. Ghent: Communication & Cognition, 1989, pp.407-452.

1984

Routley, R.
"Metaphysical Fallout from the Nuclear Predicament." Philosophy and Social Criticism 10:314 (Winter 1984): 19-34.

Routley, R.
"On the Ethics of Large-Scale Nuclear War and Nuclear Deterrence, and the Political Fallout." Canberra: Discussion Papers in Environmental Philosophy #5, 1984. 81 pages.

Sylvan, R.
"Maximizing, Satisficing, Satisizing: Differences in Real and Rational Behaviour Under Rival Paradigms." Discussion Papers in Environmental Philosophy #10 (1984), 27 pages.

Sylvan, R.
"People vs. the Land: The Ethics of the Population Case." In R. Birrell, D. Hill, and J. Neville, eds., Population, Growth and Resources in Australia: The Intensifying Conflict. Sydney: Fontana, 1984, pp. 325-357.

Sylvan, R.
"Science and Science: Relocating Stove and the Modern Irrationalists." Research Series in Unfashionable Philosophy #1, 1984, 20 pages.

Reprinted in:

Critical Philosophy 2 (1985). pp. 16-28.

Revised version in Bulgarian translation, Filosofska Misãl 11 (1988): 60-68.

Polish Translation:

"Nauka a Nauka." In K. Jodkowski, ed., Realizm Racjonalnosc Relatywizm 7. Lublin: MCS University, 1991, pp. 131-149.

1985

Sylvan, R.
"A Critique of Deep Ecology." Discussion Papers in Environmental Philosophy #12, 1985, 60 pages.

Reprinted in:

Radical Philosophy 40-41 (Summer/Autumn 1986): 2-12 and 10-23.

M. Redelift and G. Woodgate, eds., The Sociology of the Environment. Vol. 2 London: Edward Elgar, 1994, pp. 252-274.

Sylvan, R., and D. Bennett.
"Deep Ecology and Deep-Green Theory." Science in Culture course, in-house publication, Deakin University, 1985.

Sylvan, R., and L. Sylvan.
"The Ethics of Gambling." In G. Caldwell, B. Hag, M. Dickerson and L. Sylvan, eds., Gambling in Australia. Sydney: Croon Helm, 1985, pp. 217-231.

Sylvan, R., and N. Griffin.
"The Poverty of Romanticism: Nozick and the Meaning of Life." Philosophy and Progress 3 (1985): 55-65.

Sylvan, R.
"An Expensive Repair-Kit for Utilitarianism." Discussion Papers in Environmental Philosophy #7. Canberra: Department of Philosophy, Research School of the Social Sciences, Australian National University, 1985. Pp. 21-55.

Sylvan, R.
"Philosophy, Politics and Pluralism I. Relevant Modellings and Arguments." Research Series in Logic and Metaphysics #2, 1985, 48 pages.

Reprinted in:

Journal of Non-classical Logic 4 (May 1987): 57-107.

Sylvan, R.
"Prospects for Regional Philosophies in Australia." Australasian Journal of Philosophy 63:2 (June 1985): 188-204.

Sylvan, R.
"Towards a Cosmological Synthesis." Research Series in Unfashionable Philosophy #2, 1985, 42 pages.

Reprinted in:

Grazer Philosophische Studien 25/26:5 (1986): 135-178.

1986

Routley, R., and V. Plumwood.
"The 'Fight for the Forests' Affair." B. Martin, C. Baker, C. Manwell, C. Pugh, eds., Intellectual Suppression: Australian Case Histories, Analysis and Responses. Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1986.

Sylvan, R. and D. Bennett.
"Deep Ecology and Green Politics." The Deep Ecologist 20 (1986): 7-11.

Reprinted in:

The Trumpeter 4:2 (Spring 1987): 16-19.

Sylvan, R., and D. Bennett.
"Tao and Deep Green Theory." Abstract. Ecopolitics II. University of Tasmania, 1986.

Sylvan, R.
"Broad Corollaries for Education from Deeper Environmental Approaches." Abstract. ANZAAS abstracts. Massey University, 1986.

Sylvan, R.
Three Essays Upon Deeper Environmental Ethics. Canberra: Discussion Papers in Environmental Philosophy #13, Philosophy Departments, Australian National University, 1986. 84 pages.

