Chapter 4: The Human Person in their Environment PDF

# Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person ## Chapter 4 - The Human Person in their Environment * The environment refers to the surroundings in which living organisms, including humans, exist. * Environmental philosophy is the discipline that studies the moral relationships of human bein...

# Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person ## Chapter 4 - The Human Person in their Environment * The environment refers to the surroundings in which living organisms, including humans, exist. * Environmental philosophy is the discipline that studies the moral relationships of human beings with the environment and its non-human contents. ## Environmental Perspective | Perspective | View | | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Ecocentric | Nature centered with minimum disturbances to nature. | | Anthropocentric | People centered, humans are managers of the planet. | | Technocentric | Technology centered, technology solves problems. | ### 1. Ecocentrism * Humans are not more important in comparison to the other creations or species. * All living creatures has essential value. * Human needs to protect its habitat and ecosystems. #### Three Theories on Ecocentric Model * **Deep Ecology** * An ecological philosophy developed by Arne Naess in the early 1970s. * He trusts that the living environment ought to be appreciated, valued, and viewed as having rights to prosper, autonomous of its use, function, or benefit to humans. * **Social Ecology** * A critical social theory founded by Murray Bookchin. * It emphasizes the need to reorganize society and transform its relationship with the environment to create a more harmonious and sustainable way of life. * **Ecofeminism** * Its name as coined by French feminist Francoise d'Eaubonne in the year 1974. * Also known as ecological feminism. It explores the links and correlations between women folk and nature. ### 2. Anthropocentrism * Humans are the most important of all creations. * A humanity centered environmental viewpoint. * Nature is used to benefit the human population. #### Some effects of Anthropocentrism * All kinds of pollution, Global Warming, Deforestation, Climate change, Soil erosion, Stronger typhoons, Depletion of natural resources, Famine, Drought and Water crisis. ### 3. Technocentrism * A value system that is focused on technology and its competence to manage and protect the environment. * Technocentrics further believe in classical science, technology, conventional economic thinking, and in the human control over nature. They are confident in the ability of experts to invent new techniques to extract and allocate resources. # Natural Resources **Natural Resources**- Resources found in nature that man uses to meet their needs **Artificial Resources**- materials from the natural environment that people convert to produce other things with the aid of tools and creativity. ## Management of Resources | | | |---|---| | Materials | Man-made resources | | ► Tools | | | | Skills | ## Lesson 4.1 Notice disorder in an environment **Pollution** - It is the presence of harmful substances in the environment that negatively impact air, water, soil, and living organisms. * **Improper Waste Disposal** - It refers to the incorrect handling and disposal of waste materials, which can lead to environmental pollution and health risk. * **Climate Change** - The shift in the planet's weather patterns or average temperature. * **Overpopulation** - The condition in which the human population grows beyond the ability of the environment to support it. * **Depletion of Natural Resources** - The consumption of a resource faster than it can be replenished. * **Drought** - a period of dry weather, especially a long one that is injurious to crops. * **Water Scarcity** - is the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet water needs within a region. * **Deforestation** - The act or consequence of slashing down or burning all the trees in an area. * **Erosion** - It is a process where rocks are broken down by natural forces and removed from one location and transported to another. Accelerated erosion is caused naturally by human's overuse of land. ## Lesson 4.2 Notice things that are not in their proper place and organize them in an aesthetic way ### Nature and philosophy according to... | Philosopher | Argument | | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Anaximander | The author of the first surviving lines of Western philosophy who speculated and argued about "the Boundless" as the origin of all. | | Pythagoras | The universe is living embodiment of nature's order, harmony, and beauty. He sees our relationship with the universe involving: **BIOPHILIA** - love of other living things and **COSMOPHILIA** - love of other living beings | | Immanuel Kant | Beauty is ultimately a symbol of morality (goodness). | | Herbert | He believes that the orderliness of nature and the harmony of nature with our faculties guide us into a deeper religious perspective. | | Herbert Marcuse | Humanity had dominated nature. There can only be change if we will change our attitude towards our perception of the environment. | | Herbert Mead | For him, humans do not only have rights to nature, but duties as well. | ## Lesson 4.3 Show that care for the environment contributes to health, well-being, and sustainable development **Norman Borlaug** - Father of Green Revolution ### Green Revolution A movement to boost food production through: * The launching of high-yield crop varieties * The use and treatment of fertilizers and pesticides * The application of advanced agricultural techniques The objective is to eliminate or at the very least, reduce hunger by further enriching crop performance. ## The Need for Green Revolution * Continuous increase in population * Food shortage * Environmental problems * High cost of Production ## Biotechnology (The next green revolution) * Support farmers produce higher yields on less land as compared to conventional plant breeding ## Green Revolution: Promise of Hope * Hunger Reduction/Elimination * Intensity food production * Strengthen and improve global carrying capacity * Availability of materials to local farmers * Foster technological knowledge ## Lesson 4.4 Demonstrate the virtues of prudence and frugality towards environment If being frugal is being practical and/or economical, therefore, in a philosophical sense, does frugality help the environment? Society's impact on the environment continues to be the cause of serious global concern. It was triggered by the growing awareness that human activities have become the biggest factor in the loss of biodiversity. ### REDUCE * Purchase only what is needed as opposed to what is desired * Limit packaging materials * Reduction means to make something smaller. * Source reduction is reducing waste prior to you purchasing it. Decrease unnecessary, useless, and wasteful purchases. How? By being practical. Buy things as needed; not as wanted. Avoid impulse buying. ### REUSE * Buy reusable products * Consider looking for new ways to make use of old stuff that are about to be thrown away. * It may be reused for the same purpose (conventional reuse) or to perform a different function (creative reuse). * Instead of using plastic bags, try using eco-friendly shopping bags. This is widely used now in big malls, and everyone is encouraged to do their share of discipline in going green and help save Mother Earth. ### RECYCLE * Most items made of paper, glass, rubber, plastics, and metal may have a good use in other ways. Be creative. Use your imagination and save money. * Recycle is to transform of convert materials/waste into reusable items. It subjects objects through a process or treatment that permits them to be used again, usually for a different purpose. * It should be distinguished from reuse. Recycling is the breaking down of second-hand, old items to create raw materials for the construction of new products.