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Ben Minteer

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School of Life Sciences
Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4501
School for the Future of Innovation in Society > Related Faculty
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4501
Lincoln Center Applied Ethics
Lincoln Center Affiliated Faculty
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4501
Biography

Ben A. Minteer is Professor of Environmental Ethics and Conservation in the School of Life Sciences at ASU. His work grapples with two big questions: What obligations do we have toward species and wildlands in a rapidly changing and increasingly human-shaped environment? And how can a better understanding of the American conservation tradition enhance our efforts to secure a biologically and culturally rich environmental future?  His writing is grounded in the tradition of American Pragmatism, especially its moral, scientific, and civic traditions. He currently holds the Arizona Zoological Society Endowed Chair in the School of Life Sciences at ASU, a position established by the Maytag family when they founded what is now the Phoenix Zoo. He is also a Fellow at the Center for Humans and Nature (Chicago).

Minteer has authored more than seventy articles, essays, and book chapters and his work has appeared in Science, Nature, PNAS, BioScience, Conservation Biology, Environmental Ethics, Slate, and Earth Island Journal among other outlets. He has also published a number of books, including After Preservation: Saving American Nature in the Age of Humans (University of Chicago Press) and The Landscape of Reform: Civic Pragmatism and Environmental Thought in America (MIT Press). His next book, The Ark and Beyond: The Evolution of Zoo and Aquarium Conservation (University of Chicago Press), will appear in the spring of 2018.

 

CV
Binary Data Curriculum Vitae
Education

PhD, 2000, University of Vermont

Videos
“The Value of Extinction in the Age of Humans," a public talk on the ethics of de-extinction at the American Museum of Natural History, NYC, October 14, 2014.
Research Website
http://www.benaminteer.com/
Research Interests

Environmental ethics & policy; human dimensions of ecology & conservation; history & philosophy of conservation/environmentalism, environmental political thought, animal ethics

 

Publications

Five Representative Publications:

  • Minteer, Ben A., Jane Maienschein, and James P. Collins, eds. 2018. The Ark and Beyond: The Evolution of Zoo and Aquarium Conservation (University of Chicago Press).
  • Minteer, Ben A. and Stephen J. Pyne, eds. 2015. After Preservation: Saving American Nature in the Age of Humans (Chicago: University of Chicago Press).
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2014. “Is it Right to Reverse Extinction?” Nature 509: 261.
  • Minteer, Ben A., James P. Collins, Karen E. Love, and Robert Puschendorf. 2014. “Avoiding (Re)Extinction” Science 344: 260-261.
  • Minteer, Ben A. and James P. Collins. 2013. “Ecological Ethics in Captivity: Balancing Values and Responsibilities in Zoo and Aquarium Research Under Rapid Global Change.” ILAR Journal 54: 41-51.

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BOOKS

  • Minteer, Ben A., Jane Maienschein, and James P. Collins, eds. 2018. The Ark and Beyond: The Evolution of Zoo and Aquarium Conservation (University of Chicago Press).
  • Minteer, Ben A. and Stephen J. Pyne, eds. 2015. After Preservation: Saving American Nature in the Age of Humans (University of Chicago Press).
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2012. Refounding Environmental Ethics: Pragmatism, Principle, and Practice (Temple University Press).
  • Minteer, Ben A., ed. 2009. Nature in Common? Environmental Ethics and the Contested Foundations of Environmental Policy (Temple University Press).
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2006. The Landscape of Reform: Civic Pragmatism and Environmental Thought in America (MIT Press).
  • Minteer, Ben A. and Robert E. Manning, eds. 2003. Reconstructing Conservation: Finding Common Ground (Island Press).
  • Minteer, Ben A. and Bob Pepperman Taylor, eds. 2002. Democracy and the Claims of Nature: Critical Perspectives for a New Century (Rowman & Littlefield).

 

BOOKS (under review/contract)

  • Minteer, Ben A., Mark Klett, and Stephen J. Pyne. Wild Visions: Imaging and Imagining the American Wilderness (University of Chicago Press, under contract).
  • Minteer, Ben A. Shadows of Extinction. Loss, Recovery, Resurrection (Columbia University Press, under contract).
  • Sarkar, Sahotra and Ben A. Minteer, eds. A Sustainable Philosophy: The Work of Bryan Norton (Springer, under contract).

