Articles & Book Chapters
Recent Publications
Procreation and Consumption in the Real World. P. Cafaro. Environmental Ethics 45 (2023): 295-306.
Differentiating research from management in welfare review of wildlife activities. T. Thompson, N. Galloway, M. Verant, P. Cafaro and M. Wild. Wildlife Society Bulletin (2023): e1479.
Population Effects on Biodiversity and Climate Change: Evidence from Recent Scientific Literature, 2010-2022. P. Cafaro, P. Hansson and F. Götmark. Indian Journal of Population and Development 3 (2023): 149-206.
An analysis of three decades of increasing carbon emissions: The weight of the P factor. L. Tamburino, P. Cafaro and G. Bravo. Sustainability (2023) 15: 3245.
Overpopulation is a major cause of biodiversity loss and smaller human populations are necessary to preserve what is left. P. Cafaro, P. Hansson and F. Götmark. Biological Conservation 272 (2022): 109646.
Reducing human numbers and the size of our economies is necessary to avoid a mass extinction and share Earth justly with other species. P. Cafaro. Philosophia 50 (2022): 10.1007/s11406-022-00497-w.
Just Population Policies for an Overpopulated World. P. Cafaro. Ecological Citizen 5 (2021): epub-046-1 (1-10).
Biodiversity Ethics
Fewer people would help preserve biodiversity: a response to Hughes et al. 2023. P. Cafaro, P. Hansson and F. Götmark. Biological Conservation 282 (2023): 110046.
Population Effects on Biodiversity and Climate Change: Evidence from Recent Scientific Literature, 2010-2022. P. Cafaro, P. Hansson and F. Götmark. Indian Journal of Population and Development 3 (2023): 149-206.
Conserving biodiversity means limiting our numbers: A response to Green et al. 2022. P. Cafaro, P. Hansson and F. Götmark. Biological Conservation 273 (2022): 109701.
Special Issue: The Ethics of Mass Species Extinction. R. Sandler and P. Cafaro. Philosophia 50 (2022): 10.1007/s11406-022-00550-8.
Overpopulation is a major cause of biodiversity loss and smaller human populations are necessary to preserve what is left. P. Cafaro, P. Hansson and F. Götmark. Biological Conservation 272 (2022): 109646.
Reducing human numbers and the size of our economies is necessary to avoid a mass extinction and share Earth justly with other species. P. Cafaro. Philosophia 50 (2022): 10.1007/s11406-022-00497-w.
Protecting Half the Planet and Transforming Human Systems Are Complementary Goals. E. Crist, H. Kopnina, P. Cafaro et al. Frontiers in Conservation Science 2. (2021): 781292 (1-9).
The Potential Environmental Impacts of EU Immigration Policy: Future Population Numbers, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Biodiversity Preservation. P. Cafaro and F. Götmark. Journal of Population and Sustainability 4 (2019): 71-101.
Valuing Wild Nature. In A. Thompson and S. Gardiner (eds.), Oxford Handbook of Environmental Ethics (Oxford University Press, 2017): 125-135.
Three Ways to Think About the Sixth Mass Extinction. Biological Conservation 192 (2015): 387-393.
Recent Books on Species Extinction. Biological Conservation 181 (2015): 245–257.
Is Humanity a Cancer on the Earth? Adbusters (July, 2015): 19-22.
Species Extinction is a Great Moral Wrong. P. Cafaro and R. Primack. Biological Conservation 170 (2014): 1-2.
Ethical Issues in Biodiversity Protection. P. Cafaro and R. Primack. In S. Levin (ed.), Encyclopedia of Biodiversity (Academic Press, 2013). 2nd ed., volume 3: 309-318.
Expanding Parks and Reducing Human Numbers: A Superior Alternative to Embracing the Anthropocene Era. The George Wright Forum 30 (2013): 261-266.
Ecological Integrity: Evaluating Success in National Parks and Protected Areas. In J. Bottrill (ed.), Encyclopedia of Life Sciences (MacMillan, 2012), 2nd ed., volume 6: 136-141.
Human Population Growth as if the Rest of Life Mattered. E. Crist and P. Cafaro. In P. Cafaro and E. Crist (eds.), Life on the Brink (University of Georgia Press, 2012): 3-15.
For a Species Right to Exist. W. Staples and P. Cafaro. In P. Cafaro and E. Crist (eds.), Life on the Brink (University of Georgia Press, 2012): 283-300.
Economic Growth or the Flourishing of Life: The Ethical Choice Global Climate Change Puts to Humanity in the 21st Century. Essays in Philosophy volume 11, issue 1, article 6 (2010).
For a Grounded Conception of Wilderness and More Wilderness on the Ground. Ethics and the Environment 6 (2001): 1-17.
The Naturalist's Virtues. Philosophy in the Contemporary World 8/2 (2001): 85-99.
