Environmental Ethics Final

Anthropocentrism theory

the belief that humans are the central or most significant entities in the world, and that nature’s value is primarily instrumental—serving human needs.

Anthropocentrism challenges

Risks ignoring intrinsic value of ecosystems

Furthers exploitation

Moral reasoning is human, so its inevitable

Kant

Rational Beings Have Moral Worth

Kant theory

Only rational beings have intrinsic moral worth.

Animals and nature are valued indirectly, through relation to humans

Kant challenges

Exploitation of animals and nature, because no worth

Defenders claim that animals are indirect, mistreating them is wrong because of human morals but animals lack rights

Taylor

Biocentric Egalitarianism

Taylor theory

Argued that ALL living beings have equal inherent worth regardless of utility to humans

Taylor challenges

Impractical for human survival

Radical shift towards ecological justice

How do we balance equal worth with human needs? Farming, medicine?

Taylor insists humans must respect nature, do not exploit

Rolston

Naturalizing Value: Organism and Species

Rolston theory

Value is embedded in natural processes, organisms and species have intrinsic worth beyond human perception

Rolston challenges

Some are argue that value requires human consciousness, Rolston states that life itself generates value

Difficult to operationalize in policy - how do we measure intrinsic value

Rolston emphasizes that species preservation is a moral duty because extinction erases unique forms of value

Devall and Sessions

Deep Ecology

Devall and Sessions theory

Deep Ecology is a radical restructuring of human-nature relationships, emphasizing ecological interconnectedness and intrinsic value of ALL beings

Leopald

The Land Ethic

Leopald theory

Expanding ethics to include the soil, waters, plants, and animals, the land community.

Leopald insists that humans are plain members of the land community, not conquerors.

Leopald challenges

Some argue that ethics are vague, some argue it as foundational for conservation

Translating moral respect for land into enforceable policy is hard

Warren

Ecofeminism

Warren theory

Environmental exploitation and oppression of women share roots in patriarchal domination

Argue that dismantling patriarchy is essential for ecological justice.

Warren challenges

Ecofeminism essentializes women as closer to nature

Doesn’t really connect, other than ecological justice is a restructuring of mindset

Avoid stereotypes while addressing systemic injustice

Bullard

Environmental Racism

Bullard theory

Marginalized communities disproportionately suffer from pollution and toxic waste

Environmental justice must explicitly address racism, not just poverty

Bullard challenges

Some argue it is economic class, not race, driving inequities

Wenz

Just Garbage

Wenz theory

Waste disposal raises ethical questions of fairness, who bears the burden of garbage?

Demands fairness that wealthier communities share disposal burdens

Wenz challenges

Argue market forces should decide

Landfills often placed in poor communities

French

You Are What You Breathe

French theory

Air pollution directly affects human health and identity

Insists clean air is a basic human right

French challenges

Some argue that regulation stifles economic growth

Global air pollution transcends borders, complicating responsibility

Baxter

People or Penguins

Baxter theory

Pollution should be managed for optimal human benefit, not for nature’s sake

Claims policies should maximize human welfare, even if penguins perish

Baxter challenges

Ignores intrinsic ecological value, Baxter defends anthropocentric pragmatism

Risk sacrificing species for human convenience

Rees

Sustainable Development Myths

Rees theory

Sustainable development is often a myth masking continued economic growth.

Insists true sustainable development requires degrowth and ecological realism

Rees challenges

Some defend sustainable development as achievable; Rees argues ecological limits make it contradictory

Reconciling growth with ecological boundaries

Cobb

A Just Sustainable Economic Order

Cobb theory

Restructuring economics towards justice and sustainability, prioritizing a smaller community and ecology focused market over profit

Insists justice must guide economics, not just efficiency

Cobb challenges

This undermines a free market idea, Cobb defends moral responsibility in economics

Global capitalism resists systematic change

Magdoff and Foster

Capitalism and Ecology

Magdoff and Foster theory

Capitalism inherently drives ecological destruction through endless growth and profit motives

Insists capitalism must be replaced or radically transformed to achieve sustainability

Magdoff and Foster challenges

Capitalism drives innovation and can solve ecological problems, other says the system is unsustainable

Reconciling capitalism with ecological limits

What is anthropocentrism

Human-centered view, nature valued only for human use

Who has moral worth in Kant ethics?

Only ration beings, or humans

What is biocentric egalitarianism

All living beings have equal inherent worth

How does Rolston see value in nature

Organisms and species have intrinsic value beyond humans

What does deep ecology call for

Radical change, all beings have intrinsic worth

What is the Land Ethic

Humans are members of the land community, not leaders

What is the Just Garbage idea

Waste burdens should be shared fairly