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Pete A. Y. Gunter
Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies
University of North Texas
P.O. Box 310920
Denton, Texas 76203-0920
940.565.2257
gunter@unt.edu
Professional philosopher and active environmentalist Pete A. Y. Gunter has combined concern for the land and waters of Texas with a continuing interest in ethics and the philosophy of nature. His books include Texas and Land Ethics (1997), The Big Thicket: A Challenge for Conservation (1972), and Bergson and Modern Thought (1987).
Presentations
The Big Thicket: Ecology and a Philosophy of Value
After four decades of working—with some success—to save the Big Thicket of Southeast Texas, Gunter concludes that the most basic problems of the environment are not biological, sociological, or technological, but philosophical, ethical, and even metaphysical. Alongside swamps, savannas, and palmetto jungles, we must have value.
Frontier Mentality and the New World of Texas: Time for a New Ethics?
Texas is no longer a frontier. Massive urban sprawl, congestion, and the depletion of resources create situations requiring a new approach. Aldo Leopold’s land ethics, which teaches an obligation to respect the integrity and stability of the land community, can provide such an approach. Land ethics are balanced and hopeful.