Introduction

The term “biodiversity” was coined in 1986 as shorthand for “biological diversity,” and soon became the primary focus of the emerging discipline of conservation biology. Despite its prominence, the concept of biodiversity sits uncomfortably at the intersection of different discourses, and is often invoked to perform different, and perhaps incongruous, roles. Partly as a consequence of these competing roles, the nature of biodiversity, its measurement, and its value, have been the subjects of heated debate among philosophers, biologists, environmental planners, and social scientists. The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Biodiversity brings the diverse facets of these debates together in a single volume, with the hopes of fostering further discussion. One feature of the volume is its interdisciplinary character: it includes contributions from philosophers, biologists, lawyers, environmental planners, and social scientists.