The Royal Institute of Philosophy Conference, on ‘Philosophy and the Natural Environment’, was held at the University of Wales in Cardiff from 20 to 22 July 1993. We are grateful to the Royal Institute of Philosophy for allowing us the privilege of organising its Conference, which attracted 150 participants, 30 from outside the United Kingdom. The success of the Conference was due in no small part to the co-operative efforts of many individuals and organisations, and we wish to place on record our thanks to the officers of the Royal Institute of Philosophy, for their advice; the City of Cardiff, for hosting a reception in Cardiff Castle; the British Council, for entertaining the overseas participants; the staff of the University of Wales, Cardiff, especially the Conference Office, for the professionalism of their organisation; our colleagues and students in Philosophy, for their supererogatory assistance; the speakers, for agreeing to write papers and for writing them on time; and all the participants, for providing the stimulating discussions, both formal and informal, without which there would have been no Conference.

Frederick Ferré was prevented by family circumstances from attending the Conference and reading his paper in person, but he kindly contributed to the discussion by sending an overview of the other papers, which is reprinted here, in addition to his main paper.