The Natural City

Urban and natural environments are often viewed as entirely separate entities - human settlements as the domain of architects and planners, and natural areas as untouched wilderness. This dichotomy continues to drive decision-making in subtle ways, but with the mounting pressures of global climate change and declining biodiversity, it is no longer viable. New technologies are promising to provide renewable energy sources and greener designs, but real change will require a deeper shift in values, attitudes, and perceptions.

A timely and important collection, The Natural City explores how to integrate the natural environment into healthy urban centres from philosophical, religious, socio-political, and planning perspectives. Recognizing the need to better link the humanities with public policy, The Natural City offers unique insights for the development of an alternative vision of urban life.

“'This collection seeks to bring fresh perspectives that will help conceptualize more sustainable cities for future… If you're interested in cities and environment, you'll find plenty that intrigues.'”

‘This collection seeks to bring fresh perspectives that will help conceptualize more sustainable cities for future… If you’re interested in cities and environment, you’ll find plenty that intrigues.’ - Tyrone Burke (Canadian Geographic, June 2012) ‘This collection is excellent… All essays are engaging and thought provoking… Highly recommended.’ - P.L. Kantor (Choice Magazine, vol 49:10:2012)

‘The Natural City brings together essays on the thought-provoking topic of the “natural city”... It directs the conversation of environmental philosophy toward a new perspective on how culture and nature are interconnected.’

- Forrest Clingerman (Environmental Philosophy; vol 9:02:2012) ‘This collection manages the challenge of discussing complicated concepts in clear language, successfully balancing a depth of analysis and accessibility of concepts…The Natural City starts the dialogue on reintegrating the natural with the urban; an essential topic for the survival of human and non-human alike.’ - Madison Van West, UnderCurrents (Journal of Critical Environmental Studies, vol 18:2014)

Ingrid Leman Stefanovic is a professor emerita in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Toronto and a professor and dean emeritus in the Faculty of Environment at Simon Fraser University.

Stephen Bede Scharper is an associate professor with the Centre for the Environment and the Department of Anthropology at the University of Toronto.

Urban and natural environments are often viewed as entirely separate entities -- human settlements as the domain of architects and planners, and natural areas as untouched wilderness. This dichotomy continues to drive decision-making in subtle ways, but with the mounting pressures of global climate change and declining biodiversity, it is no longer viable. New technologies are promising to provide renewable energy sources and greener designs, but real change will require a deeper shift in values, attitudes, and perceptions. A timely and important collection, The Natural City explores how to integrate the natural environment into healthy urban centres from philosophical, religious, socio-political, and planning perspectives. Recognizing the need to better link the humanities with public policy, The Natural City offers unique insights for the development of an alternative vision of urban life.

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