Bücher von Benjamin Hale

A brief foray into a moral thicket, exploring why we should protect nature despite tsunamis, malaria, bird flu, cancer, killer asteroids, and tofu. Most of us think that in order to be environmentalists, we have to love nature. Essentially, we should be tree huggers--embracing majestic redwoods, mighty oaks, graceful birches, etc. We ought to eat granola, drive hybrids, cook tofu, and write our appointments in Sierra Club calendars. Nature's splendor, in other words, justifies our protection of it. But, asks Benjamin Hale in this provocative book, what about tsunamis, earthquakes, cancer, bird flu, killer asteroids? They are nature, too. For years, environmentalists have insisted that nature is fundamentally good. In The Wild and the Wicked, Benjamin Hale adopts the opposite position--that much of the time nature can be bad--in order to show that even if nature is cruel, we still need to be environmentally conscientious. Hale argues that environmentalists needn't feel compelled to defend the value of nature, or even to adopt the attitudes of tree-hugging nature lovers. We can acknowledge nature's indifference and periodic hostility. Deftly weaving anecdote and philosophy, he shows that we don't need to love nature to be green. What really ought to be driving our environmentalism is our humanity, not nature's value. Hale argues that our unique burden as human beings is that we can act for reasons, good or bad. He claims that we should be environmentalists because environmentalism is right, because we humans have the capacity to be better than nature. As humans, we fail to live up to our moral potential if we act as brutally as nature. Hale argues that despite nature's indifference to the plight of humanity, humanity cannot be indifferent to the plight of nature.

Introduction to the Mechanical Principles of Carpentry, in Two Parts: Strength and Stiffness of Timber, Statics Applied to Constructions of Timber (1827) is a comprehensive guide to the mechanical principles of carpentry written by Benjamin Hale. This book is divided into two parts, the first of which focuses on the strength and stiffness of timber, while the second part explores the application of statics to constructions of timber.In the first part, Hale delves into the properties of timber and how they affect its strength and stiffness. He discusses the different types of timber, their characteristics, and how they are tested for strength. He also explains how the shape and size of timber affect its strength, and how to calculate the load-bearing capacity of timber beams.In the second part, Hale applies the principles of statics to the construction of timber structures. He explains how to calculate the forces acting on a structure, and how to design a structure that can withstand these forces. He also discusses the different types of joints used in timber construction, and how to calculate their strength.Throughout the book, Hale provides numerous examples and illustrations to help readers understand the concepts he is discussing. He also includes a glossary of terms and a list of references for further reading.Overall, Introduction to the Mechanical Principles of Carpentry, in Two Parts: Strength and Stiffness of Timber, Statics Applied to Constructions of Timber (1827) is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in carpentry, engineering, or construction. It provides a thorough understanding of the mechanical principles that underlie timber construction, and offers practical advice for designing and building timber structures that are strong, safe, and durable.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.