 

EDITED JOURNALS/SERIES

  • Minteer, Ben A., ed. 2012. “Environmental Ethics.” Article series for The Nature Knowledge Education Project (Nature Publications). Accessible at: http://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/environmental-ethics-96467512.
  • Minteer, Ben A. and Thad Miller, eds. 2011. “The New Conservation Debate: Beyond Parks vs. People.” Special issue of Biological Conservation 144.
  • Bird, Stephanie J., Minteer, Ben A., and James P. Collins, eds. 2008. “Ecological Ethics.”  Special issue of Science and Engineering Ethics 14.

 

ARTICLES, BOOK CHAPTERS, AND ESSAYS (SINCE 2012)

  • Minteer, Ben A., Jane Maienschein, and James P. Collins. 2018. “Zoo and Aquarium Conservation: Past, Present, Future.”  In The Ark and Beyond: The Evolution of Zoo and Aquarium Conservation, eds. Ben A. Minteer, Jane Maienschein, and James P. Collins (University of Chicago Press).
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2018. “The Parallax Zoo.” In The Ark and Beyond: The Evolution of Zoo and Aquarium Conservation, eds. Ben A. Minteer, Jane Maienschein, and James P. Collins (University of Chicago Press).
  • Minteer, Ben A., James P. Collins, and Aireona Raschke, in press. “From the Wild to the Walled: The Evolution and Ethics of Zoo Conservation.”  Routledge Companion to Environmental Ethics, eds. Benjamin Hale and Andrew Light (Routledge).
  • Minteer, Ben A. In press. “Environmental Ethics.” Routledge Companion to Environmental Studies, eds. Noel Castree, Mike Hulme and James Proctor (NY: Routledge).
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2017. “Environmental Ethics, Sustainability Science, and the Recovery of Pragmatism.” In The Oxford Handbook of Environmental Ethics, eds. Stephen M. Gardiner and Allen Thompson (Oxford University Press).
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2017. “What Would Leopold Do? Considering Assisted Colonization as a Conservation Strategy.” For Routledge Handbook for the Philosophy of Biodiversity, eds. Justin Garson, Anya Plutynski, and Sahotra Sarkar (Routledge).
  • Wu, Tong, Charles Perrings, Ann Kinzig, James P. Collins, Ben A. Minteer, and Peter Daszak. 2017. “Economic Growth, Urbanization, Globalization, and the Risks of Emerging Infectious Diseases in China: A Review.” Ambio.
  • Minteer, Ben A. and Robert E. Manning. 2016. “Wilderness Preserves.” In A Thinking Person’s Guide to the National Parks, eds. Robert E. Manning, David Harmon, Nora Mitchell, and Rolf Diamant (George Braziller, Inc.): 105-115.
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2016. “The Real Zootopia.” Slate (3/3/16). http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2016/03/the_real_zootopia_in_denmark_has_experts_divided_on_the_state_of_the_zoo.html
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2015. “Why Edward Abbey Still Matters.”  Earth Island Journal (5/15/15). http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/why_edward_abbey_still_matters/
  • Minteer, Ben A. and Stephen J. Pyne. 2015. “What Does it Mean to Preserve Nature in the Age of Humans?” The Conversation (5/1/15). https://theconversation.com/what-does-it-mean-to-preserve-nature-in-the-age-of-humans-39987
  • Minteer, Ben A.  2015. “Abbey’s Secret.” In Abbey in America: A Philosopher’s Legacy in a New Century, ed. John A. Murray (University of New Mexico Press): 57-64.
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2015. “When Extinction is a Virtue.” In After Preservation: Saving American Nature in the Age of Humans, eds. Ben A. Minteer and Stephen J. Pyne (University of Chicago Press): 96-104.
  • Minteer, Ben and Steve Pyne. 2015. “Writing on Stone, Writing in the Wind.” In After Preservation: Saving American Nature in the Age of Humans, eds. Ben A. Minteer and Stephen J. Pyne (University of Chicago Press): 1-8.
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2015. “The Perils of De-Extinction.” Minding Nature 8 (1): 11-17.
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2014. “Extinct Species Should Stay Extinct.” Slate (December 1).
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2014. “Can Zoos Save the World?” The Conversation  (10/30/15).
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2014. “The Fall of the Wild? Not Really.” Slate (July 21).
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2014. “A Kerfuffle Over Species Collection.” Slate (June 16).
  • Minteer, Ben A., James P. Collins, and Robert Puschendorf.  2014. Response to critics.  Science 344: 816
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2014. “Is it Right to Reverse Extinction?” Nature 509: 261.
  • Minteer, Ben A., James P. Collins, Karen E. Love, and Robert Puschendorf.  2014. “Avoiding (Re)Extinction” Science 344: 260-261.