For Indian Wilderness. M. Verma and P. Cafaro. Terra Nova 3/3 (1998): 53-58.
Climate Change Ethics
An analysis of three decades of increasing carbon emissions: The weight of the P factor. L. Tamburino, P. Cafaro and G. Bravo. Sustainability (2023) 15: 3245.
Population Growth, Family Planning and the Paris Agreement: An Assessment of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). J. Dodson, P. Dérer, P. Cafaro and F. Götmark. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics (2022): doi 10.1007/s10784-022-09573-8.
Climate Ethics and Population Policy: A Review of Recent Philosophical Work. P. Cafaro. WIRES: Climate Change 12 (2021): e748 (1-17).
Population growth and climate change: Addressing the overlooked threat multiplier. J. Dodson, P. Dérer, P. Cafaro and F. Götmark. Science of The Total Environment 748 (2020): 141346.
The Potential Environmental Impacts of EU Immigration Policy: Future Population Numbers, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Biodiversity Preservation. P. Cafaro and F. Götmark. Journal of Population and Sustainability 4 (2019): 71-101.
Reducing Consumption to Avert Catastrophic Global Climate Change: The Case of Aviation. Natural Science 5 (2013): 99-105.
What Should NPS Tell Visitors (and Congress) About Climate Change? The George Wright Forum 29 (2012): 287–298. (Centennial Essay Series)
Climate Ethics & Population Policy. WIREs Climate Change 3 (2012): 45-61.
Beyond Business as Usual: Alternative Wedges to Avoid Catastrophic Climate Change and Create Sustainable Societies. In D. Arnold (ed.), The Ethics of Global Climate Change (Cambridge University Press, 2011): 192-215.
Economic Growth or the Flourishing of Life: The Ethical Choice Global Climate Change Puts to Humanity in the 21st Century. Essays in Philosophy volume 11, issue 1, article 6 (2010).
Demography and Population Ethics
Procreation and Consumption in the Real World. P. Cafaro. Environmental Ethics 45 (2023): 295-306.
Fewer people would help preserve biodiversity: a response to Hughes et al. 2023. P. Cafaro, P. Hansson and F. Götmark. Biological Conservation 282 (2023): 110046.
Population Effects on Biodiversity and Climate Change: Evidence from Recent Scientific Literature, 2010-2022. P. Cafaro, P. Hansson and F. Götmark. Indian Journal of Population and Development 3 (2023): 149-206.
An analysis of three decades of increasing carbon emissions: The weight of the P factor. L. Tamburino, P. Cafaro and G. Bravo. Sustainability (2023) 15: 3245.
Conserving biodiversity means limiting our numbers: A response to Green et al. 2022. P. Cafaro, P. Hansson and F. Götmark. Biological Conservation 273 (2022): 109701.
Overpopulation is a major cause of biodiversity loss and smaller human populations are necessary to preserve what is left. P. Cafaro, P. Hansson and F. Götmark. Biological Conservation 272 (2022): 109646.
Reducing human numbers and the size of our economies is necessary to avoid a mass extinction and share Earth justly with other species. P. Cafaro. Philosophia 50 (2022): in press.
Population Growth, Family Planning and the Paris Agreement: An Assessment of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). J. Dodson, P. Dérer, P. Cafaro and F. Götmark. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics (2022): doi 10.1007/s10784-022-09573-8.
Just Population Policies for an Overpopulated World. P. Cafaro. Ecological Citizen 5 (2021): epub-046-1 (1-10).
Climate Ethics and Population Policy: A Review of Recent Philosophical Work. P. Cafaro. WIRES: Climate Change 12 (2021): e748 (1-17).
Protecting Half the Planet and Transforming Human Systems Are Complementary Goals. E. Crist, H. Kopnina, P. Cafaro et al. Frontiers in Conservation Science 2. (2021): 781292 (1-9).
Discussing Population Concepts: Overpopulation is a Necessary Word and an Inconvenient Truth. Götmark, F., J. O’Sullivan and P. Cafaro. Indian Journal of Population and Development 1 (2021): 51-60.
Population growth and climate change: Addressing the overlooked threat multiplier. J. Dodson, P. Dérer, P. Cafaro and F. Götmark. Science of The Total Environment 748 (2020): 141346.
Policy-based Population Projections for the European Union: A Complementary Approach. P. Cafaro and P. Dérer. Comparative Population Studies 44 (2019): 171-200. Appendix I. Appendix II. Appendix III.
Aging Human Populations: Good for Us, Good for the Earth. F. Götmark, P. Cafaro and J. O’Sullivan. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 33 (2018): 851-862.
Climate Ethics & Population Policy. WIREs Climate Change 3 (2012): 45-61.
