The Ethics Of Environment Businesses have been ignoring their impact on the natural environment for centuries, largely because the economic costs and harmful effects of this impact have been unclear. Businesses have treated air and water as free goods that no one owns. Businesses have been ignoring their impact on the natural environment for centuries, largely because the economic costs and harmful effects of this impact have been unclear. Businesses have treated air and water as free goods that no one owns.

The Ethics of Pollution Control Pollution caused By manufacturer. Pollution Caused by Consumer. Pollution caused By manufacturer. Pollution Caused by Consumer.

Ecological Ethics Because our environment is so complex and its parts are so interwoven, many theorists believe that our duty to protect the environment extends beyond the welfare of humans to other non-human parts of the system. This idea, called ecological ethics or deep ecology.

Spaceship Earth Because the various parts are interdependent, the survival of each part depends on the survival of the other parts. Business firms (and all other social institutions) are parts of a larger ecological system, "spaceship earth”. Because the various parts are interdependent, the survival of each part depends on the survival of the other parts. Business firms (and all other social institutions) are parts of a larger ecological system, "spaceship earth”.

Ecological Ethics 1.The well-being and flourishing of human and non-human life on earth have value in themselves. These values are independent of the usefulness of the non-human world for human purposes.

Ecological Ethics 2.Richness and diversity of life forms contribute to the realization of these values and are also values in themselves. 3.Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital needs. 2.Richness and diversity of life forms contribute to the realization of these values and are also values in themselves. 3.Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital needs.

Ecological Ethics 4.The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with a substantial decrease of the human population. The flourishing of non- human life requires such a decrease. 5.Present human interference with the non-human world is excessive, and the situation is rapidly worsening. 4.The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with a substantial decrease of the human population. The flourishing of non- human life requires such a decrease. 5.Present human interference with the non-human world is excessive, and the situation is rapidly worsening.

Ecological Ethics 6.Policies must, therefore, be changed. The changes in policies affect basic economic, technological, and ideological structures. The resulting state of affairs will be deeply different from the present. 7.The ideological change is mainly that of appreciating life quality, rather than adhering to an increasingly higher standard of living. 6.Policies must, therefore, be changed. The changes in policies affect basic economic, technological, and ideological structures. The resulting state of affairs will be deeply different from the present. 7.The ideological change is mainly that of appreciating life quality, rather than adhering to an increasingly higher standard of living.

Ecological Ethics 8.Those who subscribe to the foregoing points have an obligation directly or indirectly to participate in the attempt to implement the necessary changes.

Ecological Ethics An ecological ethic, therefore, claims that the welfare of at least some non- humans is intrinsically valuable and deserving of respect and protection. Utilitarian and rights arguments both support such a view. Under either system, for instance, it would be wrong to raise animals for food in painful conditions. An ecological ethic, therefore, claims that the welfare of at least some non- humans is intrinsically valuable and deserving of respect and protection. Utilitarian and rights arguments both support such a view. Under either system, for instance, it would be wrong to raise animals for food in painful conditions.

Status of Ecological Ethics Though, some of the views of deep ecology are unusual and controversial, two traditional views of ethics can also help us to develop an environmental ethic: utilitarianism and concern for human rights.

William T. Blackstone William T. Blackstone has argued that the possession of a livable environment is something to which every human being has a right. To some extent, U.S. federal law recognizes this concept. The main difficulty with Blackstone's view, however, is that it fails to provide any nuanced guidance on several pressing environmental choices. William T. Blackstone has argued that the possession of a livable environment is something to which every human being has a right. To some extent, U.S. federal law recognizes this concept. The main difficulty with Blackstone's view, however, is that it fails to provide any nuanced guidance on several pressing environmental choices.

This lack of nuance in the absolute rights approach is especially problematic when the costs of removing certain amounts of pollution are high in comparison to the benefits that will be attained.

Utilitarian View Utilitarianism can answer some of the difficulties with Blackstone's theory. Utilitarian see environmental problems as market defects, arguing that pollution should be avoided because it harms society's welfare.

Private costs & Social costs Private costs are the actual costs a firm incurs to produce a commodity. Social costs include the costs that the firm does not pay–the costs of pollution and medical care that result from the manufacture of the commodities. Private costs are the actual costs a firm incurs to produce a commodity. Social costs include the costs that the firm does not pay–the costs of pollution and medical care that result from the manufacture of the commodities.