ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book introduces the concepts of western environmental philosophy from a historical point of view. It describes the three primary philosophical themes which will be used in the analysis of the corporate environmental reports: dualism, transcendence and interconnectivity. The book discusses the ways these philosophical themes have informed the western relationship with nature over time, and the way they continue to do so. It explores some of the key influences of corporate environmental reporting, including accounting, sustainable development and critical theory. The book provides an introductory account of the case study companies; exploring how and to what degree each company has expressed particular environmental philosophies. It examines an analysis of what the findings mean in terms of the problems. Cultural discourse about nature reflects and informs how cultures interact with and consider the natural world.
