Scribd
Upload
4 views30 pages

Environmental Ethics (2)

Environmental ethics explores the moral relationship between humans and the environment, emphasizing the need to address environmental damage and pollution. It advocates for principles such as respect for nature, responsibility for ecological impact, and the importance of conserving resources for future generations. Various ethical perspectives, including anthropocentrism, stewardship, biocentrism, ecocentrism, and ecofeminism, highlight different views on moral standing and responsibilities towards the natural world.

Uploaded by

tanvirtutorial99
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
4 views30 pages

Environmental Ethics (2)

Environmental ethics explores the moral relationship between humans and the environment, emphasizing the need to address environmental damage and pollution. It advocates for principles such as respect for nature, responsibility for ecological impact, and the importance of conserving resources for future generations. Various ethical perspectives, including anthropocentrism, stewardship, biocentrism, ecocentrism, and ecofeminism, highlight different views on moral standing and responsibilities towards the natural world.

Uploaded by

tanvirtutorial99
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 30

Environmental Ethics

What is Environmental Ethics?


-the moral relationship of human
beings to and the value and moral
status of the environment and its
nonhuman content.
-Study of the ethical basis of
environment or discussion of the
ethical basis of environmental
protection.
Why need to study Environmental
Ethics?
To overcome the following questions.
1. What are the environment damage
produce by the present generation?

2. What acts must be give up to slow


such damage?
Environmental Damage
1)Pollution:
• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Land pollution

2) Resource depletion:
• Depletion of Species & Habits
• Depletion of Fossil fuels etc..
Environmental Ethics Principles

 We should have profound respect for


nature.
 We must maintain a harmonious
relation with other species.
 Everyone should take responsibility
for this impact on nature.
Environmental Ethics Principles
 Local & indigenous environmental
knowledge should be respected.

 We must plan for the long term.


The Ethical Values for Pollution
Control
We should recognize our moral duty
to protect the welfare not only
human beings, but also of other non-
human parts of this system.
Usefulness of non-human world for
human purposes.
The Ethical Values for Pollution
Control
 Humans have no rights to reduce
this richness & diversity expect
to satisfy vital needs.

The ideological changes is mainly


that of appreciating life quality, rather
than to increase higher standard of
living.
Ethical Values for Conserving
depletable resources

Proper utilisation of resources


i.e. the people should maintain
Ecological balance.

We should adopt voluntary


measures to conserve the
resources.
Ethical Values for Conserving
depletable resources

If we are to preserve enough scarce


resources, so that future generation
can maintain their quality of life at a
satisfactory level.
Environmental
Ethics
Definition
s • Moral Agents
▫ Those who have the
freedom and rational
capacity to be
responsible for
choices
▫ Those capable of
moral reflection and
decision.
▫ Example: adult
humans of sound
mind
 Infants and
mentally infirm
Definition • Moral Standing:
s ▫ If you have
moral
standing:
 Your continued existence
or welfare is valuable in
itself (intrinsic value)
 Your interests and well-
being must be weighed
when deciding what is
permissible to do.
▫ Example: humans of
all kinds
 Babies, children,
adults, old
people, etc.
 Women,
different races,
different cultures
Definition
s • Moral Duties
▫ That which
is owed by moral
agents to those
with moral
standing.
▫Example: It is
wrong to kill
our children
because we
have a moral
duty toward
them
Philosophical
Issue • Who or what has
moral standing,
and why?
▫ Does the
environment have
moral standing?
▫ Must look at
criteria for moral
standing

• What moral duty


do we (moral
agents) have
toward those
with moral
standing?
▫ Different ethical
positions suggest
Ideas on Criteria for Moral
Standing
• the ability to
feel pain
▫ Therefore
extend moral
standing to
animals
Ideas on Criteria for Moral
Standing
• Being alive
▫ Therefore
extend moral
standing to
animals and
plants:
▫ All living
things.
Ideas on Criteria for Moral
Standing •
Being part of
nature
▫ Therefore
extend moral
standing to the
earth
ecosystems
 rocks
 rivers
 plants
animals
the entire
natural world
Various World Views and Ethical Perspectives
Philosophy
Anthropocentric

Stewardship

Biocentric

Ecocentric

Ecofeminism
Anthropocentris
m ▫ We can best protect
nature by looking out
for human needs.
 Ex: Ducks
Unlimited
preserves wetlands
 Ex: Saving the
rainforests will
provide O2 and
medicines for
humans.
▫ Problem: Would you
blow up the world if
you were the last
human?
Stewardsh
ip
MAN AS STEWARD
A sense of responsibility to
manage and care for the
environment
Stewardship = Moral
Responsibility
Moral responsibility is nothing
more than our capacity to be
human and being able to take
care of everything around us.
Stewards
hipCriteria of
Four
Moral
Responsibility
• The person has knowledge
of the consequences of the
act.
• The person has the capacity to
do the act.
• The person has the choice to do
Man has moral responsibility
towards nature
• We know that we can cause permanent
damage to natural landscapes,
resources and ecosystems
• We know that we can cause them
• We know how we can prevent or
remedy them
Biocentri
c Life-centered
morality
▫ All and only living
beings, specifically
individual organisms
have intrinsic value
and moral standing.
▫ Humans are not superior
to other life forms nor
privileged, and must
respect the inherent
worth of every organism
▫ Humans should
minimize harm and
interference with
nature: eat vegetarian
since less land needs to
be cultivated.
Eco-centric
Holism Ecosystem
centered
morality
• Non-individuals
(the earth as
an interconnected
ecosystem,
species, natural
processes)
have moral
standing or
intrinsic value and
are
deserving of
respect.
• Individuals must be
concerned about the
whole community of
life/nature,
Eco-
feminism • Rejects
Patriarchal
Dualisms

▫ The
domination of
nature
by men is
wrong
 is similar to and
related to the
domination of
women by men.

▫ Must break the pattern


of "power over"
relationships
Acid attack  will benefit both
victims women and the
natural world.
Various World Views
and Ethical
Philosophy Intrinsic Value Instrumental Role of Humans
Perspectives Value
Anthropocentric Humans Nature Masters

Stewardship Humans and Tools Caretakers


Nature
Biocentric Species Abiotic Nature One of many

Ecocentric Processes Individuals Preservers

Ecofeminism Relationships Roles Caregivers


Knowing all these exacts a
moral obligation to act
with care, foresight,
forbearance and
constraint.
"The care of the Earth is our most
ancient and most worthy, and after
all our most pleasing responsibility.
To cherish what remains of it and to
foster its renewal is
our only hope." ~ Wendell Berry

^_^

You might also like