Spencer Gall and Jordan Budrevich Environmental Ethics Spencer Gall and Jordan Budrevich

Learning Objectives Define environmental ethics and a brief history of the field. Be able to differentiate the types of environmental ethics and philosophies. Apply environmental ethics to modern-day problems.

Definition of Environmental Ethics Division of environmental philosophy Studies the moral relationship of human beings to the environment and its non-human contents Human beings have to make ethical decisions with respect to the environment

History Started in 1970s when environmentalists asked philosophers to look at the philosophical aspects of environmental problems “The Tragedy of the Commons” by Garrett Hardin First international academic journals U.S. based journal Environmental Ethics in 1979 Canadian based journal The Trumpeter: Journal of Ecosophy in 1983 After 1990, the field gained institutional recognition The field has been expanding to other universities ever since Continues to develop today

Environmental Ethics Types vs. Philosophies Types - categorical groups that describe people’s approach to the environment Philosophies - combines philosophical principles that have been established in the philosophy field with views of the environment Environmental philosophies make up one’s type Depending on the person and the issue, different environmental philosophies can make up one’s type and one’s type can change depending on the issue

Libertarian/Conservationist/Humanist Applied Environmental Ethics Ecological Libertarian/Conservationist/Humanist Applied Land Ethics Deep Ecology Romanticism Anthropocentrism Environmental Justice Food Justice

Types of Environmental Ethics Libertarian Extension: a civil liberty approach for all humans and nonhumans Extend equal rights to all members of the community Political reflection of the world Ecologic Extension: emphasis on the fundamental interdependence of all biological (and some abiological) entities and their essential diversity Scientific reflection of the world Applied Theology: religion meets environmental ethics 2 schools of thought: 1: Religion holds the basis of environmental stewardship 2: Use of theology to rationalized the unmanaged consumption of natural resources

Types of Environmental Ethics Conservation Ethics: only looks at how the environment can be useful to humans Humanist Theories: require a set of criteria for moral status and ethical worth Emphasis on reason over feelings

Specific Environmental Ethical Philosophies Anthropocentrism Humans are the only primary concern Everything in existence should be evaluated in terms of its utility for us Similar to utilitarianism Free market environmentalism/ property rights Romanticism What is good is what is “wild” Human intervention is bad Response to Industrial Revolution Thoreau’s Walden

Specific Environmental Ethical Philosophies Deep Ecology All life has intrinsic value Life is valuable (intrinsic value), as is the environment that contributes to that life Humanity needs to cut back on population growth and environmental impact Land Ethic Members of a community treat one another with respect for the mutual benefit of all Community includes all local biotic and abiotic factors Leopold: “We can only be ethical in relation to something we can see, understand, feel, love, or otherwise have faith in.”

Specific Environmental Ethical Philosophies Environmental Justice Certain at risk groups face more problems with environmental justice than other groups (poor, women, racial minorities) Clinton’s executive order declaring that all new power plants must consider the environmental justice impact of their new plant locations Food Justice Food deserts - cities have limited access to fresh, local, organic, healthy food Food sovereignty - right of people to have access to healthy and culturally appropriate foods sourced through ecologically sustainable methods (ex. problems with International Rice Market) Food security - people should have physical, social, and economic access to safe and nutritious food

Example Problem Which of the following best describes the main reason for opposing widespread use of genetically modified crops in agriculture according to a Romantic approach? A land ethic approach? A. Widespread use of GMO crops disrupts local ecosystems by allowing for large-scale monoculture farming, thereby contributing to the degradation of soil and water quality. B. GMO crops represent the height of human arrogance in the manipulation of nature. C. GMO crops should be used more widely--they are a product of human activity, and whatever we do is an expression of our nature. Therefore, transgenic crops are natural. D. The long-term risks to both human and ecological health are too great.

Example Problem "In Nicaragua, preliminary work has begun on a canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This canal will be three times the length of Panama's and will cut through forests, wetlands and a giant inland lake. Backers say the project will create 50,000 jobs and double the size of Nicaragua's economy. . . . Lake Nicaragua is Central America's largest and provides drinking water to dozens of towns. . . . Biologist Jorge Huete is vice president of the Nicaraguan Science Academy. He says the dredging could kick up so much sediment that it would discolor the water, lower its oxygen content and kill off marine life." (John Otis, "Opposition Grows to Nicaragua Canal Connecting Atlantic and Pacific," All Things Considered, NPR, February 26, 2015.) Using a romantic approach, do you support the canal? How about an anthropocentric approach? How about a land ethic approach? What would you need to consider from an environmental justice approach?

Practical Applications of Environmental Ethics Keep in mind environmental impact and other potentially impacted parties. What are your priorities for a project? Who are you working for/with and what is their ethical approach? Is there a sustainable middle-ground to work towards?

Sources http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Environmental_ethics https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-environmental/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_ethics https://www.aldoleopold.org/about/the-land-ethic/