Contemporary Liberal Theory and Environmental Ethics

Abstract

This thesis will analyse the environmental critique of liberalism, and will discuss which forms of liberal theory are likely to be the most environmentally sound. The first three chapters offer general and specific critiques of liberal theory and practice from an environmental perspective, and chapters 4-5 put forward defences of liberal theory from these critiques. Chapter 1 offers a critique of Rawlsian public reason liberalism, and Chapter 2 puts forward a more uncompromising general critique of liberalism. Chapter 3 targets liberal theory’s emphasis on individual freedom, as well as its potentially hostile attitude towards environmental activism. In Chapter 4, it will be shown that some forms of liberalism can make room for more restrictions on individual freedom than we would previously have thought, and that some forms of liberalism can accommodate radical environmental activism. Chapter 5 outlines a form of liberal ‘environmental perfectionism’, and argues that we can have a more ecologically sound liberal political economy. By analysing the environmental critique of liberalism, this thesis will help to clarify the place of key moral concepts in liberal theory, such as individual freedom and ‘respect for persons’. In particular, it will be shown that some forms of liberal theory can put into place more ecological legislation than we might previously have thought, while at the same time preserving the most important forms of individual freedom.

Date of Award	9 Dec 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bristol
Supervisor	Martin Sticker (Supervisor) & D S Morgan (Supervisor)