Explaining Human Actions and Environmental Changes

Andrew P. Vayda is professor emeritus of anthropology and ecology at Rutgers University.

• Chapter 1 PrefaceChapter 2 Chapter 1. Causal Explanation as a Research Goal: Do's and Don'tsChapter 3 Chapter 2. Both Ends of the Firestick: Causal Explanation of Indonesian Forest FiresChapter 4 Chapter 3. On Knowing What Not to Know about Knowing: A Critical View of Local Knowledge StudiesChapter 5 Chapter 4. Do We Need an Anthropological Perspective on Tropical Deforestation?Chapter 6 Chapter 5. Seeing Nature's Complexity but Not People'sChapter 7 Chapter 6. Against Political EcologyChapter 8 Chapter 7. Failures of Explanation in Darwinian Ecological AnthropologyChapter 9 Chapter 8. Concepts of Process in Social Science ExplanationsChapter 10 Chapter 9. Explaining Why Marings Fought: Different Questions, Different AnswersChapter 11 Chapter 10. The Anthropology of War: Polemics and Confusion

This book represents decades of candid reflection on human-environment relations. It is a welcome challenge to the 'interpretation' focus that dominates currently, evident in fashionable political ecology. Pete Vayda—who needs no introduction to those familiar with the field—has consistently argued for empirically grounded 'explanation' (asking 'why-questions,' as he puts it ) supported by rigorous appraisal of available evidence. He refines his argument here, in an approach he now calls 'causal explanation,' and explores its methodological implications. I warmly recommend the book to all those with an interest in human ecology as a thought-provoking read.