Environmental Ethics Midterm

Conservation vs Preservation

The debate of if it is better to use natural resources as a way to benefit society or protect natural resources from harmful human use. The proper use of nature vs the protection of nature from use.

Aldo Leopold

A conservationist who developed the “Land Ethic.” He emphasized biodiversity, ecological principles, and the interconnectedness of land and life.

The Land Ethic

A moral code that rejects human-centered views of the environment. Something is right when it preserves the biotic community and is wrong when it does otherwise.

Blitzkrieg Hypothesis

The idea that humans caused the rapid extinction of North American megafauna. Suggests naive prey were quickly wiped out by a rapidly expanding human population

Anthropocentrism

Regarding humankind as the most important element of existence. Believing other living things primarily exist for the benefit of humans.

Utilitarianism

A theory that states the most ethical choice is the one that produces the most happiness for the greatest number of people. Meant to maximize overall happiness and minimize overall suffering.

intrinsic value

the perspective that nature has its own inherent worth. this is independent from its usefulness to humans.

The “last man” thought experiment

A scenario that asks if it would be morally wrong for the last human alive on Earth to destroy all remaining life. Suggests that ethics extend beyond human interests.

L.C.A.P. (Longitudinal collective action problem)

When many people who act in their own self interests over time collectively cause a severe problem. An example of this is how millions of people driving cars can lead to global warming.

Biocentrism

The belief that the rights of humans are not more important than the rights of other living things. All living things should have equal priority and an equal moral standing.

The "child in the pond" thought experiment

A scenario stating most people who encounter a drowning child in a pond would save the child even if it is not convienent for them. This extends to global poverty and states that the people who would save the drowning child are morally obligated to donate money to save a distant child from starvation or lack of other necessities.

Hetch Hetchy

A debate over whether it was better to preserve the natural beauty of the Hetch Hetchy valley or to build a dam used to supply water instead. The dam was built but there is still a movement to restore Hetch Hetchy.

Principle of comparable moral worth

Argument stating if you can prevent something bad from happening without sacrificing something of significant importance in comparison, you are morally obligated to do so. For example, in the child in the pond analogy, someone is obligated to save the child because the child is of more moral worth than the person’s ruined outfit.

Tragedy of the commons

Individuals acting in their own self interest can deplete a shared resource which harms the entire group. This occurs when a resource is open to all but not owned by anyone.