ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS ejijiwjeiwjnjfnj.pptx

environmental ethics

1. ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS GROUP 7

2. introduction The earth has been in existence for around 4.6 billion years. If one scales this time to 46 years, humans have only been in existence for proportionately 4 hours and the Industrial Revolution in this case would have started only a minute ago. In this short period, we have found and invented ways to exploit the planet's resources and have driven our own species to the precipice of extinction. Various global environmental problems and catastrophes, in scales unheard of before, have been popping up all around the world brought about by global warming. People have caused the extinction of innumerable species of plants and animals. We have polluted the seas and pillaged the forests and mountains so much that animals have begun to exhibit strange patterns of migration and erratic behavior. 2

3. introduction This chapter contemplates the human person's ethical relationship with the natural environment. Starting from one's duty to animals, the issues expand to one's duty towards all that have life and ultimately to the entire land or biotic community. As the current generation of humanity faces more natural catastrophes that threaten not only human life but all that exists on this planet, environmental ethics is now, more than ever, crucial in adopting a way of life that is less destructive and more in tune with one's essential place in nature. The main question this section deals with is this: Does one have moral duties towards natural things? 3

4. Various approaches to environmental ethics

5. Wrote Animal liberation(1975) Advocates equal treatment for all sentient beings, from animals to human being He observes that human being have been treating non- human animals in a radically different manner as they do human being like themselves, Singer names this behavior as speciesism . Advocates vegetarianism and stands against animal experiment If one’s action causes painful consequences on sentient being(both human and non-human being) then this action is morally wrong 5 Peter Singer

6. speciesism Unjustifiable privileging of one’s own species over another

7. Tom regan “The case for Animal Rights” Believes that like humans, animals should be treated as ends-in-themselves. If a being posses these traits the Regan says that such a subject of a life has inherent value and should be treated right : Belief, desire, perception, memory, sense of future, emotion, feelings, pleasure and pain etc. His positions is that any being that is experiencing “subject of a life”, or one who cares about his or her welfare does not fees as if the purpose of life is to serve for somebody, possesses an inherent value. 7

8. Tom regan Regan argues that because animals have an inherent value, they shouldn’t be used in order to benefits to human lives. If one is to be ethical in one’s treatment of animals, one must continually came up with way of lessening their suffering or view them as being that have inherent value and therefore deserve to be in the sphere of moral deliberation 8

9. PAUL TAYLOR “BIOCENTRISM” ethical perspective holding that all life deserves equal moral consideration or has equal moral standing. Biocentric outlook to protect the rights of all living organisms, including plants and microorganisms, to seek good and well-being Questions the common views that human being are the highest members of the environment . Humans, like other organisms are contingent, biological beings that cannot absolutely guarantee their survival.

10. PAUL TAYLOR All living organisms have welfare interests(goods of their own), they maybe considered as having a non-subjective point of view that human beings can adopt in judging actions as good or bad relative to the welfare of the organism in question. ROBIN ATTFIELD propose a revision of biocentrism by arguing for a hierarchical view, which holds that even if all being have inherent value, some organism may be considered as having more inherent worth than others.

11. ALDO LEOPOLD “ Land Ethic ” Wrote “A Sand County Almanac” “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong it tends otherwise” Biotic community = land If Singer, Regan, Taylor and Attfield place value on individual beings, Leopold thinks that it is the very ecosystem, including sand, rocks, minerals and various natural processes that deserve moral consideration. He proposes that humans develop an “ecological science” that extends social science from interpersonal relationship to the land. 11

12. ALDO LEOPOLD Land is not merely soil but a fountain to energy flowing through plants, animals, humans and back. Ecological conscience is key in appreciating one’s duties towards the environment. Ecological wholes deserve proper respect, for everything that happens to human being happens to virtue of the life-sustaining processes inherent in the land itself. 12

13. Climate change and sustainable development The Brundtland Report in 1987 highlighted the strain on planetary resources and the question of whether it is equitable to sacrifice options for future well-being for current lifestyles. The report introduced the concept of sustainable development, which aims to meet present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs. However, this concept also raises concerns about human greed and the need for fair production and consumption systems. 13

14. Climate change and sustainable development Humanity's insatiable pursuit of acquiring and consuming has led to an insatiable vice of pleonazia , a drive towards accumulation that threatens the future welfare of ecosystems. This ultra-consumerist lifestyle is not only detrimental to future generations but also the biotic community, the primary source of life for all. As a result, the earth's temperature has increased, leading to extreme weather events like flooding and drought. Experts predict that a 1.5 degrees centigrade average rise in global temperature could put 20% to 30% of the world's population at risk. Therefore, sustainable development requires account for environmental impacts and potential future harm. 14

15. Climate change and sustainable development The Montreal Protocol and Kyoto Protocol aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but the human population continues to experience the effects of rising global temperatures. Experts recommend limiting global warming to less than 2 degrees centigrade to mitigate long-term harm to ecosystems. The problem of human extinction is not only empirical but also philosophical. Erazim Kohák believes that by re-establishing our place in nature as dwellers, we can initiate genuine change and reclaim our rightful place in the biotic community. 15

16. ERAZIM KOHAK “ Human Being as a Dweller ” For him, culture came from the Latin word ‘cultus’ means is the yielding of respect, honoring the sacredness of all that is. Culture is the human being’s role in nature. Dweller – someone who resides in a particular place and calls this place his/her home Someone who dwells is someone who recognizes the value inherent in being afforded the comfort of being received and welcome by a place. The natural environment is the human being’s only home. 16

17. ERAZIM KOHAK “Culture becomes a thing instead of an act” Culture may be, therefore seen as the human person’s ethical task in nature. 17

18. THANK YOU GROUP 7