The Ecology of Law, Fritjof Capra
The Ecology of Law, Fritjof Capra
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The Ecology of Law
Toward a Legal System in Tune with Nature and Community

Author: Fritjof Capra, Ugo Mattei

Narrator: Jeff Hoyt

Unabridged: 6 hr 50 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/05/2015

Categories: Nonfiction, Law


Synopsis

WINNER OF THE 2015 IBPA BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AWARD IN POLITICS/CURRENT EVENTSThe Ecology of Law Fritjof Capra and Ugo Mattei argue that at the root of many of the environmental, economic, and social crises we face today is a legal system based on an obsolete worldview. Capra, a bestselling author, physicist, and systems theorist, and Mattei, a distinguished legal scholar, explain how, by incorporating concepts from modern science, the law can become an integral part of bringing about a better world, rather than facilitating its destruction. This is the first book to trace the fascinating parallel history of law and science from antiquity to modern times, showing how the two disciplines have always influenced each other—until recently. In the past few decades, science has shifted from seeing the natural world as a kind of cosmic machine best understood by analyzing each cog and sprocket to a systems perspective that views the world as a vast network of fluid communities and studies their dynamic interactions. The concept of ecology exemplifies this approach. But law is stuck in the old mechanistic paradigm: the world is simply a collection of discrete parts, and ownership of these parts is an individual right, protected by the state. Capra and Mattei show that this has led to overconsumption, pollution, and a general disregard on the part of the powerful for the common good. Capra and Mattei outline the basic concepts and structures of a legal order consistent with the ecological principles that sustain life on this planet. This is a profound and visionary reconceptualization of the very foundations of the Western legal system, a kind of Copernican revolution in the law, with profound implications for the future of our planet.

About Fritjof Capra

Fritjof Capra is the recipient of many awards, including the Gold Medal of the UK Systems Society, the Medal of the President of the Italian Republic, the Bioneers Award, the New Dimensions Broadcaster Award, and the American Book Award. He became universally known for his book The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism, which explored the ways in which modern physics was changing our worldview from a mechanistic to a holistic and ecological one. Capra lives in Berkeley, California, with his wife and daughter.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Tyler on April 13, 2016

This was definitely one of the most interesting books that I have read. The Ecology Of Law brings about an important point that we as humans need to examine in order to ensure our long-term survival. As the authors point out, there have been many movements, large and small, that are helping to bring......more

Goodreads review by Beyza on March 03, 2018

Bir bilimci ile bir hukukçunun bir araya gelerek doğa, toplum ve hukuk hakkında bir kitap yazabileceğini çoğumuz aklımıza bile getirmeyiz. Ancak Fritjof Capra ve Ugo Mattei'nin Hukukun Ekolojisi ile yaptıkları tam olarak bu. Yazarlar, kitapta ilk olarak, şu an bizim yan yana getirmekte zorlandığımız......more

Goodreads review by Al on November 01, 2018

Interesting history of the philosophy of law from an ecological perspective, with prescriptions for how to alter the legal system to blunt the human impact on the Earth. It suffers from the normal weaknesses in the genre, namely a dearth of new ways to affect the change recommended, and limited speci......more

Goodreads review by Brandon on April 25, 2019

I found it fascinating to read about the philosophy of modern law, consider what it is founded upon (protection of oneself and one's property), and imagine a new legal system based on radically different principles (e.g. sustainability and the welfare of the whole). The authors explore the possibili......more

Goodreads review by Mika on September 08, 2021

Agreed with the overarching argument, but ultimately the book provided limited originality and lacked depth. There is nothing new in here and I would've expected more engagement, and attribution to radical scholarship which paved the way for this kind of work, such as scholars writing on decoloniali......more