Environmental Ethics

Key Concepts and Topics

1. Population Growth Theories

  • Malthus’s Model of Population Growth

    • Population grows faster than food supply → leads to scarcity & poverty

    • Iron Laws of Scarcity: Resources will always run out because population outpaces supply.

2. Neo-Malthusian Perspective

Believes population growth worsens environmental problems.

  • I=PAT Equation

    • Impact = Population × Affluence × Technology

    • Shows how humans affect the environment.

  • Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC)

    • Environmental damage gets worse as countries get richer, but then improves after a certain point.

  • Forest Transition Theory

    • Forest loss happens during development, but comes back after economic growth.

  • Ecological Footprint

    • How much land and resources are needed to support one person.

3. Cornucopian Perspective

Believes human innovation will solve environmental problems.

  • Green Revolution

    • Tech and farming advances increase food production.

  • Induced Intensification

    • People invent new ways to produce more food when population grows.

4. Population as Effect, Not Cause

Population growth is a result of social and economic changes, not the main cause of environmental problems.

  • Demographic Transition Model

    • Population growth slows down when countries develop.

  • Women’s Rights

    • More education and rights for women → lower birth rates.

5. Market Response Model

If resources become scarce, prices go up → people use less or find alternatives.
Example: High gas prices → People drive less or switch to electric cars.

6. Market Externalities

Costs or benefits that affect people who didn’t choose to be part of the transaction.
Example: Pollution from factories harms nearby communities.

7. Market Failures

When markets don’t efficiently distribute resources.

  • Transaction Costs: Costs of making a deal.

  • Monopoly: One seller controls the market.

  • Monopsony: One buyer controls the market.

8. Coase Theorem

If there are low transaction costs and property rights are clear, people can solve environmental problems through negotiation without needing the government.

9. Market-Based Environmentalism

Using markets to solve environmental problems.

  • Green Taxes: Taxing pollution to make companies pollute less.

  • Cap-and-Trade: Companies buy and sell pollution permits.

  • Green Consumption: Buying eco-friendly products.

10. Tragedy of the Commons (Garret Hardin)

If everyone uses shared resources for personal gain, the resource gets destroyed.
Example: Overfishing.

11. Common Property Resources

Shared resources that are not privately owned.

3 Key Characteristics:

  • Hard to exclude people.

  • Shared by many.

  • Can be used up.

Examples: Fisheries, forests.

12. Institutions

Rules and systems that manage common resources.

Successful Institutions Have:

  • Clear rules

  • Community involvement

  • Monitoring and enforcement

Example: Maine Lobster Fishery (people worked together to prevent overfishing).

13. Environmental Ethics

Anthropocentric (Human-Centered)

  • Dominion Theory: Humans are superior and can use nature.

  • Stewardship: Humans should protect nature.

  • Locke’s Theory of Value: Nature is valuable only if it benefits humans.

Ecocentric (Nature-Centered)

  • Land Ethic (Aldo Leopold): Humans are part of the ecosystem, not rulers.

  • Deep Ecology: All living things have equal value.

  • Animal Liberation (Peter Singer): Animals deserve rights.

14. Critiques of Ecocentric Ethics

  • Holism: Prioritizing ecosystems over individuals.

  • Scientism: Relying only on science to make ethical decisions.

  • Naturalistic Fallacy: What’s “natural” isn’t always what’s right.

Other Topics You Need to Know

Topic

What It Means

Anthropocene

New era where humans are the biggest influence on Earth’s environment.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits humans get from nature (water, air, pollination).

Green Taxes

Taxes on pollution to push companies to go green.

Cap-and-Trade

Pollution permits that companies can trade.

The Seed

Symbol of community and regeneration (from readings).

Factory Farming

Ethical debate on how animals are treated.

Zoos

Ethical arguments about animal captivity.

Protected Areas

Debate between conserving land vs. excluding people.

Readings You Need to Know

  • Robbins et al. 2014 (Chapters 1-4): Population, markets, and institutions.

  • Rebecca Solnit – “Grounds for Hope”: Hope motivates action for social and environmental change.

  • Mariame Kaba – “Hope as a Discipline”: Hope is not just a feeling — it’s something you practice.

Final Tip 🔥

If you're running out of time, focus on:

  • Market Response Model

  • Tragedy of the Commons

  • Market-Based Environmentalism

  • Demographic Transition Model

  • Anthropocene

  • Environmental Ethics