PHILOSOPHY

Bas Haring

Why Biodiversity Loss is Not a Disaster

Everyone knows that species go extinct and biodiversity decreases. It seems obvious that this loss might have disastrous consequences. Maybe because of a cascading effect we will end up in a barren moonscape – and if that does not happen, we at the very least remain dependent on biodiversity for food, health and well-being. This essay tries to remove some fear; there are no reasons to believe that biodiversity loss will cause any kind of disaster. Nature is not like a machine that stalls if parts are being removed: a collapse of nature is not looming. And although specific species are required for various goods and services, this cannot be generalized to biodiversity overall. In this book Bas Haring argues that biodiversity loss is a pity, but not a disaster.

The most thought-provoking book of the year. - De Standaard, about Plastic panda’s, the Dutch predecessor of this publication.

PHILOSOPHY / BIODIVERSITY Publication date Autumn 2020 NUR 738, 410 ISBN 9789087283537 e-pdf 9789400603905 epub 9789400603912 Language English Price € 12.50 £ 11.50 $ 15.00 Format Paperback 135 x 210 mm Page extent 75 Cover design Andre Klijsen Imprint LUP General Bas Haring is a philosopher, professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Leiden University and author of a much awarded popular science book on the theory of evolution (Kaas en de evolutietheorie). He is called ‘the people's philosopher’ and was awarded the “Clear Language Prize” for being the clearest Dutch academic.