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Module 6: Human Person and the - Utilitarianism Environment 2. Sentientism 1. Steven Vogel - “The central idea is 3. Extensionism to find an appropriate way to 4. ECOSOPHY T understand and defen...

Module 6: Human Person and the - Utilitarianism Environment 2. Sentientism 1. Steven Vogel - “The central idea is 3. Extensionism to find an appropriate way to 4. ECOSOPHY T understand and defend nature’s 5. Deep ecology or shallow ecology ontological and ethical status” Ontological - questions about what is CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE existence and being 1. INDIGENOUS Ethical Status - beliefs, values, moral - Indigenous cultures do not principles which people determine what is distinguish between human and right and wrong. non-human worlds; they see 2. Andrew Brennan - “Studies the themselves as part of a unified moral relationship of human beings family with nature. to the value and moral status of the - They feel accountable to their environment and its non- human ancestors and other living beings, content” which fosters a sense of - how our decisions affect everyone obligation to care for the involved. environment. - choose the best path when making - Genealogies - potent sources of decisions. knowledge about the past and - figuring out how to live well together. present, about the natural world and 3. Paul Taylor - “The ethical principles the beings that inhabit it. governing those relations determine Roberts and Wills our duties, obligations, and To know oneself is know one’s responsibilities regarding the Earth's whakapapa for the Maori. natural environment and all the To know about a tree, a rock, the animals and plants that inhabit it." wind, or the fishes in the ocean – is to know their whakapapa. Main issues of Environmental Ethics: Whitt and Roberts et al. “Whether a human beings are responsible “It is not possible to exist without for the gradual destruction of the natural genealogies and stand outside such world or not?” affiliation ties, although one may fail to acknowledge their presence. Nor Cultural/Regional it is possible to exist in such 1. Indigenous genealogies and be outside of 2. Chinese nature” 3. Hindu 2. CHINESE 4. Jewish Karyn L. Lai 5. Muslim “The Chinese worldview regarding Contemporary nature is known as correlational 1. Human Normative Ethics thinking. It tells that nature and - Perfectionist ethics human actions are interlocking and - Virtue/moral ethics mutually influencing.” - Deontology - Changes in the natural world and 3. HINDU events in the human world is Vedas - sacred text that understands the interlocking. (connected/united) relationship between the human and non-human world with significant insights 3 pictures to view relationship with found in the Upanishads. humans and environment. Panch Mahabhutas 1. Tian-Di-Ren These elements are fundamental to - view the well-being of the universe understanding the relationship between the depends on the successful human and non-human world. cooperation among three agents: Characteristics of each element: Tian (Heaven), Di (Earth), and Ren 1. Earth (Prithvi) - the mother and (Man). upholder of all. Ex. no sacrifices no abundancy 2. Air (Vayu) - the bond/thread which 2. Wuxing keeps the universe together. - metaphysical concept is concerned 3. Space (Akash) - the final refuge of with proportion and balance rather all beings. than identity. 4. Water (apah) - the first/primal of the 5 Elements: cosmic elements or the mother of all wood, fire, earth, metal, and water – beings and foundation of all in the play a crucial role in various aspects universe. of life. 5. Light/Fire (agni) - the spring of our life because it creates life on earth/ Yin-Yang Wuxing soul, preserver, and ruler of the - related to wuxing/focuses on world. achieving harmony and balance. O.P Dwivedi - represents complementary forces - cosmic elements that create, that are essential for the nurture, and sustain all forms of life. cosmological theory of After death/decay, they absorb what interdependence between natural was created earlier. and human worlds. - pervasive and embody all living 3. Daoist - Based on Lao Tzu’s beings, constituting Brahman. teachings Brahmin - represents the unspeakable and Priests, Academics primacy nature of the universe. Kshatryia - primacy and natural order of Warriors, Kings existence Vaishya - holistic connection of all things, Merchants, Landowners implying that all forms of being are Sudra equal. Commoners, Peasants, Servants - disruption of this balance, or creating Untochables artificial hierarichies, is seen as a Outcast - out of caste, Street violation of the natural