Chapter 18 - Sustainability

instrumental value of nature

nature is valuable for as long as it benefits humanity

intrinsic value of nature

nature is valuable for its own sake, for its own existence

Last Man argument

If the Last Man on earth were to destroy flora and fauna about him that no longer holds instrumental value to humanity, intuitively this is wrong => nature has intrinsic value

Weakness: compared to a thought experiment where inaction and action doesn’t change the planet’s demise, only delays it, intuitively Last Man has no moral obligation to act.

Possible explanation for disparity between impermissible active destruction and permissible passive destruction is due to Last Man’s character => Original destruction isn’t wrong because nature has intrinsic value, but rather Last Man’s virtues

narrow sustainability

sustainability can only be achieved by making sure that there is no long-term depletion of natural

e.g. cutting trees is permissible so long as more trees are planted

broad sustainability

sustainability doesn’t only mean natural sustainability but also encompasses that humans’ present and future social and economic needs are met, that both co-exists in productive harmony

Weakness: Wind farms are productive but isn’t in harmony with nature

broad and weak sustainability

significant long-term depletion of natural/social/economic resources can be compensated with gains in other dimensions so that the sum value is preserved (like utilitarianism)

broad and strong sustainability

significant long-term depletion of either natural/social/economic resources are not allowed as losses in one cannot be compensated by gains in another