In this book Taylor traces the evolution of political thought about the environment from within a dialectic between two traditions: the  progressive  and the  pastoral.  These traditions are described as having roots in the philosophies of Gifford Pinchot and Henry David Thoreau, respectively, and while this tracing of ancestry is not new or unique to this book, what Taylor does with this starting point is both creative and interesting.  Most books which entertain the analysis of theory applied to the environment concentrate on single dimensions of humanities\u27 ethical or economic impact on nature, without a sense of how that particular analysis fits into the overall complexity of thought that has evolved in environmental political theory. Taylor improves on this practice in two ways

Gillroy, John Martin

English

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and 
Social Sciences Great Plains Studies, Center for 
August 1993 
Review of Our Limits Transgressed: Environmental Political 
Thought in America by Bob Peperman Taylor 
John Martin Gillroy 
Public Policy Studies Program, Trinity College 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch 
 Part of the Other International and Area Studies Commons 
Gillroy, John Martin, "Review of Our Limits Transgressed: Environmental Political Thought in America by 
Bob Peperman Taylor" (1993). Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences. 148. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch/148 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Great Plains Studies, Center for at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Plains Research: A 
Journal of Natural and Social Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - 
Lincoln. 
376 Great Plains Research Vol. 3 No.2, 1993
Our Limits Transgressed: Environmental Political Thought in America.
Bob Peperman Taylor. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 1992. xiii +
184 pp. $25.00 cloth.
In this book Taylor traces the evolution of political thought about the
environment from within a dialectic between two traditions: the "progressive"
and the "pastoral." These traditions are described as having roots in the
philosophies of Gifford Pinchot and Henry David Thoreau, respectively, and
while this tracing of ancestry is not new or unique to this book, what Taylor
does with this starting point is both creative and interesting.
Most books which entertain the analysis oftheory applied to the environ-
ment concentrate on single dimensions of humanities' ethical or economic
impact on nature, without a sense of how that particular analysis fits into the
overall complexity of thought that has evolved in environmental political
theory. Taylor improves on this practice in two ways.
First, he uses the Pinchot/Thoreau distinction to set up an evolving
theoretical dialectic between consequentialist and non-consequentialist po-
litical thought concerning the environment and draws a wide cross-section of
contemporary thinkers into this ongoing dialectic who heretofore have not be
Book Reviews 377
organized and sorted in quite this way. Second, he integrates the current
vocabulary of environmental discourse (biocentric, deep ecology, anthropo-
centric etc.) intb this evolution so that the reader can see a complete picture of
what before seemed to be unorganized and isolated rhetoric. In this way Taylor
has changed noise into music and has created a place for this volume as an
important contribution to the literature it analyzes. The question is whether
the book does more than organize and orchestrate the literature that already
exists.
For example, a core concern upon which Taylor focuses throughout the
book is the possible conflict between placing intrinsic value upon nature and
the need for the instrumental use of nature's resources to fuel the expanding
economy that is a central promise of democratic institutions. As the book
progresses the reader is taken through a variety of definitions ofintrinsic and
instrumental value as well as many recommendations, from different theo-
rists, of how a balance between the two can be achieved. One is given the
impression, by Taylor's fine critical analysis of each theory, that within this
dialogue an evolution of thought is occurring that gives the politics of envi-
ronmental policy a more and more sophisticated treatment over time. The
reader is presented with a narrative that leads them to a point where they are
interested in Taylor's own argument about the integration of the progressive
and the pastoral, but this, alas, does not appear.
Although the last chapter, "Restoring Political Vision," suggests some
original and provocative ideas, here as throughout the book, the ideas and
arguments that are analyzed and placed in context, are from others and not
from Taylor. On page 150Taylor asks "How does one account for and integrate
an appropriate understanding of nature within a more general theory of
politics?" This is a critical question and one, thanks to the clarity and organi-
zational ingenuity of this book, that takes on even more importance than the
reader initially assumes. However, one finishes the book wanting another
chapter or two where Taylor makes his own argument to answer this question.
The irony ofthis criticism may lie in the fact that the effectiveness with which
Taylor constructs the evolution of political thought on the environment puts
his own lack of contribution to this evolution in more drastic relief. This
however is to the book's, and the author's, credit.
This one criticism does not detract from my contention that this book is
the best primer on the evolution of political thought on the environment that
presently exists and therefore should have a unique place in the literature for
this reason alone. The way it analyzes, organizes, and sets in context the many
political theories that attempt to address man's relationship to the environment
378 Great Plains Research Vol. 3 No.2, 1993
is praiseworthy and makes Our Limits Transgressed, a perfect text for either an
undergraduate or graduate course in political theory and environmental policy.
In a concise and complete analysis, Taylor makes the connections that will
give the student a sound point ofdeparture for class discussion and the writing
of their own arguments.
Overall, Taylor has done a first class job in organizing and relating to one
another, the existing lexicon of environmental political thought and one only
hopes that he does not stop here, but moves ahead to add his arguments to the
ones he has so competently catalogued, analyzed, and integrated in this book.
John Martin Gillroy, Public Policy Studies Program, Trinity College.