1987

Petit, P., R. Sylvan, and J, Norman, eds.
Metaphysics and Morality: Essays in Honour of J.C.C. Smart. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1987, 212 pages.

Sylvan, R.
"A Deep Ecological Approach to Wetlands." Australian Journal of Environmental Education 2 (1987): 3-5.

Sylvan, R.
"Australian Defence Philosophy." Critical Philosophy 3:1-2 (1987): 160-203.

Sylvan, R., and D. Bennett.
"Overpopulation, Resources, Environment: Focus Australia." Discussion Papers in Environmental Philosophy #15, Philosophy Department, Australian National University, 1987. 50 pages.

Sylvan, R.
"Do Moral Matters Matter-Environmentally?" Between the Species 3 (Fall 1987): 163-176. Short version of "Moral Matters Matter-Environmentally" in Three Essays Upon Deeper Environmental Ethics, 1986.

Sylvan, R.
"Establishing the Correspondence Theory of Truth and Rendering it Coherent." In J.T.J. Srzednicki, ed., Stephan Körner - Philosophical Analysis and Reconstruction. Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1987, pp. 75-83.

Sylvan, R.
"Language, Thought and Representation of 'the' World." Revue Internationale de Philosophie 160 (1987): 64-96.

1988

Sylvan, R. and D. Bennett.
"Ecological Perspective on an Expanding Human Population." In L.H. Day and D.T. Rowland, eds., How Many More Australians? The Resource and Environmental Conflicts. Melbourne: Longman-Cheshire, 1988, pp. 153-166.

Sylvan, R., and N. da Costa.
"Cause as an Implication." Studia Logica 47:4 (December 1988): 413-428.

Sylvan, R., and D. Bennett.
"Taoism and Deep Ecology." The Ecologist 18:4-5 (1988): 148-159.

Sylvan, R., and N.C.A. da Costa.
"Cause as an Implication." Abstract. Journal of Symbolic Logic 53 (1988): 334.

Sylvan, R.
"Mind and its Orthodox Misplacement in Nature." Abstract. Artificial Intelligence in Australia (1988) 32.

Sylvan, R.
"Moral Matters Matter - Environmentally." Ethics and Animals. 1988;

Reprinted in:

Three Essays Upon Deeper Environmental Ethics, 1986

Sylvan, R.
"Radical Pluralism - an Alternative to Realism, Anti-Realism and Relativism." In R. Nola, ed., Relativism and Realism in Science. Dordrecht: Kluwer, 1988, 253-291.

Sylvan, R.
"Supplanting Maximization and Other Utilitarian Assumptions, in Western Ethical Ideology: A Satisfying Alternative to Bretano's Foundations." La Scuola di Brentano. Dordrecht: Kluwer, 1988, pp. 167-194. Also says PI Topoi 88Supp 2 167-194

1989

Sylvan, R.
"Idealism and Coherence, one Rehabilitation Attempt." Canberra: Research series in Unfashionable Philosophy, #3, 1989, 54 pages.

Reprinted in part in:

"On Making a Coherence Theory of Truth True", Philosophica, 46 1990, pp. 30-54

Sylvan, R, L. Goddard and Da Costa.
"Reason, Cause, and Relevant Containment." Canberra: Research Series in Logic and Metaphysics #3, 1989, 81 pages.

Sylvan, R.
"Modern Myths Concerning Rationality: the Imperatives of Consistency and (Constrained) Maximality." In S. Biderman and B. Scharfstein, eds., Rationality and Irrationality: East and West. Brill, 1989.

1990

Sylvan, R.
"In Defense of Deep Environmental Ethics: Holding the Temple Against Local Depredation." Canberra: Preprint Series in Environmental Philosophy #18, 1990, 110 pages.

Sylvan, R. and D. Bennet.
"Of Utopias, Tao and Deep Ecology." Canberra: Preprint Series in Environmental Philosophy, #19, 1990, 103 pages.

Sylvan, R.
"Modelling Utopias." Abstracts for AAP Conference, Sydney, 1990.

Sylvan, R.
"Universal Purpose, Terrestial Greenhouse, and Biological Evolution." Canberra: Research Series in Unfashionable Philosophy #4, 1990, 96 pages.

1991

Sylvan, R., and R. Nola.
"Confirmation Without Paradoxes." In G. Schurz and G. Dorn, eds., Advances in Scientific Philosophy. Atlanta: Rodopi, 1991, pp. 5-44.

