Introduction to Environmental Science

• This chapter provides an overview of environmental science, including environmental principles and ethics
• The first module introduces the seven environmental principles and their impact on life and decisions
• The second module includes an activity to understand environmental ethics and attitudes
• There will be opportunities to reflect on your behavior towards the environment
• It emphasizes environmental issues to fully understand the concepts

Module 1: Environmental Principles

• Duration of Module 1 is 1.5 hours
• This module introduces environmental science, its nature, and principles due to concerns about the natural environment

Objectives of Module 1

• Completion of the module should enable stating and reflecting on the seven environmental principles
• Completion of the module should enable analyzing the relationship between individuals, society, economy, culture, and environmental issues

The Nature of Environmental Science

• Environment means to encircle or surround an organism, including social and cultural conditions
• Environment is the physical surroundings and factors, including living (organisms) and nonliving things/environments (matter and energy)
• More broadly, the environment is everything that affects an organism during its lifetime
• Environmental science is the systematic study of our environment and our place in it, including connections, interactions, and environmental problems/issues
• It explores how species interact with each other and the nonliving environment (matter and energy)
• It is an interdisciplinary field including the scientific and social aspects of human impact on the world

The 7 Environmental Principles

Principle #1: Nature knows best

• Nature knows best is the most basic principle
• Humans must appreciate and follow nature's rules, avoiding interference with natural processes to maintain a steady supply of resources
• Disrupting nature's cycle can cause ecosystem imbalance

Principle #2: All forms of life are important

• Each organism has a vital role in nature

Principle #3: Everything is connected to everything else

• Living organisms adapt to non-living components to sustain the system

Principle #4: Everything changes

• The environment is always changing, and organisms adapt for survival
• Changes can be linear, random, or cyclical
• Linear change involves species evolution via complex organisms
• Cyclical change is exemplified by seasons and floral/faunal rhythms
• Random change includes events like the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, altering land topography

Principle #5: Everything must go somewhere

• Matter is cycled as waste, eventually ending up elsewhere

Principle #6: Ours is finite earth

• Resources are limited
• Knowing how much of a resource can be consumed is critical

Principle #7: Nature is beautiful, and we are stewards of God's creation

• Humans are intelligent, capable of manipulating nature for advantage
• Nature should be cared for, not ravaged or abused

Module 2: Environmental Ethics

• Module 2 explores environmental ethics
• Duration of Module 2 is 2 hours
• Considers theories and perspectives on the environment and applying these theories to global moral issues

Objectives of Module 2

• Completion of the module should enable declaring philosophical/ethical views, issues, and arguments relating to the environment
• Completion of the module should enable establishing critical thinking skills to scrutinize arguments about environmental problems

Ethics and Morals

• Ethics and morals should be considered in assessing environmental issues
• Ethics is a philosophy field studying value/quality, defining right and wrong regardless of culture/society
• Moral principles defining our responsibility towards the environment are called environmental ethics
• Environmental ethics studies moral perspectives, beliefs, attitudes, and issues concerning the environment
• It applies ethical thinking to the natural world and the relationship between humans and the earth
• It consists of three fundamental propositions:
  • Earth and its components (natural resources, humans, animals) are worthy of ethical concern
  • Earth and its components have inherent existential value, not just for providing resources
  • Based on the ecosystem concept, humans should consider "wholes" comprising organisms and the environment

Philosophical Approaches to Environmental Ethics

Anthropocentrism (Human-centered Ethics)

• Basic premise: Humans are the most important species, so understanding the natural world should center on anthropology
• Some believe humans are separate from/above nature
• Focus is on people and their needs
• Nature is believed to be provided solely for human use/interest

Biocentrism (Life-centered Ethics)

• All life has a standpoint, regardless of human value
• Biology is central to environmental ethics
• The biosphere is central to life on earth
• All organisms have the right to exist
• It is a system of ethics protecting all life
• All life is interdependent
• Example: Over-hunting deer affects coyotes and wolves

Eco-centrism

• Involves the system's essence rather than individuals/species
• The environment itself has moral worth
• The environment should be maintained and deserves direct moral considerations, not just derived from human/animal interests

Environmental Attitudes

• An Environmentalist is concerned with protecting the environment or believing civilization's sustainability depends on conserving the biosphere and maintaining biodiversity

Developmental Approach

• Most anthropocentric, assuming humanity is above all
• Assumes humans should master nature, using earth's resources for benefit/pleasure
• Suggests human condition improvements require converting more nature to human use
• The environment only has value insofar as it can be economically used
• Yields to industrialization/modernization

Conservationists Approach

• Concerned with using natural areas and wildlife to benefit present and future generations
• People believe land should only be used to a certain extent, to what needs to be used

Preservationists Approach

• Most eco-centric towards the environment

• Concerned with preserving natural areas

• Ensures undisturbed areas are free from harmful human activities

• Protects the environment

• Cornucopians believe all parts of the environment (natural resources) should be exploited for human advantage

Explore environmental science, principles, and ethics. Learn seven environmental principles and their impact. Reflect on personal behavior towards the environment and understand key environmental issues.