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Living in the EnvironmentLiving in the Environment

1414thth Edition Edition

Chapter 28Chapter 28

Shohail ChoudhuryShohail ChoudhuryShohail ChoudhuryShohail Choudhury

ENVIRONMENTAL WORLDVIEWS, ENVIRONMENTAL WORLDVIEWS, ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITYETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY

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Environmental worldviews are how people think Environmental worldviews are how people think the world works, the world works, where they fit, where they fit, and ethics.and ethics.

Environmental worldviews can be Environmental worldviews can be • human-centered or human-centered or • Earth-centered, Earth-centered, • or some combination of both.or some combination of both.

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Philosophers for right and wrong environmental behavior.Philosophers for right and wrong environmental behavior.

Universalism,Universalism, (Plato and Kant) ethics and rules of (Plato and Kant) ethics and rules of right right and wrongand wrong that are unchanging. that are unchanging.

Utilitarianism,Utilitarianism, (Bentham and Mill), :an action is right if it (Bentham and Mill), :an action is right if it produces produces satisfaction forsatisfaction for the greatest number of people. the greatest number of people.

ConsequentialismConsequentialism : : consequences consequences determine whether an determine whether an action is right or wrong.action is right or wrong.

Relativism,Relativism, promoted by Sophists, says that cultures, eras, promoted by Sophists, says that cultures, eras, and situations determine whether an action is right or and situations determine whether an action is right or wrong.wrong.

Rationalism,Rationalism, (Decartes, De Spinoza, and Leibniz): right (Decartes, De Spinoza, and Leibniz): right and wrong are determined by and wrong are determined by analyzinganalyzing the situation. the situation.

Nihilism,Nihilism, (Nietzsche): life is (Nietzsche): life is meaninglessmeaningless except to strive to except to strive to live in what might be right.live in what might be right.

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Life forms have Life forms have instrumental instrumental value or value or intrinsic intrinsic value.value.

Instrumental, or utilitarian,Instrumental, or utilitarian, values life forms because values life forms because they are useful to the biosphere or us.they are useful to the biosphere or us.

Intrinsic, or inherentIntrinsic, or inherent, values life forms because they , values life forms because they exist.exist.

Anthropocentric instrumentalAnthropocentric instrumental values view life forms values view life forms as valuable only if they are useful.as valuable only if they are useful.

Biocentric intrinsic valuesBiocentric intrinsic values view life forms as valuable view life forms as valuable because they exist.because they exist.

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Human to be the most important species and stewards of Human to be the most important species and stewards of the earth.the earth.

Planetary management worldview :humans are the Planetary management worldview :humans are the dominant species.dominant species.

• Humans should manage the earth.Humans should manage the earth.• All other life forms have some sort of All other life forms have some sort of

instrumental value.instrumental value.• Problems can be solved with more Problems can be solved with more

economic growth and development, and better economic growth and development, and better management and technology.management and technology.

•The planet should have a free-market The planet should have a free-market global economy.global economy.

Stewardship worldview: humans have an ethical Stewardship worldview: humans have an ethical responsibility to care for the earth.responsibility to care for the earth.

• Humans should make the world better.Humans should make the world better.• Humans should pay back our debt to the Humans should pay back our debt to the

earth by leaving it better than before.earth by leaving it better than before.

Human-centered views

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A.A. Doubts that we can effectively manage Earth because of our Doubts that we can effectively manage Earth because of our lack of lack of knowledge.knowledge.

B.B. Humans have an Humans have an ethical responsibilityethical responsibility to avoid causing the to avoid causing the premature extinction of species.premature extinction of species.

Life-Centered and Earth-Centered WorldviewsLife-Centered and Earth-Centered Worldviews

C. C. Environmental wisdom worldviewEnvironmental wisdom worldview: humans are not in charge and : humans are not in charge and should should study the history of the earthstudy the history of the earth to determine how it has to determine how it has maintained itself.maintained itself.

D. D. Deep ecology worldviewDeep ecology worldview: obligations of humans to all life forms : obligations of humans to all life forms and not reduce the and not reduce the interdependence and diversityinterdependence and diversity of life. of life.

E. E. Ecofeminist environmental worldviewEcofeminist environmental worldview: : women should be equalwomen should be equal to to men in the human quest to develop more sustainable societies.men in the human quest to develop more sustainable societies.

F. Environmental degradation can be slowed by using F. Environmental degradation can be slowed by using images of images of catastrophecatastrophe and economic and ecologic collapse. and economic and ecologic collapse.

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Environmentally literate citizensEnvironmentally literate citizens are needed to are needed to build a more environmentally sustainable society.build a more environmentally sustainable society.

This requires an understanding of This requires an understanding of • how the earth workshow the earth works, , • ourour interactions interactions with the earth, with the earth, • and the and the methodsmethods we use to deal with we use to deal with environmental problems.environmental problems.

Living More SustainablyLiving More Sustainably

Nature must be experienced directly to Nature must be experienced directly to complete environmental education.complete environmental education.

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Living More SustainablyLiving More Sustainably

Affluenza Affluenza is the addiction to over-consumption and is the addiction to over-consumption and materialism in developed countries.materialism in developed countries.

Symptoms:Symptoms: high debt level, declining health, high debt level, declining health, increased stress, more bankruptcies.increased stress, more bankruptcies.

Causes:Causes: credit cards enable instant gratification, credit cards enable instant gratification, easy money, and selfishness.easy money, and selfishness.

Solutions:Solutions: consume less, live more simply, and consume less, live more simply, and spend less.spend less.

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Effective environmental citizensEffective environmental citizens avoid mental avoid mental traps that lead to denial and inaction and traps that lead to denial and inaction and instead enjoy life and keep empowered instead enjoy life and keep empowered feelings.feelings.

The environmental revolutionThe environmental revolution is a positive is a positive outlook and a call for leadership, ideas, and outlook and a call for leadership, ideas, and solutions to current environmental solutions to current environmental challenges.challenges.

ConclusionConclusion

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Next Class Next Class

Quiz 2:Quiz 2:

Chapter 4 and 28Chapter 4 and 28

Chapter 26: Chapter 26:

Economics, Environment and SustainabilityEconomics, Environment and Sustainability