Professor Emeritus Robin Attfield MA, PhD, DLitt
Professor Emeritus of Philosophy
Cardiff University
Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
Biography
Emeritus Professor Robin Attfield has been a member of the Science and Religion Forum for several decades, and has contributed several reviews to 'Reviews in Science and Religion'. His latest book, 'The Ethics of the Climate Crisis' (Polity Press, 2024) reflects his specialisms in environmental philosophy and in climate ethics. Earlier books of special interest to members of ISSR include 'Creation, Evolution and Meaning' (Ashgate, later Routledge, 2006) and 'Wonder, Value and God' (Routledge 2017). He has also written textbooks such as 'Ethics: An Overview' (Bloomsbury, 2012) and 'Applied Ethics: An Introduction' (Polity Press, 2023). His roles as a Quaker include convening the Environment and Sustainability Cluster of South Wales Area Meeting and of Crynwyr Cymraeg Quakers in Wales. He has chaired the Cardiff and District Branch of the United Nations Association since 1994.
Biography
Robin Attfield is an Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Cardiff University, where he taught philosophy from 1968 until 2012 (as Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader and Professor). He is also an Emeritus Professor of the Cardiff University Institute for Sustainable Places. He has served as Visiting Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Ife, Nigeria (1972-3), Inter-University Council Visiting Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Nairobi, Kenya, 1975, and National Research Council (Republic of South Africa) Visiting Research Fellow (July/August 1999). He was awarded a University of Wales PhD in 1972, and a Cardiff University D. Litt. in 2008. He has held the roles of Secretary and later Chair of the Academic Assembly of Cardiff University, of Assistant Dean of the Cardiff School of Theology, and of Chair of the Philosophy Board of Studies. He has chaired Workshops and Sections on environmental ethics and the ethics of technology at the World Congresses of Philosophy of 1983 (Montreal), 1988 (Brighton) and 1998 (Boston). He has served on the advisory boards of the journals Environmental Ethics, Environmental Values, International Journal of Applied Philosophy and Organisation and Environment, and as External Examiner for postgraduate degrees at the Universities of Durham, Helsinki, Lancaster, Liverpool, Manchester, Melbourne, Oxford, Pretoria, Stellenbosch and Tasmania.
Having been born in 1941, he was educated at Watford Boys’ Grammar School (1952-60), Christ Church, Oxford (1960-64) and Regents Park College, Oxford (1964-6). He was awarded first class honours in Honour Moderations in Greek and Latin (Oxford, 1962), in Literae Humaniores (Philosophy and Ancient History: 1964), and in Theology (1966).
His current fields of research include Ethics, Environmental Philosophy, History of Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion. He has written the following books: God and The Secular: A Philosophical Assessment of Secular Reasoning from Bacon to Kant (1978 and 1993), The Ethics of Environmental Concern (1983 and 1991), A Theory of Value and Obligation (1987), Environmental Philosophy: Principles and Prospects (1994), Value, Obligation and Meta-Ethics (1995), The Ethics of the Global Environment (1999 and 2015), Environmental Ethics: An Overview for the Twenty-First Century (2003 and 2014)), Creation, Evolution and Meaning (2006), Ethics: An Overview (2012), Wonder, Value and God (2016), Environmental Ethics: A Very Short Introduction (2018), Environmental Thought: A Short History (2021), Applied Ethics: An Introduction (2022), and The Ethics of the Climate Crisis (2024). He is the joint editor of Values, Conflict and the Environment (1989 and 1996), of International Justice and the Third World (1992), of Philosophy and the Natural Environment (1994) and of Sustainable Alternatives for Poverty Reduction and Eco-Justice (2014), and the editor of The Ethics of the Environment (2008).
He has contributed to a range of philosophical journals including Analysis, Ethics, Environmental Ethics, Environmental Values, Inquiry, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, Journal of Applied Philosophy, Journal of the History of Ideas, Journal of the History of Philosophy, Journal of Value Inquiry, Metaphilosophy, Mind, Noûs, Philosophy, The Philosophical Quarterly, Religious Studies, and Sophia. His essays include ‘The God of Religion and the God of Philosophy’ (Religious Studies, 9, 1973, 1-9), ‘On Being Human’ (Inquiry, 17, 1974, 175-192), ‘Supererogation and Double Standards’ (Mind, 88, 1979, 481-499), ‘The Good of Trees’ (Journal of Value Inquiry, 15, 1981, 35-54), ‘Work and the Human Essence’ (Journal of Applied Philosophy, 1, 1984, 141-150), ‘Environmental Ethics and Intergenerational Equity’ (Inquiry, 41, 1998, 207-222), ‘Saving Nature, Feeding People and Ethics’, (Environmental Values, 7, 1998, 291-304), and ‘Postmodernism, Value and Objectivity’, (Environmental Values, 10, 2001, 145-162). His book Environmental Ethics: A Very Short Introduction has been translated into Chinese, Spanish and Italian. He is also the author of 41 book reviews.
He is married, with three children and six living grand-children. His wife Leela and he are this year celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. They are both members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
Honoraria Titles
Major Prizes
Religion, Philosophy & History Interests
Ethics
Science & Technology Interests
Evolution
Website
Publications
The Ethics of the Climate Crisis
Polity Press 2024
Co-authors: NONE
Editors:NONE
Volume:NOT APPLICABLE
