Worldviews can be narrow or broad World views reflect a person’s or group’s beliefs about the meaning purpose operation and essence of the world. World.

Worldviews Worldviews can be narrow or broadcan be narrow or broad

World views World views reflect a person’s reflect a person’s or group’s beliefs or group’s beliefs about the meaning about the meaning purpose operation purpose operation and essence of the and essence of the world.world.

Your view of the Your view of the world shapes your world shapes your ethical valuesethical values

USA vs ChinaUSA vs China

Ethics and Culture Ethics and Culture Shape Our Shape Our WorldviewsWorldviews

Two Contrasting WorldviewsTwo Contrasting Worldviews

1)Technological-scientific worldview1)Technological-scientific worldview

See nature as something to be manipulatedSee nature as something to be manipulated

2) Natural worldviews2) Natural worldviews

Emphasize connection between humans and Emphasize connection between humans and naturenature

Environmental EthicsEnvironmental Ethics

““Expands a circle or moral concern Expands a circle or moral concern beyond the human species to include beyond the human species to include at the very least other mammals; at the very least other mammals; perhaps lower animals and plants; perhaps lower animals and plants; and finally entire ecosystems.”and finally entire ecosystems.”

Gudorf and Gudorf and HutchisonHutchison

Two main types of Two main types of Environmental Ethics:Environmental Ethics:

IndividualistiIndividualisticc& &

HolisticHolistic

Both holistic and individualistic Both holistic and individualistic environmental ethics address --environmental ethics address --

Whose Whose interests interests count? count?

Whose Whose interests must interests must we consider?we consider?

The Evolution of Ethics: as time The Evolution of Ethics: as time passed, people broadened the passed, people broadened the

scope of their ethical considerationscope of their ethical consideration

Forefathers of Environmental Forefathers of Environmental Ethics in the Industrial RevolutionEthics in the Industrial Revolution

Forefathers of Forefathers of Environmental EthicsEnvironmental Ethics

2020thth Century Beginnings Century Beginnings

Began on Earth Began on Earth Day, 1970Day, 1970

The 3 major perspectives fall into The 3 major perspectives fall into the categories as being either the categories as being either

individualistic or holisticindividualistic or holistic

3 Environmental Ethical Perspectives3 Environmental Ethical Perspectives

AnthropocentricAnthropocentric

BiocentricBiocentric

EcocentricEcocentric

Commonalties Commonalties

All three value systems have are All three value systems have are concerned with human stewardship concerned with human stewardship of the natural world, however they of the natural world, however they differ sharply for whom they do it.differ sharply for whom they do it.

AnthropocentrismAnthropocentrism – considers the – considers the effects of environmental actions on effects of environmental actions on humans onlyhumans only

Biocentrism Biocentrism – considers the effects – considers the effects of environmental actions on all living of environmental actions on all living thingsthings

Ecocentrism Ecocentrism – considers the effects – considers the effects of environmental actions on all of environmental actions on all components of our environment, components of our environment, both living and nonlivingboth living and nonliving

Ethical Perspectives: DefinitionsEthical Perspectives: Definitions

The Individualistic Approach: The Individualistic Approach: AnthropocentrismAnthropocentrism

AnthropocentrismAnthropocentrism

Emphasizes human domination over nature Emphasizes human domination over nature and views non-human environment as a bundle and views non-human environment as a bundle of natural resources to be managed and of natural resources to be managed and exploited for maximal human gain. The exploited for maximal human gain. The ecosystems have only ecosystems have only instrumental value, value, not not intrinsicintrinsic worth. Implied or explicit in most worth. Implied or explicit in most Western religious traditions.Western religious traditions.

““Not designed to address issues that go Not designed to address issues that go beyond the narrow circle of human life.”beyond the narrow circle of human life.”

Gudorf and HutchisonGudorf and Hutchison

i.e.: Who has ‘standing’?i.e.: Who has ‘standing’? Human Individuals?Human Individuals?

Anthropocentrism: The environment is Anthropocentrism: The environment is valuable to the extent is useful or valuable to the extent is useful or necessary for human well beingnecessary for human well being

Human centered – Altruistic or egoisticHuman centered – Altruistic or egoistic Humans are the most important and dominant Humans are the most important and dominant

species on earth species on earth We should manage earth for our own benefit We should manage earth for our own benefit Other species’ values depends on their usefulness to Other species’ values depends on their usefulness to

usus UtilitarianismUtilitarianism – Always act to bring about the – Always act to bring about the

greatest good for the greatest number of persons greatest good for the greatest number of persons who are affected by the actionwho are affected by the action

Deontology – Deontology – only humans are capable of only humans are capable of performing duties, and thus are the only organisms performing duties, and thus are the only organisms that have rightsthat have rights

Anthropocentrism ExtendedAnthropocentrism Extended

All sentient All sentient organisms should organisms should be protectedbe protected

Who has standing?Who has standing?

