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Part of the book series: Environmental Science and Engineering ((ENVSCIENCE))

Abstract

Does nature have her own well-being interests, just as children or future generations have? If humans are part of nature, are they responsible for nature? If the answer is yes, then there arise two fundamental questions. First, is it enough to leave it to science to understand nature and her well-being interests? Is it enough to leave it to science to understand how we might fulfil our responsibility for safeguarding nature’s or our own well-being interests? Secondly, who will protect nature’s well-being interests, if nature cannot do it herself in those situations where she comes under the destructive impact of human activity? Similar questions arise regarding children and the future generations.

Dedicated to the Memory of my Mother Schobhawati (Dhanai Razdan) Pandit (1925-2004)

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Notes

  1. 1.

    See Pandit GL (2009a) Ethics in Public Domain: Biomedical Research and Beyond. In: Alok Srivastava and Ipsita Roy (eds) Bio-Nano-Geo Sciences: The Future Challenge, Humboldt-Kolleg-Palampur (India), Anne Books: New Delhi/Chennai/Mumbai 2009, pp. 187-208. A pre-print is accessible in Indo-German Science Circle Website of the Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany, New Delhi: (www.science-cooperation.org/www.science-circle.org).

  2. 2.

    See Pandit, G. L., ‘Quantum Technology on the Horizon: The Evolution of the Quantum Core-Context of Scientific Development’, an invited contribution to the Ruperto-Carola-Symposium: Hybrid Quantum Systems: New Perspectives on Quantum State Control (University of Heidelberg: 12-15 May 2010a, IWH, Heidelberg), unpublished.

  3. 3.

    See Dalby S (2009: 18–19).

  4. 4.

    See also Foley (2006); Peterson (2008); Storm (2008).

  5. 5.

    See also Barbier Edward B (2010) Poverty, development, and environment. Environment and Development Economics 15: 635–660.

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Pandit, G.L. (2013). Ecosystem-Resilience: A Long Journey to Nature Policy. In: Nautiyal, S., Rao, K., Kaechele, H., Raju, K., Schaldach, R. (eds) Knowledge Systems of Societies for Adaptation and Mitigation of Impacts of Climate Change. Environmental Science and Engineering(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36143-2_5

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