18 Questions
Who developed the principle of utility, also known as the greatest happiness principle?
Jeremy Bentham
What is the key difference between utilitarianism and deontology?
Utilitarianism judges actions based on their consequences, while deontology judges actions based on their inherent rightness or wrongness
What is the categorical imperative, according to Immanuel Kant?
A rule that all our actions should be judged according to a universal moral law
What is the main concern of those who think we ought to act to slow global climate change?
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Which ethical approach is concerned with the development of virtues and character?
Virtue ethics
What is the main criticism of utilitarianism in the context of environmental ethics?
It prioritizes human happiness over environmental well-being
What is the central aspect of human nature that Kant believed gives humans moral worth?
Rationality
According to Kant, what is owed to nonrational beings?
Indirect duties
What is the focus of Virtue Ethics, according to the text?
Character development and traits
What is the opposite of a virtue, according to the text?
A vice
How can we ensure environmental care, according to Virtue Ethics?
By inculcating the right virtues in people
What is the implication of Kant's view on property rights and environmental responsibility?
Property owners have indirect duties to the environment
What is the primary focus of environmental ethics?
Human beings' ethical relationship with the natural environment
When did environmental ethics emerge as a specific discipline?
1970s
Which ethical theory holds that an action is right or wrong based on its consequences?
Utilitarianism
What is the main concern of Virtue Ethics in the context of environmental ethics?
The development of good character traits
What is the relationship between Kantian Ethics and environmental duties?
Kantian Ethics emphasizes indirect duties towards the environment
What is the primary goal of environmental virtues in the context of Virtue Ethics?
To develop good character traits that promote human flourishing
Study Notes
Modern Utilitarian Theory
- Developed by Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)
- Principle of Utility (Greatest Happiness Principle): actions or behaviors are right if they promote happiness or pleasure over pain
Utilitarianism and the Environment
- Supports taking care of the environment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote happiness
- Opponents of environmental regulations also use consequentialist grounds to argue against regulations
Deontology (Duty-Based Ethics)
- Developed by Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)
- Judges morality of an action based on the rightness or wrongness of the action itself, not its consequences
- Kant's Categorical Imperative:
- Universal Law Formula: "Act only according to that maxim or rule that you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law"
- Humanity Formula: "Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of another, always at the same time as an end and never simply as a means"
- Emphasizes rationality, which makes humans special and worthy of moral consideration
Virtue Ethics (Character-Based Ethics)
- Focuses on character development rather than moral theories or principles
- Asks "What makes someone a good person?" or "What is it to live a good life?"
- Virtues are good character traits, while vices are opposite of virtues and prevent humans from flourishing
- Inculcating virtues needed for environmental care can lead to good environmental outcomes
Environmental Ethics
- Branch of ethics that studies the relation of human beings and the environment
- Concerns human beings' ethical relationship with the natural environment
- Developed as a specific discipline in the 1970s due to increasing environmental awareness
Explore the concept of environmental ethics, which studies the relationship between human beings and the environment, and how ethics play a role in this relationship.
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