On the Origin of Beauty

As the ecological crisis deepens, much of the stunning beauty of the natural world is being lost forever. In this groundbreaking work, Griffin suggests that it is precisely through coming to understand the mysterious quality of beauty that we may find a solution to humanity's suicidal assault on the environment. By looking at seemingly disparate fields of study-such as environmental ethics, ecology, the philosophy of science, Eastern and Western religion (with emphasis on Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam as well as American Indian and Aboriginal spirituality), poetry, and sacred art-Griffin reveals the true significance of the intuitive perception of beauty, and asserts that Nature's beauty may itself act as a catalyst to transform our consciousness and heal the earth.