Working within a framework of environmental philosophy and environmental ethics this book
describes and postulates alternative understandings of nature in Indian traditions of thought
particularly philosophy. The interest in alternative conceptualizations of nature has gained
significance after many thinkers pointed out that attitudes to the environment are determined
to a large extent by our presuppositions of nature. This book is particularly timely from that
perspective.It begins with a brief description of the concept of nature and a history of the
idea of nature in Western thought. This provides readers with a context to the issues around
the concept of nature in environmental philosophy setting a foundation for further discussion
about alternate conceptualizations of nature and their significance. In particular the work
covers a wide array of textual and non-textual sources to link and understand nature from
classical Indian philosophical perspectives as well as popular understandings in Indian
literary texts and cultural practices. Popular issues in environmental philosophy are discussed
in detail such as: What is 'nature' in Indian philosophy? How do people perceive nature
through landscape and mythological and cultural narratives? In what ways is nature sacred in
India?To make the discussion relevant to contemporary readers the book includes a section on
the ecological and ethical implications of some philosophical concepts and critical
perspectives on alternate conceptualizations of nature.
