Introduction to Environmental Ethics Module 7 Lesson 1 PDF

INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS MODUL E 7: LESSON 1 CON2034S Dr. Krystle Ontong 20 September 2024 In this module we’ll look at the following: What is Types of environmental envir...

INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS MODUL E 7: LESSON 1 CON2034S Dr. Krystle Ontong 20 September 2024 In this module we’ll look at the following: What is Types of environmental environmental ethics? ethics Defining the concept of sustainable development Dr Krystle Ontong  What is Environmental Ethics? Environmental ethics is the A systematic and critical study study of moral issues of practices, beliefs, and rules concerning the environment applied to the environment and moral perspectives, that are considered moral, beliefs, and attitudes i.e., good/bad, right/wrong, concerning those issues. and virtuous/vicious. Dr Krystle Ontong  Minteer (2014) Environmental ethics is a branch of applied philosophy that studies the conceptual foundations of environmental values as well as more concrete issues surrounding societal attitudes, actions, and policies to protect and sustain biodiversity and ecological systems. Dr Krystle Ontong  Important environmental ethics  Anthropocentrism interprets Nature as: “ (a) an entity existing apart from and for the benefit of humans, so that (b) nothing in Nature can be considered in itself, autonomously from humans; and (c) it is ethically acceptable for humans and non- humans to be treated in different ways” (Martinelli, 2018)  Eco-centrism: Nature has intrinsic value regardless of its utility for human beings. “Plants, animals, and sometimes even natural forms of land and water merit respect independent of their utility for or regard by human beings” (diZerega, 2015)  Sustainable Development: Can it be viewed as an environmental ethic? Dr Krystle Ontong ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS Dr Krystle Ontong Dr Krystle Ontong  SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ANTHROPOCENTRISM BIO/ECOCENTRISM Dr Krystle Ontong INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Dr Krystle Ontong  SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: CONCEPT CLARIFICATION  What do you understand under the concept sustainable development?  Which influences played a role in your view of SD?  Do you think sustainable development is an achievable goal? Dr Krystle Ontong Dr Krystle Ontong  The term “sustainability” was first used in 18th century in German forestry management practices (Van Zon, 2006). BACKGROUND / HISTORY OF Reason: people in many German states were fearful that there would be a THE CONCEPT shortage of wood. The word “sustainability” was used for the first time in the English language in 1972 (Van Zon, 2006) Dr Krystle Ontong  Genesis of the idea of ‘DEVELOPMENT’ goes back in time.  In the days of colonial rule under the Empires of the time – catchword: ‘PROGRESS’.  Like SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT today and DEVELOPMENT before that the rhetoric of ‘progress’ was couched in the same language.  It was about technological progress, human development, poverty alleviation and economic prosperity. Dr Krystle Ontong  WHAT IS COMMON IN ALL THREE?  All 3 are premised on a model of social development which can only survive by exploiting the land, labor and natural resources of others;  All three are premised on the need to sustain that exploitation over time by managing the opposition and resistance to it;  All three are premised on the understanding that ‘the rest must follow the West’ and  All three invoke moral arguments to obscure the economic and political dimensions of colonial/neo-colonial governance. Dr Krystle Ontong  MOST COMMON DEFINTION  “ Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (WCED, 1987). Dr Krystle Ontong  WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE ABOVE DEFINITION?  Ambiguous, open to a wide range of interpretations  Subject to internal contradictions and epistemological difficulties Unresolved issues as to what constitutes ‘needs’ Brings into harmony two highly attractive but potentially conflicting notions 1) Idea of conserving/preserving aspects of nature 2) Idea of accommodating ongoing human aspirations to ‘develop’ – to have more or better (implications for natural systems) Dr Krystle Ontong  Involves a subtle addiction to management, looking upon Earth as ‘a spaceship in need of an operating manual’ (Mitchum, 1997)  Caused confusion between ‘sustainable development’, ‘sustainable growth’, ‘sustainable use’ Definition is human centered (anthropocentric)  SD can be argued from an anthropocentric or eco- centric point of view Dr Krystle Ontong  Brundtland Report definition (which first popularised the term SD) reflects a more managerial and incremental approach.  Such an approach (by definition) is more attractive to government and business.  A more fundamental reason for the division on terminological grounds: Concern of NGO and academic environmentalists – that development is seen as synonymous with growth and therefore that SD means continued economic growth (Robinson, 2004).  On this view, the preferred term sustainability focuses attention where it should be placed, on the ability of humans to continue to live within environmental constraints. Dr Krystle Ontong  QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION  Is the lack of definitional precision a serious problem or might the term SD profit from what might be called ‘constructive ambiguity?’  What exactly is it that needs to be sustained, at what level and for how long? (balance of nature / eco-system / sustainable economic growth / maintenance of a culture?)  Do we have a sufficient way of knowing (in detail) what the needs of future generations will be?  Do we have the right to make decisions on behalf of future generations? Dr Krystle Ontong  IMPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING  We will need to promote an ethic for living sustainably and to make sure educational programmes reflects it.  Respect the Earth limits and live within it.  Must be a guiding principle for all the world’s people.  Population growth must stop.  The rich must be stabilised.  Reduce consumption of resources.  Cooperation, monitoring, management, integration – crucial. Dr Krystle Ontong ACCORDING TO THE ABOVE IT IS CLEAR THAT:  The compound term SD has a strong appeal as policy slogans but are difficult to implement.  There are various difficulties with the term on moral, ethical, political and practical levels.  SD is becoming just another euphemism for unbridled economic growth.  In the long term, can SD be viewed as sustainable poverty, sustainable environmental degradation, sustainable human degradation so that the present beneficiaries of development and progress can extend their benefits just a little longer? Dr Krystle Ontong A MOVE BEYOND CONCEPTS TO ACTION New forms of social learning is needed (Robinson, 2003) Dr Krystle Ontong  Sustainable living Risk Avoidance Values: Precautionary Principle--"in situations of high risk and high uncertainty, always choose the lowest- risk option." Risk Avoidance Values: Safe Minimum Standard of Conservation--"save the resource, provided the costs of doing so are bearable." Values Central to Community's Identity: Justice, integrity, trust, responsibility, and respect can apply here but they should be taken in their thick as well as thin senses. These values, in their thick sense, depend on the quality of the discourse generated within the community. Dr Krystle Ontong  A manufacturing building was erected in a small town as a way of creating jobs. The company provides jobs for many people in the town where employment is not easy to find and, in this way, ensures that many mouths are fed. The company has stayed in the town even though it could find cheaper workers elsewhere, because workers are loyal to the company due to the jobs it provides. Case study Over the years, the company has developed a reputation in the town for taking care of its employees and being a responsible corporate citizen. However, the manufacturing process used by the company produces a by-product that for years has flown into the town river. The by-product has been considered harmless but some people who live near the river have reported illnesses. Dr Krystle Ontong