Environmental Science Chapter 1

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CHAPTER 1: UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE THE NATURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PRINCIPLE #2: ALL FORMS OF LIFE ARE ENVIRONMENT IMPO...

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CHAPTER 1: UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE THE NATURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PRINCIPLE #2: ALL FORMS OF LIFE ARE ENVIRONMENT IMPORTANT It means to encircle or surround an Each organism plays a vital role in nature. organism and includes the social and cultural conditions that may affect him. Niche: Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers. It can be explained as the physical surroundings and factors - living things (organisms) and nonliving things/ environment (matter and energy). PRINCIPLE #3: EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED TO EVERYTHING ELSE In a broader definition, it is everything that affects an organism during its lifetime. All living organisms are influenced and adapt to non-living components to ensure that the system is sustained. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Is the systematic study of our environment and our place in it, merely the connections PRINCIPLE #4: EVERYTHING CHANGES and interactions in nature, and concerned with environmental problems/issues. The environment is continuously changing. All organisms adapt to these changes to It can be explained as to how species survive. interact with one another and the nonliving environment (matter and energy). These changes may be linear, random, or cyclical. It is an interdisciplinary field that includes both the scientific and social aspects of ○ Liner change: the evolution of human impact on the world. species brought about by complex types of organisms. ○ Cyclical change: may be THE 7 ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES exemplified by seasons and the rhythms in floral and faunal life 1. Nature knows best. stages that go with the seasons. 2. All forms of life are important. 3. Everything is connected to everything else. ○ Random change: the eruption of 4. Everything changes. Mt. Pinatubo that alters the 5. Everything must go somewhere. topography of the land. 6. Ours is finite earth. 7. Nature is beautiful, and we are stewards of God’s creation. PRINCIPLE #5: EVERYTHING MUST GO SOMEWHERE Matter is cycled so as wastes materials. PRINCIPLE #1: NATURE KNOWS BEST Everything ends up elsewhere. This principle is the most basic and comprises all the others. PRINCIPLE #6: OURS IS FINITE EARTH Humans have to appreciate and recognize the importance of nature and follow its rules. Resources are limited in form. We must not interfere with various natural It is essential to know how much of a processes to a continuous and steady resource can be consumed at a given time. supply of resources provided to us. Remember, any disruption in the cycle of nature can bring imbalance to our ecosystem.  PRINCIPLE #7: NATURE IS BEAUTIFUL, AND PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACHES TO WE ARE STEWARDS OF GOD’S CREATION ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS Humans are the most intelligent creatures 1. Anthropocentrism (Human-centered Ethics) that are capable of manipulating nature to their advantage. 2. Biocentrism (Life-centered Ethics) Humans will not exist; thus, it should not be 3. Ecocentrism ravaged or abused in nature but to be taken care of. ANTHROPOCENTRISM (HUMAN-CENTERED ETHICS) ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS The basic premise is: Different environmental issues arise ○ Human beings are the central, most throughout the years. important species in the universe. Ethical attitudes and behaviors determine ○ Thus understanding the natural how humans interact with natural resources. world should be centered on anthropology. Philosophical consideration of various theories and perspectives on the Some people believe that humans are environment and applying these theories to essentially separate from or above nature. global moral issues are given extreme reflections. It sees the world focusing on people and their needs. And believed that nature is provided for ETHICS human use/interest alone. It is a field of philosophy that focuses on the study of value or quality and seeks to define what is right and what is wrong irrespective BIOCENTRISM (LIFE-CENTERED ETHICS) of the culture and society. The fundamental premise is: Moral principles that try to define one’s ○ All life has a standpoint, regardless responsibility towards the environment are of its value to humans. called environmental ethics. ○ Understanding biology is at the center of environmental ethics. ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS ○ The biosphere is central to life on earth. It is the study of moral perspectives, beliefs, attitudes, and issues concerning the Some people believe that all living environment. organisms have the right to exist. It applies ethical thinking to the natural ○ It is a system of ethics that attempts world and the relationship between humans to protect all life in nature. and the earth. All life is interdependent. Three fundamental propositions: For example, if the deer population is 1. The earth and its components (natural over-hunted, then the coyote and wolf will resources, human beings, animals, etc.) are be affected. worthy of ethical concern. 2. The earth and its components have inherent value because they exist, not only because ECOCENTRISM they provide resources for human needs. It involves the essence of the system, rather 3. Based on the concept of an ecosystem, than on individuals, species. human beings should consider “wholes” that comprises other living organisms and the The environment itself has moral worth. environment.  The environment should be maintained and deserves direct moral considerations and However, cornucopians are those who assume or not concern that is merely derived from believe that all parts of the environment (natural human or animal interests. resources) are to be exploited for the advantage of humans. ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES Any person concerned with the protection of the environment or who believes that the sustainability of civilization depends on conserving natural aspects of the biosphere free from pollution and maintaining biodiversity is called an Environmentalist. DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH It tends to be the most anthropocentric and assumes that humanity is above all. It assumes that the human race is and should be the master of nature and that the earth and its resources exist solely for our benefit and pleasure. It suggests that improvements in human condition require converting ever more of nature to human use; thus, the environment has value only insofar as human beings economically utilize it. It yields to industrialization and modernization. CONSERVATIONISTS APPROACH It is concerned with using natural areas and wildlife (fauna, flora, and microorganisms) to benefit present and future generations of human races and other forms of life. People who believed that land should be used only to a certain extent, to what needs to be used. PRESERVATIONISTS APPROACH Tends to be the most eco-centric towards the environment. It is concerned with the preservation of natural areas. Their primary goal is to ensure those undisturbed natural areas are free from harmful human activities. Protects the environment from harmful human activities.