Sentient animals? Sentient animals? Sentient animals are those who Sentient animals are those who

can experience pleasure and/or can experience pleasure and/or painpain Jeremy Bentham: an early utilitarian theorist, Jeremy Bentham: an early utilitarian theorist,

provided a basis for extending moral provided a basis for extending moral standing beyond humansstanding beyond humans

Peter Singer's "Animal Liberation" theory Peter Singer's "Animal Liberation" theory provides a utilitarian argument pro-Animal provides a utilitarian argument pro-Animal LiberationLiberation

More Anthropogenic BeliefsMore Anthropogenic Beliefs

There is always There is always more (the earth more (the earth has unlimited has unlimited resources)resources)

All economic All economic growth is goodgrowth is good

The potential for The potential for economic growth is economic growth is limitlesslimitless

Can Anthropocentrism Can Anthropocentrism Preserve the Earth?Preserve the Earth?

The natural world The natural world can be valued and can be valued and preserved for the preserved for the benefits it brings to benefits it brings to peoplepeople

Supposes that the Supposes that the earth has no earth has no “intrinsic” value“intrinsic” value

The Two Main Problems The Two Main Problems Resulting From an Resulting From an

Anthropocentric Value SystemAnthropocentric Value System

OverpopulationOverpopulation Preoccupation with Preoccupation with

possession, power and possession, power and ambitionambition

Why does the world feel that we Why does the world feel that we need more children?need more children?

CulturalCultural Lack of educationLack of education Sense of power for men Sense of power for men Sense of security in old ageSense of security in old age

Why do we feel we need more Why do we feel we need more stuff?stuff?

StatusStatus Missing non-material goals and Missing non-material goals and

spiritual values in lifespiritual values in life Disconnection of humans from the Disconnection of humans from the

natural worldnatural world media manipulationmedia manipulation Generational differencesGenerational differences

Holistic Approaches -- Holistic Approaches -- the basic idea:the basic idea:

The whole is The whole is greater (and greater (and

more more valuable) valuable) than the than the

constitutive constitutive parts parts

2 Holistic Ethical Approaches2 Holistic Ethical Approaches

1) Biocentrism1) Biocentrism life-centered life-centered

ethicsethics Extended to Extended to

telos – telos – every every organism has a organism has a purposeful purposeful directed lifedirected life

Described by Described by AristotleAristotle

BiocentrismBiocentrism

1. Humans are members of the Earth’s 1. Humans are members of the Earth’s communitycommunity

2. All species are integral elements in 2. All species are integral elements in a system of interdependencea system of interdependence

3. All organisms are centers of life, 3. All organisms are centers of life, each pursuing its own goodeach pursuing its own good

4. Humans are not inherently superior 4. Humans are not inherently superior to other living thingsto other living things

Biocentrism Biocentrism - key problem- key problem

Still pre-ecological Still pre-ecological not really focused on not really focused on ecosystems, but on ecosystems, but on individual life forms.individual life forms.

2 Holistic Ethical Approaches2 Holistic Ethical Approaches

2)Ecocentrism2)Ecocentrism

Ecosystem-centered Ecosystem-centered ethicsethics

Aldo Leopold’s watershed Aldo Leopold’s watershed Land Ethic, 1949Land Ethic, 1949 "All ethics rest "All ethics rest upon a single premise: that the upon a single premise: that the individual is a member of a individual is a member of a community of interdependent community of interdependent parts.”parts.”

A land use decision: “a thing is A land use decision: “a thing is right when it tends to preserve right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”wrong when it tends otherwise.”

Father of modern environmental Father of modern environmental ethicsethics

Father of EcocentrismFather of Ecocentrism

Aldo Leopold (1887-Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) came to see 1948) came to see that healthy ecological that healthy ecological systems depend on systems depend on the protection of all the protection of all their interacting partstheir interacting parts

In In The Land Ethic, The Land Ethic, he he stressed that humans stressed that humans should view should view themselves and the themselves and the land as members of land as members of the same communitythe same community

Leopold’s ecosystem-centered Leopold’s ecosystem-centered ethicsethics

Leopold spoke of the land as an Leopold spoke of the land as an organism, as alive.organism, as alive.

"the complexity of the land organism" is the "the complexity of the land organism" is the outstanding 20th century discovery."outstanding 20th century discovery."

