Title: The foundations of environmental decision-making

Authors: Alan Holland

Addresses: Department of Philosophy, Furness College, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YG, UK

Abstract: An account of judgement is developed, which is used to show that deliberative procedures can provide a substantially different input to environmental decision-making from that afforded by cost-benefit analysis and, specifically, by the method of contingent valuation. It is argued that environmental concern typically invokes values, which are in turn formed and expressed through the exercise of judgement – itself the outcome of a deliberative rather than a calculative process. It is concluded that environmental concern is more effectively articulated through deliberative procedures than through the method of cost-benefit analysis.

Keywords: cost-benefit analysis; deliberative procedures; judgement; preference; value; environmental policies; environmental decisions; decision making; contingent valuation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.1997.028315

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 1997 Vol.7 No.4, pp.483 - 496

Published online: 16 Sep 2009 *

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