Animals and Nature: Cultural Myths, Cultural Realities

In this provocative book, Rod Preece takes issue with the popular view that the Western cultural tradition, in contrast to Eastern and Native American traditions, has encouraged attitudes of domination and exploitation towards nature, particularly animals. He argues that the much maligned Western tradition has more to commend it than is customarily recognized, and that the Native and Oriental orientations to animals and nature have often been described in a misleadingly rosy hue.

The result of six years' intensive research into comparative religion, literature, philosophy, anthropology, mythology, ethology, and animal welfare science, Animals and Nature is a welcome contribution to the debate about our place in the natural world.