Review of \u3ci\u3e Our Limits Transgressed: Environmental Political Thought in America\u3c/i\u3e by Bob Peperman Taylor

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences Great Plains Studies, Center for August 1993 Review of Our Limits Transgressed: Environmental Political Thought in America by Bob Peperman Taylor John Martin Gillroy Public Policy Studies Program, Trinity College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch  Part of the Other International and Area Studies Commons Gillroy, John Martin, "Review of Our Limits Transgressed: Environmental Political Thought in America by Bob Peperman Taylor" (1993). Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences. 148. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch/148 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Great Plains Studies, Center for at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 376 Great Plains Research Vol. 3 No.2, 1993Our Limits Transgressed: Environmental Political Thought in America.Bob Peperman Taylor. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 1992. xiii +184 pp. $25.00 cloth.In this book Taylor traces the evolution of political thought about theenvironment from within a dialectic between two traditions: the "progressive"and the "pastoral." These traditions are described as having roots in thephilosophies of Gifford Pinchot and Henry David Thoreau, respectively, andwhile this tracing of ancestry is not new or unique to this book, what Taylordoes with this starting point is both creative and interesting.Most books which entertain the analysis oftheory applied to the environ-ment concentrate on single dimensions of humanities' ethical or economicimpact on nature, without a sense of how that particular analysis fits into theoverall complexity of thought that has evolved in environmental politicaltheory. Taylor improves on this practice in two ways.First, he uses the Pinchot/Thoreau distinction to set up an evolvingtheoretical dialectic between consequentialist and non-consequentialist po-litical thought concerning the environment and draws a wide cross-section ofcontemporary thinkers into this ongoing dialectic who heretofore have not beBook Reviews 377organized and sorted in quite this way. Second, he integrates the currentvocabulary of environmental discourse (biocentric, deep ecology, anthropo-centric etc.) intb this evolution so that the reader can see a complete picture ofwhat before seemed to be unorganized and isolated rhetoric. In this way Taylorhas changed noise into music and has created a place for this volume as animportant contribution to the literature it analyzes. The question is whetherthe book does more than organize and orchestrate the literature that alreadyexists.For example, a core concern upon which Taylor focuses throughout thebook is the possible conflict between placing intrinsic value upon nature andthe need for the instrumental use of nature's resources to fuel the expandingeconomy that is a central promise of democratic institutions. As the bookprogresses the reader is taken through a variety of definitions ofintrinsic andinstrumental value as well as many recommendations, from different theo-rists, of how a balance between the two can be achieved. One is given theimpression, by Taylor's fine critical analysis of each theory, that within thisdialogue an evolution of thought is occurring that gives the politics of envi-ronmental policy a more and more sophisticated treatment over time. Thereader is presented with a narrative that leads them to a point where they areinterested in Taylor's own argument about the integration of the progressiveand the pastoral, but this, alas, does not appear.Although the last chapter, "Restoring Political Vision," suggests someoriginal and provocative ideas, here as throughout the book, the ideas andarguments that are analyzed and placed in context, are from others and notfrom Taylor. On page 150Taylor asks "How does one account for and integratean appropriate understanding of nature within a more general theory ofpolitics?" This is a critical question and one, thanks to the clarity and organi-zational ingenuity of this book, that takes on even more importance than thereader initially assumes. However, one finishes the book wanting anotherchapter or two where Taylor makes his own argument to answer this question.The irony ofthis criticism may lie in the fact that the effectiveness with whichTaylor constructs the evolution of political thought on the environment putshis own lack of contribution to this evolution in more drastic relief. Thishowever is to the book's, and the author's, credit.This one criticism does not detract from my contention that this book isthe best primer on the evolution of political thought on the environment thatpresently exists and therefore should have a unique place in the literature forthis reason alone. The way it analyzes, organizes, and sets in context the manypolitical theories that attempt to address man's relationship to the environment378 Great Plains Research Vol. 3 No.2, 1993is praiseworthy and makes Our Limits Transgressed, a perfect text for either anundergraduate or graduate course in political theory and environmental policy.In a concise and complete analysis, Taylor makes the connections that willgive the student a sound point ofdeparture for class discussion and the writingof their own arguments.Overall, Taylor has done a first class job in organizing and relating to oneanother, the existing lexicon of environmental political thought and one onlyhopes that he does not stop here, but moves ahead to add his arguments to theones he has so competently catalogued, analyzed, and integrated in this book.John Martin Gillroy, Public Policy Studies Program, Trinity College.

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1149&amp;context=greatplainsresearch

Review of \u3ci\u3e Our Limits Transgressed: Environmental Political Thought in America\u3c/i\u3e by Bob Peperman Taylor

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