Gilbert LaFreniere

Gilbert Francis LaFreniere (September 23, 1934 – May 24, 2025) was an American ecological philosopher, active in the study of geology, ecology, and human impact upon nature. Born in New York City, LaFreniere earned a Masters of Geology from Dartmouth College and a Ph.D. in intellectual history from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1976. He taught geology, environmental ethics, and environmental history for over twenty-five years at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, continuing as an active Professor Emeritus. His lectures often incorporated his travels and photography of natural landscapes. LaFreniere was also a scholar of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the Idea of Progress. His books include 'The Decline of Nature' (2008), 'Whatever Keeps You Vertical' (2017), and 'Jean Jacques Rousseau and the Idea of Progress' (1976). He also published articles in various academic journals.