Environmental Ethics Approaches

Study Notes

Environmental Ethics Overview

Environmental ethics explores the relationship between humans and the non-human environment, focusing on human responsibility.
It categorizes values into instrumental (usefulness to humans) and intrinsic (worth regardless of utility).

Theories of Environmental Responsibility

Anthropocentric Ethics
- Human interests are prioritized; only humans hold moral significance.
- Responsiveness to protecting the environment may exist for sustaining human life.
- Early European settlers viewed land as a limitless resource for exploitation.
Biocentric Ethics
- All living beings possess intrinsic value and the right to exist.
- Value may vary among organisms; animal rights activists usually adopt this perspective.
Ecocentric Ethics
- The environment as a whole has intrinsic value, warranting protection regardless of human use.
- Emphasizes interconnectedness within ecosystems; values species based on their ecological roles.
- Advocated by figures like Aldo Leopold, who promoted the land ethic, positioning humans as community members rather than conquerors.

Levels of Environmental Responsibility

Individual Level
- Personal actions can significantly influence environmental impact, e.g., recycling or using public transportation.
Societal Level
- Collective decisions by communities, such as government recycling initiatives or activist protests.
Corporate Level
- Organizational actions aimed at sustainability, like reducing ecological footprints, though often scrutinized for greenwashing (e.g., Starbucks' straw-free initiative).
Global Level
- Major environmental issues require international cooperation, e.g., the Montreal Protocol's success in reducing CFC production.

The Tragedy of the Commons

Describes overexploitation of shared resources leading to ecological and economic collapse.
Highlighted the need for resource ownership or regulation to prevent environmental degradation.
Elinor Ostrom challenged the necessity of privatization, showing communities could manage open-access resources effectively.

Ethics of Animal Welfare

Explores the expansion of ethics to include animal welfare, led by utilitarianism, particularly through Peter Singer's advocacy.
Singer argued that all beings capable of suffering deserve consideration in ethical decisions.
The suffering of animals is unjustified when alternatives exist, urging a reduction in animal product consumption.

Environmental Justice

Emerged in the 1980s, focusing on equitable environmental benefits and harms across all demographics.
Highlighted disproportionate exposure of marginalized communities to pollution.
Historical practices like redlining perpetuated environmental injustices, limiting access to healthier living conditions for minority populations.
Notable disparities: African Americans face 1.5 times, and Hispanics face about 1.2 times more exposure to air pollution than white Americans.

Description

This quiz explores different approaches to environmental ethics and the factors influencing our daily decisions regarding environmental impact. Reflect on questions related to transportation choices, dietary preferences, and consumer behavior. Understand how personal worldviews and socioeconomic status affect our environmental responsibility.