Environmental Ethics- BIOL305 Midterm

principle of humanity

treat persons as ends, not means

Val Plumwood

ecofeminism- part of larger self

Karen Warren

ecofeminism- reject subjugation and control dynamics of binaries

metaphysics

rational discourse about things that exist

ethics

application in habits and practices/virtues

epistemology

what does it mean to know

prescriptive claims

claim based on what one "ought" to know

empirical claims

descriptive, explanatory, predictive

philosophy

love of wisdom

PLATO

Phaedo- leave behind bodily vices and physical sensation

Hofeldian Incidents

describe a bundle of rights

primary rights

privilege and claim

secondary rights

power and immunity

negative right

non-interference

positive right

to a good or service

LOCKE

"first occupancy" and labor matters

instrumental value

value because it's a mean

intrinsic value

value because deemed valuable because of what it is

problem of incommensurability

history of science reveals proponents of competing paradigms failing to make complete contact with each other's views

PINCHOT conservation

anthropocentric; development, prevention of waste, developed and preserved for the good of many

MUIR preservation

preserve the way things are

utilitarianism

maximize good; minimize harm

greatest happiness principle

maximize pleasure; minimize pain

equal value thesis

all species equally valuable

unequal value thesis

all species are valuable, but not all equally

Cornwall Declaration

environmental concerns matter if they align with the economy and technology can help us achieve them

Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation

focus on conserving the Earth because it was created by God

KANT

animals are means, not ends; indirect duties; hurting animal is wrong because of what it says about moral character of cruel person

categorical imperative

seeing humanity in others creations obligation to those who share in humanity

Christine Korsgaard

animal suffering is the key thing that makes our treatment to animals matter

Cruthers

no moral obligation to animals b/c they have no moral standing

Taylor's biocentric egalitarianism

attempt to deprioritize any species over others

Leopold's Land Ethic

not concerned about economics and move away from those justifications- life should be protected for itself

deep ecology

the viewing of humanity as part of the organic whole; we wrongly elevate ourselves over other beings

theocentrism

all things made by God, for God; whether in terms of use or relationship

POPE FRANCIS Laudatory Si

understanding creation as made for communion (interdependence) and relationship

Ecofeminism

applying historically feminist reasoning to environmentalism

3 binaries

human v nature, male v female, reason v emotion

great chain of being

European idea that every species was a link on chain extending from lowest form to humans to spiritual beings

HIPPO

habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, human overpopulation, overharvesting

most important cycle

water cycle

normativity

concept that tells us why we ought to do something

Euthryphro dilemma

Does God say what is already good or does He make things good?

Principle of Noninterference

since something is natural, we should not interfere

innovation presumption

any innovation is permissible unless it shows harm to environment

3 doctrines of creation

1) Ex nihilo 2) Creator/creature distinction 3) Divine Aseity

Divine Aseity

God is free to create and free from creation; goodness of creation not a function of usefulness

anthropocentrism

criterion for inherent worth- being a human

Actual preference anthropocentrism

treating environment according to human interests and preferences

technological optimism

develop tech to make our preferences possible

enlightened anthropocentrism

knowledge helps us to find ideal human preferences

Callicott's Pluralism

variety of moral views, not just one governing principle; defends Leopold's land ethic

ecofacism

subjugation of species in a totalitarian way of ruling over everything

unknown needs problem

future humans might need something so we should not deplete something

ecology

study of interactions between living things and environment

environmental science

studying God's creation and interactions; interdisciplinary

environmentalism

working to influence the attitudes and policies that affect our environment

deductive

general principles to particular inferences

inductive

from particular observations to general principles

abductive

inference to particular explanation

sustainability

allows resources to be used indefinitely

stewardship

involves actions and programs that manage resources and human well-being for common good

resource partitioning

over time, niches can evolve as species develop new strategies to exploit resources

bioaccumulation

uptake into tissues

biological magnification

concentration of toxin up food chain increases