order. sweepers, Latrine cleaners Characteristics of each element: God created the earth. It is gift and Arthrva Veda, Book XII, hymn 1, must preserve and take care by His verse 11 - honors Earth as sacred creation. and requests protection from natural Practical (seen in their rules, rituals, disasters while denouncing the everyday life) exploitation of nature. RULES AND COMMANDMENTS Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - means Yishuv Ha-Aretz: This principle involves "every entity and organism is a part restrictions on the use of animals and of one large extended family plants for religious purposes and designates presided over by the eternal Mother certain areas as protected (migrash) from Earth. agricultural and building activities. Tza’ar Ba’alei Chayim: This principle Reincarnation and Karma: emphasizes the humane treatment of Belief in the cycle of birth and animals, outlining specific rules about rebirth, where humans can permissible methods of killing animals and reincarnate as animals or expressing a broader concern for all living non-human beings. beings. Respect for All Living Beings: 5. MUSLIM Due to this belief, Hindus practice Another perspective which comes from Ahimsa (non-violence), ensuring Islam's religious and cultural tradition, where proper treatment of animals as they the teaching about nature is also evident. may be reincarnated ancestors or - Khalifa ( stewardship) divine beings. Sacred and Divine Nature: QUR’ANIC TEACHINGS - 31 of 144 The environment is seen as a living chapters are named after natural entity that should be respected, elements (S. Namanul Haq) revered, and viewed as sacred and - Human beings are considered divine. superior to other creatures due to 4. JEWISH their accountability to God (Allah). Eric Katz - This superiority comes with the - implies that anyone can approach responsibility to care for God’s environmental philosophy based creation. on Jewish tradition from different - The role of Allah is to govern the vantage points depending on the entire cosmos and its natural order. issue. - Amr (Command) – A universal - Nature is seen as God’s creation, principle where each natural entity with God as the sole owner. This has a specific role and place within view is evident in practices such as the cosmic whole, according to the blessings over food and the divine command it receives from Sabbath. Allah. Theocentric and Stewardship Katz - balanced approach that avoids both extreme destruction and excessive preservation.  HADITH LITERATURE - significant This approach includes several ethical source of Islamic teachings, includes principles: many references to environmental 1. Perfectionist Ethics - emphasizes care. human accomplishments such as - Water must be shared equally. knowledge and culture. - Treating animals during Jihad. 2. Virtue Ethics - evaluates actions - Hima: importance of protecting based on moral character. pasture lands or sanctuaries. 3. Deontological Ethics - relies on - Book of Agriculture: proper conduct universal principles and inherent in the use, ownership, management, values. and distribution of water. 4. Utilitarianism - the happiness they GLOBAL TRUSTEESHIP GLOBAL produce for the greatest number of TRUSTEESHIP - the idea that all people. natural resources – animals, plants, and other resources – come from Allah, and SENTIENTISM humans are entrusted with their care. Peter Singer - introduces a moral view that emphasizes the capacity of nonhuman beings to feel CONTEMPORARY ENVIRONMENTAL pleasure or pain. ETHICS - This concept is intended to defend a Respect for Nature - Paul Taylor sort of moral view concerning Four areas of inquiry about environmental animals' treatment that developed ethics: formally into what we call now 1. Relationship between human and animal rights natural ecosystems in terms of moral - In simple terms, sentient beings constraints deserve protection from harm Do we have duties and EXTENTIONISM obligations towards natural - Applies traditional ethical principles, world? such as those found in utilitarianism, 2. Kind of moral constraints, moral to nonhuman beings. grounds, and standards of ethical - It argues that ethical behavior considerations should extend to 3. Justifications of the moral standards all beings capable of experiencing and rules pleasure or suffering 4. Effect of our moral behavior and LAND ETHIC practices on both humans and Aldo Leopold: natural environment. - represents a shift in how we view nature, seeing it not as a resource, HUMAN CENTERED ENVIRONMENTAL object or material to be used for NORMATIVE ETHICS some ends but as a community to - How humans should conduct which we belong. themselves for their own good and - should