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For Philosophy subject

Module 6: Human and the environment

“What is the world made of?”, “How did the world come into being?”, and “How can we explain the process of
change?” were philosophical questions already brought up approximately 600 B.C.E. in the Western Ionian seaport
town of Miletus across the Aegean Sea from Athens Greece.

In both East and West, philosophers were asking questions about the universe we live in and our place in it. Eastern
sages probed nature’s depths intuitively through the eyes of spiritual sages, while Greek thinkers viewed nature
through cognitive and scientific eyes (Price 2000).

The speculations of the pre-Socratic philosophers represent a paradigm shift--a change from the mythical
explanation of the origins of the cosmos to a more rational explanation. These philosophers were looking for the
underlying laws of nature. They wanted to understand the process by studying nature itself, not by listening to
stories about the gods. Though not as sophisticated in the 21st century standard, the pre-Socratic philosophers do
represent the first intellectual and scientific attempt to understand the origins of the universe.

There are different views or concepts on nature or the environment from which debates or researches can be
framed and reframed. Based on the anthropocentric model, humans are superior and central to the universe.
Ecocentric model, the ecological or relational integrity of the humans, provides meaning of our morals and values.
Ecological positioning occurs in the past, present, and future, and their environmental settings with regard to our
identifications, relations and attachments in, about, with or for various natures (Payne 2009).

NOTICE DISORDER IN THE UNIVERSE

The domination of humanity is linked to the domination of nature based on the anthropocentric model. An unfair or
unjust utilization of the environment result to ecological crisis. From this view, it follows that human arrogance
toward nature is justifiable in order to satisfy human interests. Sometimes, humans adopt an exploitative attitude
whenever nature is merely considered as an instrument for one’s profit or gain.

Causes Of Environmental Destruction

• Task Alert!: Describe the distractor found in each picture. Express in a sentence.

the air compressor no longer supplied air to the air brake system As air leaked from the brake system,
the main air reservoirs were slowly depleted, gradually reducing the effectiveness of the locomotive air
brakes.

Sometimes, people are lazy and don't want to get up and find a trash can. they think that if they throw
their cigarette out the car window, spit their gum on the sidewalk, let a few napkins get carried away by
the wind, or toss an empty plastic bottle in the gutter, nothing will happen.Dumping sewage in the ocean
has always been considered the cheapest and the easiest way of disposing of wastes. dumping of
garbage and other waste materials stands first in the list. Dumping involves depositing all the waste
materials from factories and industries, tankers and ships and sewerage waste materials into the oceans
and seas.

Current researchers by Zimmerman (1994). Elgin (2009), and Pettman (2012) to name a few, exposed the
environmental consequence of international politico-economic specialization for specific countries and global
regions. Research also shows the implications for both abuses of natural resources and of the generation of waste
and emissions. Numerous concepts and indicators have been used to understand environmental impact such as the
carbon footprint (CF). For instance, the emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, fluoride,
and nitrous oxide that are part of the production goods and services consumed in many countries. Studies reveal that
the higher the income, there is a substantial change in consumption patterns, which result to higher carbon footprint
(CF).

NOTICE THINGS THAT ARE NOT IN THEIR PROPER

PLACE AND ORGANIZE THEM IN AN AESTHETIC WAY

1.Antcient Thinkers
Early Greek philosophers, the Milesians, regarded Nature as spatially without boundaries that is, as infinite or
indefinite in extent. One Ancient thinker, Anaximander, employed the Term “boundless” to convey the further
thought that Nature is indeterminate -- boundless in the
sense that no boundaries between the warm and cold or the moist and dry regions are
originally present within it (Solomon & Higgins2010).

Creation and Destruction. According to Anaximander’s sketch of the genesis of the world (cosmogony), the
evolution of the world begins with the, first differentiates itself into a cold-moist mass surrounded by a roughly
spherical shell of the warm-dry. Once the warm-dry has been separated out, surrounding the cold moist, it begins to
evaporate the moisture of the latter, and this process forms a vaporous atmosphere. Eventually the expanding vapor
or steam bursts the enclosing fiery shells into rings, and rushing outward, envelops them. The opposite forces caused
an imbalance that necessitated their ultimate destruction (Price 2000). What appear to us as heavenly bodies are in
reality parts of the fiery rings that we glimpse through openings left in their steamy, vaporous envelopes. The
revolution of the stars, sun, and moon around the central earth is in reality the rotation of the vapor-envelop rings of
fire.

