Towards Expansive Justice for Animals: Holmgren’s Permaculture for Deane-Drummond’s Animal Ethics

Abstract Celia Deane-Drummond has argued that natural law implies an expansion of social justice to protect animal needs and agency. Her argument is valid but lacks an approach for guiding ethical activity. As such, this article contributes to the concerns of public theology by drawing on resources from the ethical and design principles of David Holmgren’s permaculture. I attempt to narrow the gap in ecotheology between justice as a virtue in theory and justice as an ethical activity. I argue that permaculture practice is an exemplary way of seeking the sort of justice for animals for which Deane-Drummond has argued. As an holistic environmental practice, permaculture prompts ecotheology to consider it seriously as a context for ethical activity and for ethical reflection and, in turn, prompts questions for ecotheological reflection.