Gardening and Philosophy

Informationen zum Autor EditorDan O'Brien is a Research Fellow at Oxford Brookes University, an Honorary Research Fellow at Birmingham University, and an Associate Lecturer with the Open University. He is the author of An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge (2006) and Hume's "Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding": A Reader's Guide (with Alan Bailey, 2006). In addition, he has recently edited a special volume of Philosophica on the epistemology of testimony.Series EditorFritz Allhoff is an Assistant Professor in the Philosophy Department at Western Michigan University, as well as a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian National University's Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics. In addition to editing the Philosophy for Everyone series, Allhoff is the volume editor or co-editor for several titles, including Wine & Philosophy (Wiley-Blackwell, 2007), Whiskey & Philosophy (with Marcus P. Adams, Wiley, 2009), and Food & Philosophy (with Dave Monroe, Wiley-Blackwell, 2007). Klappentext Philosophy and gardens have been closely connected from the dawn of philosophy, with many drawing on their beauty and peace for philosophical inspiration. Gardens in turn give rise to a broad spectrum of philosophical questions. For the green-fingered thinker, this book reflects on a whole host of fascinating philosophical themes.* Gardens and philosophy present a fascinating combination of subjects, historically important, and yet scarcely covered within the realms of philosophy* Contributions come from a wide range of authors, ranging from garden writers and gardeners, to those working in architecture, archaeology, archival studies, art history, anthropology, classics and philosophy* Essays cover a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from Epicurus and Confucius to the aesthetics and philosophy of Central Park* Offers new perspectives on the experience and evaluation of gardens Zusammenfassung Philosophy and gardens have been closely connected from the dawn of philosophy, with many drawing on their beauty and peace for philosophical inspiration. Gardens in turn give rise to a broad spectrum of philosophical questions. For the green-fingered thinker, this book reflects on a whole host of fascinating philosophical themes. Inhaltsverzeichnis Foreword viii David E. Cooper Acknowledgments xi Dan O'Brien Planting the Seed: An Introduction to Gardening - Philosophy for Everyone 1 Dan O'Brien Part I The Good Life 11 1 The Virtues of Gardening 13 Isis Brook 2 Cultivating the Soul: The Ethics of Gardening in Ancient Greece and Rome 26 Meghan T. Ray 3 Escaping Eden: Plant Ethics in a Gardener's World 38 Matthew Hall 4 Food Glorious Food 48 Helene Gammack Part II Flower Power 63 5 Plants, Prayers, and Power: The Story of the First Mediterranean Gardens 65 Jo Day 6 Brussels Sprouts and Empire: Putting Down Roots 79 Michael Moss 7 Transplanting Liberty: Lafayette's American Garden 93 Laura Auricchio 8 Cockney Plots: Allotments and Grassroots Political Activism 106 Elizabeth A. Scott Part III The Flower Show 119 9 Hortus Incantans : Gardening as an Art of Enchantment 121 Eric MacDonald 10 Gardens, Music, and Time 135 Ismay Barwell and John Powell 11 The Pragmatic Picturesque: The Philosophy of Central Park 148 Gary Shapiro Part IV The Cosmic Garden 161 12 Illusions of Grandeur: A Harmonious Garden for the Sun King 163 Robert Neuman 13 Time and Temporality in the Garden 178 Mara Miller 14 Cultivating Our Garden: David Hume and Gardening as Therapy 192 Dan O'Brien ...

