This collection investigates the core question of how diverse philosophical, religious, and cultural frameworks inform our moral obligations toward the natural environment. Susan J. Armstrong, an established scholar in the field of ethics, compiles a rigorous selection of essays and articles to provide a comprehensive historical and contemporary survey. The text argues that by examining competing theories, readers can synthesize a personal and informed environmental ethic.

Experts and educators frequently utilize this text as a foundational reader for undergraduate courses in environmental philosophy. Readers often note the breadth of the material, which successfully balances classical philosophical arguments with diverse global perspectives.