Environmental Value Systems Overview

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What does an environmental value system (EVS) primarily shape?

Economic growth models

Technological advancements and their applications

Perceptions and evaluations of environmental issues (correct)

Political affiliations and voting behaviors

Which viewpoint emphasizes ecological and nature-centered approaches to humanity?

Utilitarian

Anthropocentric

Technocentric

Ecocentric (correct)

What is the primary focus of a technocentric environmental value system?

Sustainable management by humans

Technological solutions to environmental problems (correct)

Spiritual integration with nature

Taxation for environmental regulation

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an ecocentric viewpoint?

Advocates for pro-growth agendas Signup and view all the answers

What does an anthropocentric viewpoint advocate for in relation to environmental issues?

Sustainable management of the global system Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect heavily influences an individual's or group's EVS?

Cultural and sociopolitical contexts Signup and view all the answers

How does a technocentric viewpoint typically view the role of scientific research?

As essential for forming policies and solving problems Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature that distinguishes the extremes of the EVS spectrum?

Their intrinsic value ascribed to biospheric components Signup and view all the answers

Which event is associated with significant environmental implications regarding industrial accidents?

The Bhopal disaster of 1984 Signup and view all the answers

What does an open system do in terms of energy and matter exchange?

Exchanges both energy and matter across its boundary Signup and view all the answers

What is represented as rectangular boxes in system diagrams?

Storages Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the Gaia hypothesis developed by James Lovelock?

An idea that Earth functions as a single self-regulating system Signup and view all the answers

What principle does the first law of thermodynamics illustrate?

Energy can transform but not be created or destroyed Signup and view all the answers

Which type of system is theoretical and does not exchange energy or matter?

Isolated system Signup and view all the answers

Which disaster is notable for raising awareness about environmental pollution through a documentary?

An Inconvenient Truth Signup and view all the answers

What is entropy a measure of in a system?

The amount of disorder in a system Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Environmental Value Systems (EVS)

EVS: A worldview shaping how individuals perceive environmental issues, influenced by culture, religion, economics, and politics.
EVS as a system: Input (education, experience, culture) leads to interrelated premises, values, and arguments (outputs), generating consistent decisions.
EVS spectrum: Ecocentric, anthropocentric, and technocentric.
- Ecocentric: Nature is central, less materialistic, prioritizing biodiversity.
- Anthropocentric: Humans manage the global system sustainably.
- Technocentric: Technology solves environmental problems, promoting a pro-growth agenda.
EVS Variations: Differ across cultures and time periods, rarely fitting neatly into categories.
Intrinsic value: Different EVSs assign differing values to biosphere components.
Society: Group of people sharing characteristics like geography, culture, time period, values.

Historical Influences on the Environmental Movement

Literature, media, disasters, international agreements, and technology shaped the movement.
Examples: Gaia hypothesis, Minamata disaster, Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, An Inconvenient Truth, Chernobyl, Fukushima, whaling, Bhopal, Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Chipko movement, Rio Earth Summit, Earth Day and the Green Revolution, Copenhagen Accord and Peru Oil Spill.

Systems and Models

Systems approach: Visualizes complex interactions in ecology and society.
Emergent properties: Result from interactions within a system.
System components: Storages (represented by boxes) and flows (represented by arrows) of energy and matter.
Flows: Transfers (change in location) or transformations (change in nature, state, or energy).
Open systems: Exchange energy and matter across boundaries.
Closed systems: Exchange only energy across boundaries.
Isolated systems: Neither energy nor matter exchanged.
Ecosystems are open systems. Closed systems are theoretical and, except in limited cases (global geochemical cycles), practically absent. -Models: Simplified versions of reality for understanding system function and predicting responses to change.

Energy and Equilibria

First law of thermodynamics: Energy is conserved within an isolated system, transforming but never created or destroyed.
Second law of thermodynamics: Entropy (disorder) in a system increases over time.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz explores Environmental Value Systems (EVS) and their impact on how individuals perceive environmental issues. It covers the ecocentric, anthropocentric, and technocentric perspectives, as well as the intrinsic values assigned to various components of the biosphere. Understand the cultural and historical influences shaping the environmental movement through EVS.