Responding to the profound awareness of environmental crisis which prevails in this closing decade of the 20th century. Carolyn Merchant examines the major philosophical, ethical, scientific and economic roots of environmental problems and identifies the ways in which radical ecologists can transform science and society in order to sustain life. Laws, regulations and scientific research alone cannot reverse the spread of pollution or restore our dwindling resources. The author argues that in order to maintain a liveable world, we must formulate new social, economic, scientific and spiritual approaches that wil transform human relationships with nature. She analyzes the revolutionary ideas of visionary ecologists, at the cutting edge of social change and assesses their efforts to bring environmental problems to the attention of the public.