UM philosophy professor speaks on wildlife recovery

Environmental philosopher and author Christopher Preston will speak on his latest book, “Tenacious Beasts: Wildlife Recoveries That Change How We Think about Animals” May 4 at the Northwest Montana History Museum.

“Tenacious Beasts” is “An inspiring look at wildlife species that are defying the odds and teaching important lessons about how to share a planet,” according to publisher, MIT Press.

Some examples are the effect beavers have on revegetation after a wildfire and the comeback of wolves in Europe, where the animals are returning on their own in a region with half the land and twice the people of North America.

Preston, who grew up in England, moved to the U.S. in his 20s, landing in Colorado and making his way to Alaska, which made a significant impression on him. It was in Alaska where he encountered wildlife and wildlands he hadn’t experienced before and became entranced. To make money, he worked on commercial fishing boats.

“The power of the landscape filtered straight into my core,” Preston said. “I was suddenly on the landscape and literally feeling these animals close by.”

Preston has taught philosophy at the University of Montana for 17 years. Questions of coexistence, conservation, technology and ethics are central to environmental philosophy, which he embraces as a way to apply philosophy to something practical. In 2023, he won an award from the International Society for Environmental Ethics.

Preston’s writing has appeared in “The Atlantic,” “Smithsonian Magazine” and the BBC online. His previous book titled, “The Synthetic Age: Outdesigning Evolution, Resurrecting Species, and Reengineering Our World” has been translated into six languages.

The presentation will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. May 4 at the museum, 124 2nd Ave. E., Kalispell. Admission is free. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

For more information visit nwmthistory.org or call 756-8381. For more information about Preston, visit christopherjpreston.com.