List of contents

Acknowledgements
 
Dan O'Brien
 
Foreword
 
David Cooper
 
Planting the Seed: An Introduction to Gardening - Philosophy for Everyone
 
Dan O'Brien
 
Part I: The Good Life
 
Part II: Flower Power
 
Part III: The Flower Show
 
Part IV: The Cosmic Garden
 
Part V: Philosophers' Gardens
 
Appendix A: Notes on Contributors

Report

"Intriguing ideas combined with a philosophical method ofinquiry bring the benefits of gardening into the 21stcentury. Gardening Philosophy for Everyone: CultivatingWisdomproduces what the title suggests - it cultivates andgrows the body of knowledge about gardening, exploring the value ofgardening past and present for multiple disciplines." ( Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture , 1 November 2012)
"So pull up a chair, relax under a shady canopy and delve into thefascinating garden-related philosophies contained in this mostinteresting read." (Australian Horticulture, 1 March 2011)"A goodmix of topics, ideas and arguments - a very good and meaty read."(Gardensandpeople.co.uk, 1 March 2011)
"Reading this book has been an experience so enchanting, that Iam eager to revisit each of the essays, to re submerge myself intheir expertise. If one is a gardener, this is a publicationreserved for cold winter nights or long plane rides; for thenon-gardener, it is an engaging private symposium. One might alsocall it "variations on a theme of gardening", enriched by diverseintellectual disciplines and unexpected perspectives of thecontributing authors." (Gardenguru, 29 March 2011)

"Reading this book has been an experience so enchanting, that Iam eager to revisit each of the essays, to re submerge myself intheir expertise. If one is a gardener, this is a publicationreserved for cold winter nights or long plane rides; for thenon-gardener, it is an engaging private symposium. One might alsocall it "variations on a theme of gardening", enriched by diverseintellectual disciplines and unexpected perspectives of thecontributing writers." (Bookpleasures.com, 26 March 2011)

"There s nothing too difficult philosophically in this book,so definitely one for any thoughtful gardeners, philosophers ornot." (Wittgenstein s Watering Can, 21 April 2011)

"Finally, we have a book which celebrates and examines the topicof gardens and gardening in a way that involves more than simplyhelping pick the perfect plant for your shady nook." (A Garden ofPossibilities, 18 April 2011)

"The book is comprised of numerous essays by different authors,each with their own unique angle. I am very impressed thatPermaculture is mentioned at least once by name, andhunter-gatherers, foragers, and horticulturalists, are discussed inmany of the essays. Also, each author brings their own definitionof gardening, and some of them are broad enough to include the mostcutting edge forest gardens as well as many primitive peoples landmanagement techniques. Even the essays with a more narrow view ofwhat a garden is had interesting thoughts of our interaction withplants and how that impacts us philosophically." (Nathan CarlosRupley, 15 April 2011)

"Editor Dan O Brien has assembled a collection of essays, amongwhich are Mara Miller s reflections upon the many layers of timeand change inherent in gardens, and the ways in which they affectpersona experiences, which illuminate how these may play intodesign considerations". (Garden Design Journal, 1 April 2011)

"Gardening is not absent from philosophy; after all, Voltaire sCandide ends with the admonition to 'cultivate our garden. This book examines how gardening is like philosophy and vice versa.Much space is also given to political philosophy and somefascinating explorations into the political and philosophicalramifications of historical gardening in London and Aztec Mexico.The series is likely to appeal to armchair philosophers andundergraduates alike, and this volume will give gardeners of anintellectual bent a philosophical justification for their hobby."( Library Journal , March 2011)

"A new book on the philosophy of gardening - edited by DanO Brien and Fritz Allhoff - has been written by and for thegreen-thumbed thinker, the practical gardener, the salad gardener,the architect, the archaeologist, and the artist at work among theferns". (Horticulture Week, 12 January 2011)

"Either way, it is an engaging and enjoyable

Product details

• Authors: Dan O'Brien
• Assisted by: Fritz Allhoff (Editor), Da O'Brien (Editor), Dan O'Brien (Editor), O'Brien Dan (Editor), David E. Cooper (Foreword), Allhoff Fritz (Editor of the series)
• Publisher: Blackwell Scientific Publishers Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 11.10.2010
• EAN: 9781444330212
• ISBN: 978-1-4443-3021-2
• Dimensions: 153 mm x 230 mm x 22 mm
• Series: Philosophy for Everyone; Philosophy for Everyone
• Subjects: Education and learning > Teaching preparation > Vocational needs; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; Philosophie, Wissenschaft, Philosophy, Allg. Philosophie