The Land Ethic: "changes the role of The Land Ethic: "changes the role of Homo Sapiens from conqueror of the Homo Sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and land-community to plain member and citizen of it. It implies respect for his citizen of it. It implies respect for his fellow-members, and also respect for fellow-members, and also respect for the [land-] community as such."the [land-] community as such."

EcocentrismEcocentrism

Expansion of biocentrism by Expansion of biocentrism by including abiotic components of the including abiotic components of the environment. It cares less about environment. It cares less about individual life forms but emphasizes individual life forms but emphasizes interaction between them and fosters interaction between them and fosters a system approacha system approach

2 Radical Approaches2 Radical Approaches

1) Deep Ecology1) Deep Ecology extends ecocentrism extends ecocentrism

to egalitarianism to egalitarianism among all speciesamong all species

May describe humans May describe humans as the pathogens or as the pathogens or plagues of the earthplagues of the earth

Does not embrace Does not embrace human stewardshiphuman stewardship

2 Radical Approaches2 Radical Approaches2) Ecofeminism2) Ecofeminism ““patriarchy” (male patriarchy” (male

dominance in dominance in society) is the society) is the primary form of primary form of social as well as social as well as environmental environmental oppressionoppression

Assaults on Assaults on “ “mother nature” will mother nature” will

continue in a society continue in a society of male dominionof male dominion

Deep EcologyDeep Ecology

Ecocentrism extendedEcocentrism extended All life systems are sacred and valuable -- All life systems are sacred and valuable --

apart from their usefulness to human apart from their usefulness to human beingsbeings

All life evolved in the same way and thus, All life evolved in the same way and thus, all are kin, with kinship obligationsall are kin, with kinship obligations

All species should be allowed to flourish All species should be allowed to flourish and fulfill their evolutionary destiniesand fulfill their evolutionary destinies

All living things have equal value and we All living things have equal value and we are truly inseparable from our are truly inseparable from our environmentenvironment

Religion and Religion and AnthropocentrismAnthropocentrism

Genesis (1:28): God commands humans to "fill Genesis (1:28): God commands humans to "fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing...”the air and over every living thing...”

After the great flood God says to Noah: the After the great flood God says to Noah: the animals will dread and fear you, and I will give animals will dread and fear you, and I will give you dominion over "everything that creeps on you dominion over "everything that creeps on the ground, and over all the fish of the sea.“the ground, and over all the fish of the sea.“

Traditional evangelical vs. current evangelical Traditional evangelical vs. current evangelical trends concerning interpretation of scripturestrends concerning interpretation of scriptures

Religion and EcocentrismReligion and Ecocentrism

““in wisdom you made them all the earth is in wisdom you made them all the earth is full of your creatures.full of your creatures.

““We are on Body in Christ”We are on Body in Christ”1Corinthians 12:12-13, 271Corinthians 12:12-13, 27

Examples of Examples of Ethical Environmental IssuesEthical Environmental Issues

Should we allow scientific research to be Should we allow scientific research to be performed on animals?performed on animals?

Should we restore the ecosystems which Should we restore the ecosystems which were destroyed by hazardous wastes?were destroyed by hazardous wastes?

Should humans have more rights in this Should humans have more rights in this biosphere than other species?biosphere than other species?

Should we protect endangered species?Should we protect endangered species? Should we restore the lands we Should we restore the lands we

destroyed?destroyed?

Local: Disputes Over Building Local: Disputes Over Building Coal-Fired Power PlantsCoal-Fired Power Plants

How can these How can these ethical ethical philosophies philosophies be used to be used to weigh the weigh the solutions to solutions to environmental environmental issues?issues?

Anthropocentrism (and reformist Anthropocentrism (and reformist approaches) destroy natureapproaches) destroy nature

A transformation of consciousness is A transformation of consciousness is needed, replacing anthropocentrism needed, replacing anthropocentrism with a broader sense of the selfwith a broader sense of the self identity should be grounded in natureidentity should be grounded in nature

When we understand that we are When we understand that we are part of nature, eco-defense, as self-part of nature, eco-defense, as self-defense, will followdefense, will follow

Give These Considerations To Give These Considerations To Your Development in Your Development in Environmental EthicsEnvironmental Ethics

Please Reflect on these QuestionsPlease Reflect on these Questions1)1) What role do humans play on Earth?What role do humans play on Earth?2)2) What obligation do we have to the human What obligation do we have to the human

species? To other species? Are humans species? To other species? Are humans more important?more important?

3)3) What obligation do we have to future What obligation do we have to future generations?generations?

4)4) How serious are the environmental How serious are the environmental problems we face?problems we face?

5)5) Reflect on this statement: “With the Reflect on this statement: “With the recognition of value beyond human culture, recognition of value beyond human culture, our relations with nature become moral.”our relations with nature become moral.”