Human Population Growth as if the Rest of Life Mattered. E. Crist and P. Cafaro. In P. Cafaro and E. Crist (eds.), Life on the Brink (University of Georgia Press, 2012): 3-15.
Immigration Ethics
How Should Ecological Citizens Think About Immigration? P. Cafaro and J. O’Sullivan. Ecological Citizen 3 (2019): 85-92.
The Potential Environmental Impacts of EU Immigration Policy: Future Population Numbers, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Biodiversity Preservation. P. Cafaro and F. Götmark. Journal of Population and Sustainability 4 (2019): 71-101.
The Environmental Impact of Immigration into the United States. Expert report filed in Whitewater Draw Natural Resource Conservation District vs. DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson (2016).
The Progressive Argument for Reducing Immigration. The Chronicle of Higher Education 61, issue 19 (January 23, 2015).
The Environmental Argument for Reducing Immigration into the United States. W. Staples and P. Cafaro. Environmental Ethics 31 (2009): 3-28.
The Economic Impacts of Mass Immigration into the United States, and the Proper Progressive Response. Policy brief for Progressives for Immigration Reform (Washington, DC, 2009).
An Exchange: The Morality of Immigration, R. Pevnick, P. Cafaro and M. Risse. Ethics & International Affairs 22 (2008): 241-259.
Consumption Ethics
Procreation and Consumption in the Real World. P. Cafaro. Environmental Ethics 45 (2023): 295-306.
Reducing Consumption to Avert Catastrophic Global Climate Change: The Case of Aviation. Natural Science 5 (2013): 99-105.
Getting to Less. Ethics, Place & Environment 13 (2010): 11-14.
The Virtue of Simplicity. J. Gambrel and P. Cafaro. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 23 (2010): 85-108.
Teaching Disrespect: The Ethics of ORV Use on America’s Public Lands. In G. Wuerthner (ed), Thrillcraft: The Environmental Consequences of Motorized Recreation (Foundation for Deep Ecology, 2007): 31-35.
The Fat of the Land: Linking American Food Overconsumption, Obesity, and Biodiversity Loss. P. Cafaro, R. Primack and R. Zimdahl. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 19 (2006): 541-561.
Philosophy and Ethical Consumption. C. Barnett, P. Cafaro and T. Newholm. In R. Harrison, T. Newholm and D. Shaw (eds.), The Ethical Consumer (Sage, 2005): 11-24.
Gluttony, Arrogance, Greed and Apathy: An Exploration of Environmental Vice. In R. Sandler and P. Cafaro (eds.), Environmental Virtue Ethics. (Rowman and Littlefield, 2005): 135-58.
Economic Consumption, Pleasure and the Good Life. Journal of Social Philosophy 32 (2001): 471-486.
Less is More: Economic Consumption and the Good Life. Philosophy Today 42 (1998): 26-39.
Environmental Virtue Ethics
Patriotism as an Environmental Virtue. P. Cafaro. In M. Sardoc (ed.), Handbook of Patriotism (Springer, 2019).
Environmental Virtue Ethics. In L. Besser-Jones and M. Slote (eds.), The Routledge Companion to Virtue Ethics (Routledge, 2015): 427-444.
In Wildness is the Preservation of the World: Thoreau’s Environmental Ethics. In R. Furtak et al. (eds.), Thoreau’s Importance for Philosophy (Fordham University Press, 2012): 68-90.
Patriotism as an Environmental Virtue. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 23 (2010): 185-206.
The Virtue of Simplicity. J. Gambrel and P. Cafaro. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 23 (2010): 85-108.
Assessing the Development of Environmental Virtue in 7th and 8th Graders in an Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound School. B. Martin, A. Bright, P. Cafaro, R. Mittelstaedt & B. Bruyere. Journal of Experiential Education 31 (2009): 341-358.
Virtue Ethics. In J.B. Callicott and R. Frodeman (eds.), Encyclopedia of Environmental Ethics and Philosophy (Thomson Gale, 2009) volume 2: 375-378
Cultivating Environmental Virtue Among 7th & 8th Graders in an Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound School. B. Martin, A.. Bright, P. Cafaro, R. Mittelstaedt & B. Bruyere. Journal of Experiential Education 30 (2008): 294-298.
Gluttony, Arrogance, Greed and Apathy: An Exploration of Environmental Vice. In R. Sandler and P. Cafaro (eds.), Environmental Virtue Ethics. (Rowman and Littlefield, 2005): 135-58.
Thoreau's Environmental Ethics in Walden. The Concord Saunterer (Journal of the Thoreau Society) 10 (2002): 17-63.
"The Virtues of Self-Help.” Philosophy Now 45 (March 2004): 13-17.
Etica Ambiental de la Virtud (Environmental Virtue Ethics). In T. Kwiatkowska and J. Issa (eds.), Los Caminos de la Etica Ambiental II (Plaza y Valdes, 2003): 15-18.
