Environmental Ethics, Faith, and Justice (Chapter 1.5)
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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is an example of moral extensionism?

  • Maintaining social hierarchies
  • Believing all humans should have equal rights (correct)
  • Privately owning land without restrictions
  • Treating animals with respect and compassion (correct)

How have societal views on slavery changed from ancient Greece to today?

  • Most societies now consider slavery unethical. (correct)
  • Slavery is deemed a legal right for property owners.
  • Slavery is now accepted but regulated.
  • The concept of slavery has not changed significantly.

What primary right is often granted to owners of private resources?

  • The right to maintain environmental standards
  • The right to restrict access to their property by others
  • The right to use their resources as they see fit (correct)
  • The right to receive community approval for their actions

Which of the following reflects a change in ethical views over time?

<p>All humans are recognized as having basic rights (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do core beliefs play in personal decision-making?

<p>They can influence actions, spending, and voting. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about ethical views is accurate?

<p>Ethical views can evolve with time and experience. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What challenge might individuals face regarding their core beliefs?

<p>Recognizing them is often difficult due to their depth. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What primarily motivates the Creation Care Network's environmental initiatives?

<p>Religious beliefs and ethical justification (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following groups is NOT mentioned as being disproportionately affected by environmental health risks?

<p>Wealthy white individuals (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term is used to describe the inequitable distribution of environmental hazards based on race?

<p>Environmental racism (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the leading environmental health problem for children in the United States according to the Federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry?

<p>Lead poisoning (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor contributes significantly to environmental contamination in Native American communities?

<p>Sovereignty and lack of state regulation coverage (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How are minorities disproportionately represented in communities with locally unwanted land uses (LULUs)?

<p>They make up a larger share of the population in impacted areas (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What practice has been linked to the targeting of poor communities of color for waste disposal?

<p>Toxic colonialism (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of whites live in communities with uncontrolled toxic waste sites compared to other racial groups mentioned?

<p>Less than 10 percent (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What has resulted in a land rush for waste disposal companies to Native American reservations?

<p>Exemption from hazardous waste regulations (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What common misconception exists regarding lead poisoning in racial demographics?

<p>Blacks suffer less lead poisoning than whites (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the fundamental moral arguments regarding the treatment of animals?

<p>Animals possess both instrumental and intrinsic value. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which court case is associated with the concept of nature having legal standing?

<p>The Sierra Club v. Disney Corporation (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Christian teachings historically influence environmental exploitation?

<p>By emphasizing domination over natural resources. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What stance do major religions collectively take regarding environmental stewardship?

<p>They encourage the protection of the earth and its creatures. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What concept has become prominent among evangelical Christians in the U.S. relating to environmental concern?

<p>Creation care (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'ahimsa' mean in Hinduism and Buddhism?

<p>Avoiding harm to other creatures. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key reason the Sierra Club’s lawsuit was significant in environmental philosophy?

<p>It argued that nature should have legal rights. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which moral perspective sees nature as merely a resource for human use?

<p>Instrumental value perspective (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What motivation underpins many religious organizations’ push for environmental action today?

<p>A sense of moral obligation to care for creation. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Christopher D. Stone's significant contribution to environmental law?

<p>He suggested that living beings should have legal standing. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common belief in both the Koran and other major religions regarding nature?

<p>All beings have value and rights within nature. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What has been a common theme in discussions among religious leaders regarding environmental protection?

<p>Collaborative calling for stewardship of the earth. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Lynn White Jr.'s argument, what has historically contributed to ecological crisis in Christian societies?

<p>Commands to dominate and exploit nature. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does the concept of 'dominion' play in religious texts concerning nature?

<p>It grants unrestricted use and power over nature. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Environmental Ethics

Our beliefs and decisions about how we treat the environment, based on ideas of what's right and wrong.

Ethical Views

Personal beliefs about what is right and wrong, that can guide our actions and decisions.

Moral Extensionism

Gradually expanding our circle of who or what we consider to have moral value (worth).

Ancient Greek Ethics

The ethical principles of ancient Greece, where moral value was often limited to adult male citizens.

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Private Property

The concept that individuals or entities have the right to own and control resources.

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Basic Rights

Fundamental rights that all humans are morally entitled to.

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Slavery

Treating people as property, a practice considered unethical today, but commonplace in some earlier cultures.

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Ethical Decision-Making

The process of choosing how to act in a way that is consistent with one's ethical principles.

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Core Beliefs

Fundamental principles ingrained in a person that strongly influence how they act, live, and make choices.

