Environmental Ethics: Key Concepts for First Exam 2025

Episteme

Knowledge - theoretical and scientific, geometry

Phronesis

Judgement, practical wisdom, arts

Lynn White's thesis

The historical origin of our contemporary ecological crisis and his solution, stating that all forms of life modify their contexts.

Democratized world

The issue of whether a democratized world can survive its own implications.

Western worldview

The mastery of nature; modern science and technology are 'distinctively Occidental.'

Medieval Christian origin

The historical roots of the ecological crisis as discussed by Lynn White.

Think little

Wendell Berry's concept of how thinking small will impact people.

John Muir's defense of Hetch Hetchy

The basis for John Muir's arguments in favor of preserving Hetch Hetchy.

Moral status / considerability

The grounds for moral status as discussed by Palmer, including sentience, biocentrism, and ecocentrism.

Anthropocentrism

The belief that humans are the most important entity in the universe.

Nonanthropocentrism

The belief that humans are not the central concern, and other entities have intrinsic value.

Brian Norton's ethics typology

A classification of ethical theories as presented in the lecture.

Utilitarianism

An ethical theory that evaluates actions based on their consequences, specifically pleasure/pain and preference.

Act Utilitarianism

A form of utilitarianism that assesses each action based on its specific consequences.

Rule Utilitarianism

A form of utilitarianism that evaluates the moral correctness of an action based on rules that lead to the greatest good.

Deontology

An ethical theory focused on rules about actions and their rightness or wrongness, regardless of consequences.

Principles and rules in Deontology

Includes duties and rights, such as the duty not to harm and the right to not be harmed.

Kant and Regan

Key figures in the development of deontological ethics.

Virtue Theory

An ethical theory that emphasizes virtues and moral character, including environmental virtue ethics.

Value monism

The belief in a single value that governs ethical decisions.

Value pluralism

The belief that there are multiple values that can be considered in ethical decision-making.

Absolute principles

Principles that must be followed regardless of circumstances; always wrong, no matter the situation.

Prima Facie principles

Rules that appear binding in most circumstances but can be overridden.

Relative principles

Nonbinding rules that serve as guides to direct behavior, usually a good idea.

Respect for persons

A fundamental moral principle emphasizing the intrinsic worth of individuals.

Nonmaleficence

The ethical principle of not causing harm to others.

Beneficence

The moral obligation to act for the benefit of others.

Justice

The principle of fairness in the distribution of benefits and burdens.

Veracity

The obligation to tell the truth and be honest.

Respect for nature

The ethical consideration for the natural environment and its preservation.

Sufficiency

The principle of ensuring adequate resources for all.

Sustainability

The practice of maintaining ecological balance and resource availability for future generations.

Precaution

The principle of taking preventive action in the face of uncertainty.

Oppressive conceptual framework

A framework that explains, justifies, and maintains relationships of domination and subordination.

Value-hierarchical thinking

A perspective that places higher value on certain entities over others, often leading to discrimination.

Value dualisms

Disjunctive pairs that are seen as oppositional and exclusive, placing higher value on one over the other.

Logic of domination

A structure of argumentation that justifies subordination.

Ecofeminism

An ethical perspective that combines feminist ethics and environmental ethics.

Identity problem

A philosophical issue regarding the basis for concern about future effects of actions and social policies.

Inter-generational obligations

The moral responsibilities we have toward future generations.

Kant's categorical imperative

A moral principle stating that humanity should be treated as an end in itself.

Duties toward animals

Kant's view that we have no direct duties to animals, as they are means to an end.

Singer on speciesism

The belief that animals deserve equal moral consideration based on their capacity for emotions and desires.

Regan's rejection of utilitarianism

The stance that utilitarianism can lead to morally unacceptable outcomes, such as sacrificing individuals for the greater good.

Warren's defense of weak animal rights

An argument supporting limited rights for animals against stronger rights and no rights views.

Justice and care views of ethics

Two perspectives in ethics where justice focuses on rights and care emphasizes emotional connections.

Clement on companion animals

The responsibility to care for companion animals and its implications for farm animals.