Environmental Aesthetics and Public Environmental Philosophy

Environmental Aesthetics and Public Environmental Aesthetics and Public Environmental PhilosophyEnvironmental Philosophy

Environmental Aesthetics and Public Environmental Aesthetics and Public Environmental PhilosophyEnvironmental Philosophy

Katherine W. Robinson & Kevin C. ElliotSeminar Presentation

Taylor EdmundApril 11, 2012Prof. Hettinger

Katherine W. Robinson & Kevin C. ElliotSeminar Presentation

Taylor EdmundApril 11, 2012Prof. Hettinger

The Lily pond storyThe Lily pond story

Killing the lilies, diminish the clarity of the water, and contaminate a connecting lake

Aesthetic considerations are motivational

“Sense of place”

Aesthetic concerns shine light on other issues

Aesthetic considerations should play a role in developing a public environmental philosophy

Killing the lilies, diminish the clarity of the water, and contaminate a connecting lake

Aesthetic considerations are motivational

“Sense of place”

Aesthetic concerns shine light on other issues

Aesthetic considerations should play a role in developing a public environmental philosophy

The purposeThe purpose

Beauty is an important reason for protecting nature

To make a case for environmental aesthetics

Aesthetic Integrity

Central to people’s sense of place

Written to be motivational instrument

Beauty is an important reason for protecting nature

To make a case for environmental aesthetics

Aesthetic Integrity

Central to people’s sense of place

Written to be motivational instrument

Aesthetic IntegrityAesthetic Integrity

Complexity of environmental aesthetics calls for this concept

“a kind of aesthetic principle for strategy and planning” (Brady 2002, 75)

Environmental, ecological, and diachronic integrity

Difficult to evaluate aesthetic integrity, but is often easier to point out detriments to the aesthetic integrity

Examples of threats to aesthetic integrity

Differences in opinions and problems with economics

Complexity of environmental aesthetics calls for this concept

“a kind of aesthetic principle for strategy and planning” (Brady 2002, 75)

Environmental, ecological, and diachronic integrity

Difficult to evaluate aesthetic integrity, but is often easier to point out detriments to the aesthetic integrity

Examples of threats to aesthetic integrity

Differences in opinions and problems with economics

Importance of Aesthetic IntegrityImportance of Aesthetic Integrity

A fundamental component in public environmental philosophy

Important in our sense of place

People’s attachment and care of a particular place

Aesthetic integrity and its position in “sense of place”

A fundamental component in public environmental philosophy

Important in our sense of place

People’s attachment and care of a particular place

Aesthetic integrity and its position in “sense of place”

Stedman’s Study (2003)Stedman’s Study (2003)

3 models of how a landscape may influence the sense of place

Direct Effects Model

Meaning-mediated Model

Experiential Model

The “take-home lesson”

3 models of how a landscape may influence the sense of place

Direct Effects Model

Meaning-mediated Model

Experiential Model

The “take-home lesson”

Moral Importance Moral Importance

Problems with developing a public environmental philosophy

Sense of place is not only a motivational aspect, but affects human well-being

AIP Principle

Kant and Mill

degradation is a moral issue

3 environmental rights in democracy

Problems with developing a public environmental philosophy

Sense of place is not only a motivational aspect, but affects human well-being

AIP Principle

Kant and Mill

degradation is a moral issue

3 environmental rights in democracy

the Green Diamond casethe Green Diamond case

Economic impacts

What did the citizens do?

The 4 lessons about aesthetic integrity

effectiveness, deliberation, umbrella and objectivity

Useful on a national and global scale

Economic impacts

What did the citizens do?

The 4 lessons about aesthetic integrity

effectiveness, deliberation, umbrella and objectivity

Useful on a national and global scale

The case cont.. The case cont..

Use other issues to benefit environmental concerns

4 significant effects

Generating more interest

Subjectivity of aesthetic judgements

Use other issues to benefit environmental concerns

4 significant effects

Generating more interest

Subjectivity of aesthetic judgements

ConclusionConclusion

What should philosophers be doing?

Using the frames

Changing the institutions

Social learning

Bettering the importance of aesthetic integrity

What should philosophers be doing?

Using the frames

Changing the institutions

Social learning

Bettering the importance of aesthetic integrity

Works CitedWorks Cited

Katherine W. Robinson & Kevin C. Elliot (2011): Environmental Aesthetics and Public Environmental Philosophy, Ethics, Policy & Environment, 14:2, 175-191

Katherine W. Robinson & Kevin C. Elliot (2011): Environmental Aesthetics and Public Environmental Philosophy, Ethics, Policy & Environment, 14:2, 175-191