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Moral Standing of Non-Humans

The philosophical debate about whether non-human entities (animals, nature) deserve moral consideration and protection, similar to humans.

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Instrumental Value

The value of something based on its usefulness to humans, such as a tool or commodity.

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Inherent Value

The idea that something has value in itself, regardless of its usefulness to humans (an intrinsic right to exist).

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Sierra Club v. Disney

A landmark 1969 court case where the Sierra Club sued Disney for environmental impact, raising the question of legal standing for non-human entities.

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Legal Standing

The right of a party to bring a lawsuit or participate in legal proceedings.

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Environmental Stewardship

Responsibility to care for and protect natural resources for future generations.

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Creation Care

The idea that we have a responsibility to care for God's creation.

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Ahimsa

A principle in Hinduism and Buddhism that emphasizes non-violence towards all living beings.

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Ohito Declaration

A statement put forth by religious leaders recognizing the importance of working together on environmental issues.

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Lynn White Jr.

A historian who argued that Christian societies have often exploited natural resources carelessly through the concept of human dominion.

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Environmental Injustice

Unequal distribution of environmental hazards based on race or socioeconomic status.

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Environmental Racism

A form of environmental injustice, involving the targeting of marginalized communities for environmental hazards.

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Lead Poisoning

A significant environmental health concern, particularly affecting children in minority communities.

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Toxic Colonialism

The practice of targeting low-income communities of color in developing countries for hazardous waste disposal or risky technologies.

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Locally Unwanted Land Uses (LULUs)

Industrial facilities or waste disposal sites that are often opposed by the communities in which they are located.

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Native American Reservations

Sovereign Native American lands exempt from some state environmental regulations, often targeted for waste disposal.

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International Toxic Waste Trade

Movement of hazardous materials from developed nations to developing countries, often illegally or with little regard for environmental protection.

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Environmental Justice

Combines civil rights and environmental protection to demand a safe, healthy, and life-giving environment for everyone.

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Disproportionate Environmental Burden

Minorities and low-income communities experience more environmental risks than other groups.

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Study Notes

Environmental Ethics and Worldviews

  • Environmental interpretations and resource management decisions are influenced by underlying worldviews.
  • Ethical considerations regarding environmental responsibility (e.g., conservation, species preservation) arise.
  • Ethical views are shaped by personal experiences, societal norms, and evolve over time.
  • Ancient Greek ethical thinkers often condoned practices now considered unethical (e.g., slavery).
  • Societies often view natural resources as private property, with owners having the right to use/abuse them.
  • Core beliefs influence actions, spending habits, and voting choices.

Moral Extensionism

  • Moral value is extended to larger circles (e.g., humans, animals, ecosystems).
  • Historical shift in recognizing rights for diverse groups (women, minorities, children, animals).
  • Extending moral value considerations to different entities (forests, inanimate objects).
  • Inherent value (intrinsic right to exist) versus instrumental value (usefulness to someone) is crucial in determining moral standing.

Environmental Justice

  • Environmental health risks disproportionately affect marginalized communities (e.g., people of color, low-income).
  • Environmental injustice is exemplified by unequal distribution of environmental hazards based on race.
  • Poverty and race are often correlated, making poor communities of color more vulnerable to pollution exposure.
  • "Environmental racism" describes the inequitable distribution of environmental hazards due to race.
  • Examples include lead poisoning in children from historical pollutants.
  • Native American communities face unique challenges related to environmental hazards on reservations.
  • Toxic colonialism involves targeting poor communities of color for waste disposal or risky technologies.

Religious Perspectives on the Environment

  • Religious traditions provide motivations for environmental protection and stewardship.
  • Some religious texts emphasize dominion over nature, while also advocating for care and preservation.
  • Stewardship, creation care, and avoiding harm to other creatures are key religious values affecting our treatment of the environment.
  • Interfaith collaboration, like the Ohito Declaration, recognizes common environmental responsibilities.
  • Religious leaders (e.g., Pope Francis) are increasingly outspoken about environmental issues.
  • The Sierra Club's legal challenge to the Disney Corporation for Mineral King Valley highlights the desire to include environmental entities in legal proceedings.
  • "Should Trees Have Standing?" legal brief argued for granting legal standing to organisms and ecological systems.
  • Despite the Supreme Court case overturning the initial decision, it promoted the idea of granting moral standing to nature.
  • Environmental scientists and historians (e.g., Lynn White Jr.) have investigated the historical roots of environmental crises, drawing connections between religious values and practices.

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