  • Winston, Johnny, Ben A. Minteer, and James P. Collins. 2014.“Old Wine, New Bottles? Using History to Inform the Assisted Colonization Debate.” Oryx 48: 186-194.
  • Minteer, Ben A. and James P. Collins. 2013 “Ecosystems Unbound: Ethical Questions for an Interventionist Ecology.”  In Ronald Sandler, ed., Ethics and Emerging Technologies (Palgrave-Macmillan), pp. 456-470.
  • Minteer, Ben A. and James P. Collins. 2013. “Ecological Ethics in Captivity: Balancing Values and Responsibilities in Zoo and Aquarium Research Under Rapid Global Change.”  ILAR Journal 54: 41-51.
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2013. “Conservation, Animal Rights, and Human Welfare: A Pragmatic View of the ‘Bushmeat Crisis’.” In Marc Bekoff, ed., Ignoring Nature No More: The Case for Compassionate Conservation (Chicago: University of Chicago Press), pp. 77-93.
  • Minteer, Ben A. and Leah R. Gerber. 2013. “Buying Whales to Save Them.” Issues in Science and Technology 29: 58-68.
  • Wiek, Arnim, Michael J. Bernstein, Manfred Laubichler, Guido Caniglia, Ben Minteer, and Daniel Lang. 2013. “A Global Classroom for International Sustainability Education.” Creative Education 4: 19-28.
  • Minteer, Ben A. and Stephen J. Pyne. 2013. “Restoring the Narrative of American Environmentalism.” Restoration Ecology 21: 6-11.
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2012. “Environmental Ethics” (Editor’s Introduction). Nature Education Knowledge  3. Accessible at: http://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/environmental-ethics-96467512.
  • Minteer, Ben A. 2012. “Geoengineering and Ecological Ethics in the Anthropocene.” BioScience 62: 857-858
  • Schwartz, M.W., Hellmann, J.J., McLachlan, J.M. , Sax D.F., Borevitz, J.O., Brennan, J. Camacho, A.E. , Ceballos, G., Doremus, H., Early, R., Etterson, J.R., Gill, J., Gonzalez, P., Green, N., Hannah, L., Jamieson, D.W. , Javeline. D., Minteer, B.A., Odenbaugh, J., Polasky, S., Richardson, D.M., Root, T.L., Safford, H.D., Sala, O., Schneider, S.H., Thompson, A.R., Williams,  J.W., Vellend, M., Vitt, P., Zellmer, S. 2012. “Managed Relocation: Integrating the Scientific, Regulatory and Ethical Challenges.” BioScience 62: 732-743.
  • Minteer, Ben A. and James P. Collins. 2012. “Species Conservation, Rapid Environmental Change, and Ecological Ethics.” Nature Education Knowledge 3:14.
Research Activity
Fall 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 493Honors Thesis
Summer 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 324Environmental Ethics
Spring 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 493Honors Thesis
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
SOS 527Environ Ethics & Policy Goals
BIO 527Environ Ethics & Policy Goals
Fall 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 189Life Sciences Career Paths
PHI 310Environmental Ethics
BIO 324Environmental Ethics
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 493Honors Thesis
Summer 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 324Environmental Ethics
Spring 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 412Conservation in Practice
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
SOS 527Environ Ethics & Policy Goals
BIO 527Environ Ethics & Policy Goals
Fall 2015
Course NumberCourse Title
PHI 310Environmental Ethics
BIO 324Environmental Ethics
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 493Honors Thesis
BIO 615Biology and Society Lab
HPS 615Biology and Society Lab
SOS 799Dissertation
Spring 2015
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 412Conservation in Practice
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
SOS 498Pro-Seminar
SSH 498Pro-Seminar
HPS 498Pro-Seminar
HON 498Pro-Seminar
BIO 498Pro-Seminar
SOS 591Seminar
BIO 591Seminar
SOS 799Dissertation
Fall 2014
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 493Honors Thesis
SOS 799Dissertation
Spring 2014
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 412Conservation in Practice
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 493Honors Thesis
BIO 494Special Topics
HPS 498Pro-Seminar
SOS 498Pro-Seminar
BIO 498Pro-Seminar
SSH 498Pro-Seminar
HON 498Pro-Seminar
BIO 591Seminar
SOS 591Seminar
SOS 799Dissertation
Fall 2013
Course NumberCourse Title
PHI 310Environmental Ethics
BIO 324Environmental Ethics
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 493Honors Thesis
BIO 499Individualized Instruction
SOS 799Dissertation
Spring 2013
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 412Conservation in Practice
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
HON 494Special Topics
BIO 591Seminar
SOS 591Seminar
SOS 792Research
SOS 799Dissertation
Presentations