Sylvan, R.
"Existence II: Existence and Nonexistence." In L. Burkhardt and B. Smith, eds., Handbook of Metaphysics and Ontology. Munich: Philosophia Verlag, 1991, pp. 261-263.

Sylvan, R.
"Ontology of Nature." Handbook of Metaphysics and Ontology, 599-602.

Sylvan, R.
"Relativism." Handbook of Metaphysics and Ontology, 783-785.

Sylvan, R.
"Future Generations." In A. Dobson, ed., The Green Reader. London: André Deutsch, 1991, 250-252.

Sylvan, R.
"Like Topsy: A Precautionary Tale in Population Growth and Immigration for a Clever (Green) Country." In J.W. Smith, ed., Immigration, Population and Sustainable Environments, 1991, pp. 321-332.

Sylvan, R.
"Hot philosophical Issues in Immigration." In J.W. Smith, ed., Immigration, Population and Sustainable Environments. Flinders: Flinders University Press, 1991, pp. 436-487.

Sylvan, R.,
"On the Foundations of Process Theory." Abstract. Journal of Symbolic Logic 56 (1991): 113.

Sylvan, R.
"On the Value Core of Deep-Green Theory." In G. Oddie and R. Perrett, eds., Justice, Ethics and New Zealand Society. Auckland: Oxford University Press, 1991, pp. 222-229.

1992

Sylvan, R. and D. Bennett.
"Tao and Deep (Ecological) Theory." In P. Hay and R. Eckersley, eds., Ecopolitical Theory: Essays from Australia, Volume 2. Tasmania: Centre for Environmental Studies, Occasional Paper 24, University of Tasmania, 1992, pp 21-48.

Sylvan, R.
"Grim Tales Retold: How to Maintain Ordinary Discourse About - and Despite - Logical Embarrassing Notions and Totalities." Logique et Analyse 35 (1992): 349-374.

1993

Sylvan, R.
"Anarchism." In R.E. Goodin and P.Pettit, eds., A Companion to Contemporary Political Philosophy. Oxford: Blackwell, 1993, pp. 215-243.

Sylvan, R.
"What is Wrong With Applied Ethics?" In K. Joseph, ed., Conference Proceedings: Philosophy and Applied Ethics Re-examined. Newcastle: Philosophy Department, University of Newcastle, 1993, 19-29.

1994

Sylvan, R. and D. Bennett.
The Greening of Ethics. Cambridge: White Horse Press, 1994. Also Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1994. 269 pages.

Sylvan, R., and R. Nola.
"The Irrelevance of Grue." Explorations in Knowledge 11: 2 (1994):1-11.

Sylvan, R.
"Against the Mainstream." Canberra: Preprint Series in Environmental Philosophy #20, 1994. 78 pages.

Sylvan, R.
"Freedom Without Determinism: Decent Logics of Relevance and Necessity Applied to Problems of Free Will." Acta Analytica 9:13 (1994): 7-32.

Sylvan, R.
"Illogic and Illusion in Evolution." Biological Forum, Revista di Biologica 87:2/3 (1994): 191-231. Condensed version of "Illogic and illusion in biologic evolution" in Universal Purpose, 1990.

1995

Sylvan, R.
"Problems and Solutions in Deep Ecopolitical Theory: An Australian Perspective." Pacific Visions: Proceedings of the Ecopolitics VIII Conference held at Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand, and 8-10 July 1994. Lincoln: Lincoln University Centre for Resource Management, 1995, pp. 98-110.

1996

Sylvan, R.
"What Limits to Thought, Inquiry and Philosophy?" Manuscrito (1996).

Sylvan R.
"Other Withered Stumps to Time", in B. J. Copeland (ed.)m Logic and Reality. Essays on the Legacy of Arthur Prior. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1996, pp.111-130.

1997

Sylvan, R.
Transcendental Metaphysics: From Radical to Deep Plurallism. Cambridge: White Horse Press, 1997, 525 pages.

Sylvan, R.
"Issues in Regional Philosophy. Austrian Philosophy? And its Austral Image?" in K. Lehrer and J. C. Marek (ed.), Austrian Philosophy Past and Present. Boston: Kluwer, 1997, pp. 147-166.