Environmental Law

Anthropocentrism

Human-centered ethics prioritizing human needs over nature.

Human Exceptionalism

Belief that humans are superior to other species.

Myth of Infinite Resources

Assumption that natural resources are limitless.

Nature as Commodity

View that nature exists solely for human exploitation.

Lockean Labor Theory

Justifies private ownership through labor investment.

Frontier Mentality

Belief that taming wilderness is a moral duty.

General Mining Act (1872)

Allowed free mineral rights claims on public lands.

Homestead Act (1862)

Granted land ownership to settlers for cultivation.

Tragedy of the Commons

Unregulated use leads to resource depletion.

Short-Term Focus

Laws prioritized immediate growth over sustainability.

Recognition of Scarcity

Acknowledgment of finite resources due to overexploitation.

Progressive Reforms

Government interventions to balance resource use and preservation.

U.S. Forest Service (1905)

Promoted sustainable yield forestry practices.

National Park System (1916)

Protected lands for future human enjoyment.

Anthropocentrism Persisted

Conservation focused on human resource availability.

Fragmented Approach

Focused on single resources, ignoring ecosystem interconnections.

Aesthetic/Intrinsic Value

Nature valued for spiritual and recreational benefits.

Wilderness Act (1964)

Designated untouched areas for solitude and recreation.

Endangered Species Act (1973)

Protected species, often reactively to crises.

Static View of Nature

Assumed ecosystems stabilize if left undisturbed.

Human-Nature Divide

Preservation excluded Indigenous stewardship practices.

Pollution Crisis

Industrialization revealed health impacts from pollution.

Clean Air Act (1970)

Regulated emissions focusing on human health.

National Environmental Policy Act (1969)

Required impact assessments centered on human environment.

Homo Economicus Model

Assumes rational actors comply with economic incentives.

Justice Gaps

Low-income communities disproportionately bear environmental harms.

Aldo Leopold

Promoted a 'land ethic' valuing biotic communities.

Robin Wall Kimmerer

Advocates for Indigenous knowledge in ecology.

Ecocentrism

Philosophy granting rights to ecosystems.

Degrowth Principles

Rejects infinite growth, respects planetary limits.