Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Water Ethics: An Introduction (Philosophy, Technology and Society)

While the interdependence of the different aspects of water security and the relevance of ethical and distributive aspects is acknowledged in both policy circles and academia, a comprehensive introduction to water ethics is still missing. This book aims to fill that gap, by exploring the common thread that follows from three current interrelated debates: the allocation of water resources, the human right to water, and the commodification and privatisation of water services. These questions create a plea for alternatives to the predominantly consequentialist approach to dealing with water issues. The author explores the normative and ethical aspects of flood and water-related risks, and looks at the topic of responsibility: who should be responsible for correcting inequities, or taking remedial action in the case of pollution? These and other questions to be linked to ongoing discussion in other disciplines within philosophy, such as environmental ethics, climate ethics, the ethics of technology and climate justice, making this text important across a wide range of courses for upper undergraduate and graduate students. Review Often books fall distinctly into one category or another: general readership or scholarly research. This needed introductory book, however, is successful at satisfying at least three categories: general readership, self-directed course textbook, and scholarly research/reference publication. It embodies the well-known structural features of a textbook: chapter summaries indicating what the reader should learn, summary conclusions or takeaways for each chapter, boxed text outlining issues of particular importance, a glossary of terms, and extensive notes and references for further reading. The last two satisfy requirements of a research text for scholars. Doorn (Delft Univ. of Technology) employs a writing style that minimizes technical language, rendering the text accessible to general readers and introductory students. The author's extensive background in civil engineering, philosophy, and law shows clearly as she argues diverse controversial ideas related to water uses. Among these are distributive/procedural justice, economic issues, human rights, and communitarian and intergenerational responsibility. While introducing ethical issues of water engineering design and implementation, Doorn maintains a genuine openness, empowering readers' informed disagreement. The concluding chapter identifies strategic decision-making challenges related to water management/governance from bottom-up and top-down governance approaches, well integrated with critical considerations brought forward from earlier chapters. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers.-- "Choice" Water governance is replete with ethical challenges, whether in the way that humans address increasing demands upon scarce freshwater resources, pollution threats, or hazards from flooding, all of which are intensifying with anthropogenic environmental change. Doorn's book is timely and accessible, offering the first comprehensive ethical treatment of this essential and unique resource.--Steve Vanderheiden, Associate Professor of Political Science and Environmental Studies, Center for Science and Technology Policy Research (CSTPR), University of Colorado at Boulder In this lucid book, Neelke Doorn explains why and how questions of justice need to become more explicit in water governance. In a clear way, the book identifies possible ways to articulate and discuss the ethical considerations that shape where and to whom water flows. I recommend it to anyone interested in a comprehensive, interdisciplinary introduction to contemporary water problems.--Margreet Zwarteveen, Professor of Water Governance, IHE-Delft Institute for Water Education In this highly accessible book, Neelke Doorn introduces the complexity and role of ethics in water governance. It's a great resource both for students and professionals.--Arjen Hoekstra, auth