recognize the happiness. interconnectedness of soils, waters, plants, and animals. - intrinsic value of nature and our 8. those who subscribe to the previous responsibility to maintain ecological points directly or indirectly try to balance implement the necessary changes. DEEP ECOLOGY Arne Næss (1970) - Norwegian Deep Ecology - Long termed action philosopher plan. - Explains and describes Deep - Seeks to address the root causes of Ecology by presenting its eight these issues through a points comprehensive and systemic 1. The well-being and flourishing of approach that values all forms of life human and nonhuman life on Earth and aims for profound societal have value. These values are change. independent of the usefulness of the Shallow Ecology - partial way, short nonhuman world for human termed action plan purposes Ecosophy T 2. The richness and diverse life forms Arne Næss, contribute to realizing these values - named after his cabin, Tvergastein. and are also values in themselves - It focuses to develop a sense of 3. Humans have no right to reduce this environmental selfhood to realize the richness and diversity except to ideal of environmental satisfy vital needs self-realization. 4. The flourishing of human life and Environmental Selfhood: Encourages cultures is compatible with a individuals to see themselves as part of substantially smaller human the natural world, fostering a relational population. The flourishing of identity that expands love and concern to nonhuman life requires a smaller include all living beings. human population Ecological Self-Realization: Promotes the 5. Present human interference with the idea that protecting nature becomes a form non human world is excessive, of self defense, as individuals realize that rapidly worsening the situation their well-being is intertwined with the 6. Policies must therefore change. well-being of the environment. These policies affect basic economic, technological, and ANTHROPOCENTRISM CRITICISM ideological structures. The resulting Anthropocentric view: situation will be enormously different The world and its non-human inhabitants: from the present To serve human needs 7. The ideological change will mainly An object to be controlled and appreciate life quality rather than manipulated by humans adhering to an increasingly higher ECOFEMINISM AS A RESPONSE standard of living. There will be a Alicia H. Puleo profound awareness of the - Attempt to outline new utopian difference between bigness and Horizon addressing the greatness environmental issue from the  category of anthropocentrism and and nonhuman entities. They the patriarchal mindset emphasize the interconnectedness - it addresses environmental issues of all life forms and address broader through the lenses of patriarchy, ecological impacts androcentrism, care, sexism, and Moral Worldviews and Concepts gender Implications for Environmental Ethics - It argues that the devaluation of - Moral Agents: Those who can nature and women has historical make moral decisions and be roots in the shift from an accountable (generally humans) Earth-centered to a sun-centered - Moral Subjects: Entities that can be worldview during the 15th to 17th affected by actions and are owed centuries. moral consideration (includes both Victoria Davion humans and nonhumans) - There is a link between dominations of women and dominations of Critics of deep ecology argue that: nature” 1. The movement is based on - It argues that the devaluation of mysticism and appears to be more nature and women has historical of a religion than a rational approach roots in the shift from an to environmental matters. Earth-centered to a sun-centered 2. Deep ecology is a “utopian” belief worldview during the 15th to 17th system that describes a “state of centuries. nature” that cannot practically exist. 3. If humans are part of nature, then Merchant view shift that is developed highly the industrial world we’ve built is by Copernicus, Machiavelli, and Francis also part of nature. Bacon, associated the Earth-Centered View and Sun Centered view. ANDROCENTRISM - refers to a - Earth-Centered View: Associated cultural and social perspective that with feminine qualities and places men and masculinity at the nurturance.T he quality of being center of society, while marginalizing natural women and femininity - Sun-Centered View: Associated with masculine control and dominance Moral Worldviews and Concepts Human-Centered vs. Life-Centered Ethical Theories - Human-Centered Theories: Focus on ethical principles guiding human-to-human interactions. They do not extend moral consideration to nonhuman entities - Life-Centered Theories: Include moral considerations for both human