The Naturalist's Virtues. Philosophy in the Contemporary World 8/2 (2001): 85-99.
Thoreau, Leopold and Carson: Toward an Environmental Virtue Ethics. Environmental Ethics 23 (2001): 3-17.
Economic Consumption, Pleasure and the Good Life. Journal of Social Philosophy 32 (2001): 471-486.
Less is More: Economic Consumption and the Good Life. Philosophy Today 42 (1998): 26-39.
Thoreauvian Patriotism as an Environmental Virtue. Philosophy in the Contemporary World 2 (1995): 1-9.
Thoreau's Ethics
In Wildness is the Preservation of the World: Thoreau’s Environmental Ethics. In R. Furtak et al. (eds.), Thoreau’s Importance for Philosophy (Fordham University Press, 2012): 68-90.
Transcendental Virtue. In J. Myerson, S.H. Petrulionis and L. Dassow Walls (eds.), Oxford Handbook to Transcendentalism (Oxford University Press, 2010): 537-548.
Henry David Thoreau. In J.B. Callicott and R. Frodeman (eds.), Encyclopedia of Environmental Ethics and Philosophy (Thomson Gale, 2009) volume 2: 316-318.
Thoreau and the Human-Animal Relationship. In M. Bekoff (ed.), Encyclopedia of Human-Animal Relationships: A Global Exploration of our Connections with Animals (Greenwood Press, 2007): 1078-1081.
Henry David Thoreau. In S. Kretch, J. McNeill and C. Merchant (eds.), Encyclopedia of World Environmental History (Routledge, 2004): 1200-1202.
Thoreau's Environmental Ethics in Walden. The Concord Saunterer (Journal of the Thoreau Society) 10 (2002): 17-63.
Thoreau, Leopold and Carson: Toward an Environmental Virtue Ethics. Environmental Ethics 23 (2001): 3-17.
Thoreau's Virtue Ethics in Walden. The Concord Saunterer (Journal of the Thoreau Society) 8 (2000): 23-47.
Thoreau and the Place of Economy. Center: Architecture and Design in America 11 (1999): 39-47.
Thoreau on Science and System. Borderlines: Studies in American Culture 5 (1998): 109-125.
Thoreauvian Patriotism as an Environmental Virtue. Philosophy in the Contemporary World 2 (1995): 1-9.
Environmental Ethics (general and miscellaneous)
Differentiating research from management in welfare review of wildlife activities. T. Thompson, N. Galloway, M. Verant, P. Cafaro and M. Wild. Wildlife Society Bulletin (2023): e1479.
Conservationists Have a Powerful New Ally [the Pope]. Biological Conservation 191 (2015): 839-841.
Expanding Parks and Reducing Human Numbers: A Superior Alternative to Embracing the Anthropocene Era. The George Wright Forum 30 (2013): 261-266.
Environmental Ethics. P. Cafaro and R. Primack. In S. Levin (ed.), Encyclopedia of Biodiversity (Academic Press, 2013), 2nd ed., volume 3: 267-277.
Taming Growth and Articulating a Sustainable Future: The Way Forward for Environmental Ethics. Ethics & the Environment 16 (2011): 1-23.
Economic Growth or the Flourishing of Life: The Ethical Choice Global Climate Change Puts to Humanity in the 21st Century. Essays in Philosophy volume 11, issue 1, article 6 (2010).
Holmes Rolston III. In J.B. Callicott and R. Frodeman (eds.), Encyclopedia of Environmental Ethics and Philosophy (Thomson Gale, 2009) volume 2: 211-212.
When It’s Better Not to Manage NPS Resources. J. Freilich and P. Cafaro. In S. Weber and D. Harmon (eds.), Rethinking Protected Areas in a Changing World: Proceedings of the 2007 GWS Biennial Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites (George Wright Society, 2008): 263-267.
Place and Personal Commitment in Teaching Environmental Ethics. Worldviews: Environment, Culture, Religion 8 (2004): 366-76.
Environmental Ethics and the Business Professional: Responsibilities and Opportunities. In J. Rowan and S. Zinaich (eds.), Ethics for the Professions (Wadsworth, 2003): 189-196.
A Latter-Day Saint Environmental Ethic. M. Gowans and P. Cafaro. Environmental Ethics 25 (2003): 375-379.
Ecological Effects of Ranching: a Six-Point Critique. J. Freilich, J. Emlen, J. Duda, D. Freeman and P. Cafaro. BioScience 53 (2003): 759-765.
Rachel Carson's Environmental Ethics. Worldviews: Environment, Culture, Religion 6 (2002): 58-80.
Environmental Ethics in India. All India Bioethics Association Newslink 4 (2001): 13-14.
Science and Solipsism. Philosophy in Science 8 (1999): 9-28.