Ethics & the Environment

Abstract:

In this paper I argue that ecofeminist theory needs a clearly stated ontological grounding in order to strengthen its ethical framework. In Karen Warren's work, she proposes an ecofeminist ethic delineated by "boundary conditions" which determine the approaches that cohere to ecofeminist concerns. One such condition is a reconceptualization of "what it is to be human." Here I trace the ontological assumptions present in Karen Warren's work in order to argue for the acceptance of a feminist, relational and context-dependent ontology as a boundary condition of an ecofeminist ethic. I propose that Karen Warren's approach to ontology functions similarly to her ethic in that she allows for a pluralistic approach to ontology and presents a number of boundary conditions that limit which ontologies can be deemed "ecofeminist ontologies." I conclude that Warren's ethic and ontology are closely intertwined and suggest that further ontological analysis of ecofeminist work could strengthen the growing field of ecofeminist ethics.