Ethics Overview and Environmental Ethics

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of utilitarian conservationalism?

Preserving nature for its intrinsic value

Conserving the environment for human benefit (correct)

Ensuring all living beings have equal rights

Promoting economic growth through resource extraction

Which ethical viewpoint argues that all living things deserve equal rights to environmental resources?

Utilitarianism

Ecocentrism

Anthropocentrism

Biocentric Conservation (correct)

How does ecocentrism prioritize environmental considerations?

By valuing individual species over ecosystems

By focusing exclusively on human needs

By emphasizing economic development

By regarding the wellbeing of ecosystems as equally important as living organisms (correct)

Which term refers to the fair treatment of all people in the context of environmental policies and practices?

Environmental justice Signup and view all the answers

What is the key argument made by John Muir regarding anthropocentrism?

Human superiority over nature is unsubstantiated Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of utilitarianism as applied to ethical decision-making?

Choosing to save the majority at the cost of the minority Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of environmental ethics?

It explores the moral relationship between human beings and the environment. Signup and view all the answers

What does the California Condor Recovery program illustrate in terms of environmental ethics?

The importance of conserving individual species for ecological balance Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant environmental issue in Emelle, AL?

Waste leaching into water and soil Signup and view all the answers

What best exemplifies empirical evidence?

The recorded temperature of a specific day Signup and view all the answers

Why is reproducibility important in scientific testing?

It helps to ensure that results can be trusted and verified. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes correlation from causation?

Correlation does not imply that one event causes another. Signup and view all the answers

In the scientific method, what follows after proposing a hypothesis?

Testing the hypothesis Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about the population of Sumter County, AL?

A significant percentage of residents are living in poverty. Signup and view all the answers

Which principle states that larger sample sizes improve the reliability of research?

Replication Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic of PCBs in relation to health?

They are highly carcinogenic. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ethics Overview

Ethics involves the study of right and wrong, guiding moral decisions and behavior.
Hippocratic Oath emphasizes ethical standards in medical practice.
Utilitarianism prioritizes actions that yield the greatest good for the majority, illustrated by the ethical dilemma of sacrificing one person to save five.

Environmental Ethics

Utilitarian Conservationism values environmental conservation primarily for human benefit, under an anthropocentric view.
Quotes John Muir stating that the world was created for humans reflects this anthropocentric belief.
Biocentric Conservation argues for equal rights to existence for all living beings, challenging human-centered views.
California Condor Recovery Program showcases biocentric conservation in action.
Ecocentrism emphasizes the importance of ecosystems and their various components.
Reference to The Ocean Cleanup illustrates efforts aligned with ecocentric values.
Environmental justice demands equitable treatment regarding environmental hazards, particularly affecting poor and minority communities.
Emelle, Alabama, known for having the largest hazardous waste landfill, highlights environmental injustices faced by marginalized populations.
With 75% of Sumter County residents being black, the issues are compounded by socioeconomic factors.
The Eutaw Aquifer's contamination from landfill waste poses a significant threat to regional water supplies, including carcinogenic PCBs.

The Scientific Method

Defined as a structured approach to understanding the world through observation and evidence.
Empirical evidence refers to observable facts, contrasting with subjective opinions.
Reproducibility signifies that experiments should yield consistent results upon repetition.
Importance of replication is underscored, as larger sample sizes contribute to more reliable conclusions.

Scientific Method Criteria

Emphasizes the necessity of large sample sizes and repeated trials to strengthen scientific findings.

Scientific Method Steps

Key steps include: making observations, proposing hypotheses, testing hypotheses, and interpreting data to draw conclusions.

Correlation and Causation

Correlation implies a relationship or association between two variables, but it does not denote causation.
Example: A correlation exists between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, with evidence supporting a causal relationship.
Conversely, a correlation between ice cream sales and shark attacks exists, but ice cream sales do not cause increased shark activity, illustrating false correlation.

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Description

Explore fundamental concepts of ethics including moral decision-making and the Hippocratic Oath. Delve into environmental ethics, contrasting anthropocentric and biocentric views, and learn about conservation efforts like the California Condor Recovery Program.