Phytagoras
Another Ancient philosopher, Phytagoras , described the universe as living embodiment of nature’s order,
harmony, and beauty. He sees our relationship with the universe involving biophilia (love of other living things) and
cosmophilia (love of other living beings). Perhaps, we could consider the early him as an ecologist. The Chinese
cosmic conception, on the other hand,is based on the assumption that all that happens in the universe is a
continuous whole like a chain of natural consequences. All events in the universe follow a transitional process
due to the primeval pair,the yang and the yin. The universe does not proceed onward but revolves without
beginning or end. There is nothing new under the sun; the “new” is a repetition of the old (Quito 1991). Human

2.Modern Thinkers
Immanuel Kant
In his third critique,Critique of Judgement Immanuel Kant expresses that beauty is ultimately a symbol of
Morality (Kant 1997). According to Kant, we must ignore any practical motives or inclinations that we
have and instead contemplate the object without being distracted by our desires (Goldblatt & Brown2010)

In a sense, therefore, the stance that we take forward the beautiful object is similar to that which we take toward
other human beings when we are properly respectful of their dignity.
The beautiful encourage us to believe that nature and humanity are part of an even bigger design. This sense of order
in a beautiful object is not translatable into a formula or a recipe. Rather, the concept of a larger design, the belief in
an ultimate goal in which every aspect of the sensible world has its place in a larger purpose, draws our thoughts
toward a supersensible reality.

Understanding our relationship with the environment can also refer to the
human beings with ecology and nature. For Herbert Marcuse, humanity had dominated nature. There can only be
change if we will change our attitude towards our perception of the environment. Moreover, for Mead, as human
beings, we do not have only rights but duties. We are not only citizens of the community but how we react to this
community and in our reaction to it, change it.

• Short Essay. Minimum of 5 sentences

Question: In your opinion, how can we protect, conserve, and restore our environment? Use separate sheet of
paper for your answer.
Answer:
people nowadays love the nature yet they are the ones who destroy it they usually say thar 'save the mother nature at
all cost '. but effortlessly they cant even protect it ,. thrown garbage , polluted water and air destroy the environment
, it also gives deseases to the human body.

SHOW THAT CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTH, WELL-BEING, AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
There are numerous theories to show care for the environment aside from the economic model such as deep
ecology, social ecology, and ecofeminism to name some.

A. Deep Ecology
For this theory, ecological crisis is an outcome of anthropocentrism. The controlling attitude of humankind is
extended to nature, when in fact, humanity is part of nature. Deep ecologists encourage humanity to shift away from
anthropocentrism to ecocentrism.

A. Social Ecology
For this theory, ecological crisis results from authoritarian social structures. Destroying nature is a reflection
wherein few people overpower others while exploiting the environment for profit or self-interest. Social ecologists
call for small-scale societies, which recognize that humanity is linked with well-being of the natural world in which
human life depends.

A. Ecofeminism
This theory argues that ecological crisis is a consequence of male dominance. In this view, whatever is
“superior” is entitled to whatever is “inferior”. Male traits as in the anthropocentric model are superior as opposed to
female traits as in the ecocentric model. Domination works by forcing the other to conform to what is superior.
Nature must be tamed, ordered, and submit to the will of the superior

These theories value the care, conservation, preservation of nature, and humanity. Our search for the meaning of life
must explore nit just our own survival but calls for a new socio-ecological order. Erich Fromm (2013), a German
humanistic philosopher, believes that it is about time that humanity ought to recognize not only itself but also the
world around it. For Fromm, as human beings, our biological urge for survival turns into selfishness and laziness.
Fromm argues that as humans, it is also inherent in us to escape the prison of cell of selfishness.

Demonstrate the Virtues of Prudence and Frugality toward Environment

Fromm (2013) proposed a new society that should encouraged the emergence of a new human being that will
foster prudence and moderation or frugality toward environment. These are some of the functions of Fromm’s
envisioned society:

1. The willingness to give up all forms of having, in order to fully be.

2. Being fully present where one is.
3. Trying to reduce greed, hate, and illusions as much as one is capable.
4. Making the full growth of oneself and of one’s fellow beings as the supreme
goal of living.
1. Not deceiving others, but also not being deceived by others; one may be
called innocent, but not naive.
1. Freedom that is not arbitrariness but the possibility to be oneself, not as a
bundle of greedy desires, but as a delicately balanced structure that at any
moment is confronted with the alternatives of growth or decay, life or death.
1. Happiness in the process of ever-growing aliveness, whatever the furthest
point is that fate permits one to reach, for living as fully as one can be so
satisfactory that the concern for what one might or might not attain has little
chance to develop.
1. Joy that comes from giving and sharing, not from hoarding and exploiting.
2. Developing one’s capacity for love, together with one’s capacity for critical,
unsentimental thought.
1. Shedding one’s narcissism and accepting that tragic limitations inherent in
human existence.

The ideals of this society cross all party lines; for protecting nature needs focused conservation, action,
political will, and support from industry. If all these sectors agree on the same goals, the possibility of change would
seem to be considerably greater, especially since most citizens have become less and less interested in party loyalty
and slogans.

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