BIO 324/PHI 310 Environmental Ethics

BIO 412 Conservation in Practice

BIO 527/SOS 527/PHI 528 Environmental Ethics and Policy Goals

Service
  • University of Chicago Press, manuscript reviewer (2013 - Present)
  • Collaboration with the Phoenix Zoo, AZ Zoological Society Chair (2013 - Present)
  • SoLS Communications Committee, Member (2012 - Present)
  • University of New Mexico Press, Manuscript reviewer (2012 - Present)
  • WIREs Climate Change, Referee (2012 - Present)
  • BioScience, Referee (2012 - Present)
  • Journal of Environment and Development, Referee (2012 - Present)
  • Ethics, Policy and the Environment, Referee (2012 - Present)
  • Ecological Economics, Referee (2012 - Present)
  • Synthese, referee (2011 - Present)
  • Environmental History, referee (2011 - Present)
  • Environmental Philosophy, referee (2011 - Present)
  • CLAS Committee on Committees, member (2011 - 2015)
  • Environmental Ethics, Editorial Board (2010 - Present)
  • Environmental Ethics, Editorial Board (2010 - Present)
  • Oxford University Press, Manuscript reviewer (2010 - Present)
  • National Science Foundation, Panel reviewer (2009 - 2014)
  • Ethics and the Environment, Referee (2010 - Present)
  • Journal for the Study of Nature, Religion & Culture, referee (2009 - Present)
  • SoLS Undergraduate Programs Committee, Committee Member (2009 - 2014)
  • Biological Conservation, Referee (2009 - Present)
  • University Press of Kentucky, Manuscript reviewer (2009 - Present)
  • SUNY Press, Book Manuscript Reviewer (2009 - Present)
  • Conservation Letters, Referee (2009 - Present)
  • Environmental Ethics, Referee (2009 - Present)
  • Gale/Cengage GREENr Prpoject (Multi-Media Resource for Sustainability), Editorial Advisory Board Member (2009 - 2011)
  • Conservation Biology, Referee (2006 - Present)
  • Environmental Values, Referee (2006 - Present)
  • Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, Referee (2006 - Present)
  • ASU National Scholarships and Fellowships Committee, committe member -- Udall Scholarship Competition; Marshall Interview Committee (2004 - Present)
  • ASU National Scholarships and Fellowships Committee, committe member -- Udall Scholarship Competition; Marshall Interview Committee (2004 - Present)
  • Environmental Ethics, Editorial Board Member (2010 - 2020)
  • Politics & Policy, Referee (2010 - 2011)
  • Temple University Press, manuscript reviewer (2008 - 2008)
  • CLAS Faculty Senate, Member (2006 - 2008)
  • National Scholarships and Fellowships Committee, Member (2004 - 2007)
  • SoLS Undergraduate Curriculum Review Committee, Committee Member (2006 - 2007)
  • SoLS Collections Committee, Member (2005 - 2006)
  • SoLS Human Dimensions Speaker Nomination Committee, Chair (2005 - 2006)
  • Conservation Biology, Referee (2006 - 2006)
  • Island Press, Book Proposal Reviewer (2006 - 2006)
  • SoLS Sustainability Committee, Member (2006 - 2006)
  • Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics Advisory Council, Affiliate (2004 - 2006)
  • SUNY Press, Book Manuscript Reviewer (2006 - 2006)
  • Ecology, Referee (2006 - 2006)
  • Students for Environmental Action, Faculty Advisor (2004 - 2005)
  • National Science Foundation, Proposal Reviewer (2005 - 2005)
  • MIT Press, Reviewer (2004 - 2004)
  • Philosophy and Geography, Referee (2004)
  • Worldviews: Environment, Culture, Religion, Referee (2004)
  • Environmental Ethics, Referee (Present)
  • Landscape and Urban Planning, referee (Present)
  • Restoration Ecology, referee (Present)
Expertise Areas
Environmental Ethics
Ecological Ethics
Conservation Policy
Conservation Biology
Environmental History