Environmental Ethics - 652 Words

Environmental ethics The Industrial Revolution fundamentally shifted the relationship of human beings to nature. Once, human beings were relatively vulnerable and helpless before the forces of the natural world. Now, in the age of industrialization, humanity is able to change and shape nature, as well as simply try to survive its onslaught. With the ability to alter nature has come unexpected consequences, however, that forces our species to continually reevaluate how it relates to the environment. Global warming is often seen as the consequences of human beings attempting to dominate nature, through the construction of fossil fuel-burning machinery, industrialized agriculture, and the clearing of national habitats. The question of how to live in a state of balance with nature has generated the branch of philosophy known as environmental ethics, a form of applied ethics that studies the relationship of humans to the environment and often provides prescriptive advice about how human b eings should live in nature. The central debate between environmentalists is how human beings should relate to nature. Should the general health of the planet be the focus, with human life viewed as merely one species amongst many, as advocates of the Deep Ecology movement purport? A similar view is advocated by utilitarian philosophers such as Peter Singer: the interests of all the sentient beings (i.e., beings who are capable of experiencing pleasure or pain) -- including nonhuman ones --Show MoreRelatedCreating an Environmental Ethic Essay1418 Words   |  6 PagesCreating an Environmental Ethic Traditionally, Western views of environment ethics has been unclear and for the most part unnecessary. We used earth’s resources without thinking about consequence. This nonchalant use aided in the West’s ability to influence the world through technological advances. In the past, limited travel and slow communication systems had limited our view to a local one. If pollution or to much urbanization occurred the solution was to move. Industrialization hasRead More History of the Origins of Environmental Ethics Essay1045 Words   |  5 PagesHistory of the Origins of Environmental Ethics The inspiration for environmental ethics was the first Earth Day in 1970 when environmentalists started urging philosophers who were involved with environmental groups to do something about environmental ethics. An intellectual climate had developed in the last few years of the 1960s in large part because of the publication of two papers in Science: Lynn Whites The Historical Roots of our Ecologic Crisis (March 1967) and Garett Hardins The TragedyRead MoreThe Ethics Of Environmental Ethics2361 Words   |  10 PagesThe writings for the week covered different approaches to what environmental ethics is and how it is obtained. Different approaches in the value in environmental ethics are found due to the different approaches. In terms of value one must find what value means to them and how they measure it. Dobel and Frendel came to the approach that religion is a basis of environmental ethics. This is due to the fact that roots of both Christianity and Judaism discussing the need to care for the earth in someRead MoreThe Ethics Of Environmental Ethics936 Words   |  4 PagesEnvironmental Ethics This research will be based on two types of theories. These theories will be the guiding approaches that will be used in order to come up with the real issue at hand and also be able to provide a solution for the same. The first of the two approaches will be deontological approach and the other will be utilitarianism approach. Therefore, to better understand how to use these two approaches, it is better to first discuss them briefly and have a better understanding of what theyRead MoreThe Central Dilemma Of Environmental Ethics866 Words   |  4 PagesThe central dilemma in environmental ethics is determining the value of nature: what kind of value does it have, what aspects of the environment have value, and from what or whom does environmental value ultimately derive? Many philosophers have proposed answers to these inquiries, but every ethic is weak in one or more of these areas. Holmes Rolston III, an American philosopher, preacher, and naturalist, has proposed a deontological a rgument that addresses each of the key subjects in the debateRead MoreEnvironmental Ethics4554 Words   |  19 PagesEnvironmental challenges as business opportunity I. INTRODUCTION â€Å"Earth provides enough to satisfy every mans needs, but not every mans greed.† - Mahatma Gandhi The above quote rightly points out the role of environment for the mankind and the responsibility we need to shoulder for its sustenance. Weve come a long way in recognizing that and now almost every business has a statute of doing something good for the environment as part of their CSR initiative. But companies who think of the environmentRead MoreEnvironmental Ethics1905 Words   |  8 PagesEnvironmental Ethics To keep our environment healthy, all these element need to work together. There are no global laws protecting the environment and that is why everyone should practice good ethics when it comes to the environment. Environmental ethics is the part of environment philosophy which considers extending the traditional boundaries of ethics from only including hum and to non-humans. There are many ethical decisions that human beings make with respect to the environment. Humans are beenRead MoreThe Justification For Environmental Ethics Essay1840 Words   |  8 Pages In this paper, I will investigate the justification for environmental ethics arguments and its concern on human beings’ ethical relationship with the environment. While many philosophers have written on the topic of environment ethics throughout history, not until the 1970s did it develop into such a specific philosophical discipline. The individual’s knowledge of the effects that technology, industry, economic expansion, and population growth were having on the environment began in the 1960s.Read More Environmental Ethics Essay2121 Words   |  9 PagesNeed for Environmental Ethics â€Å"Unless humanity is suicidal, it should want to preserve, at the minimum, the natural life-support systems and processes required to sustain its own existence† (Daily p.365). I agree with scientist Gretchen Daily that drastic action is needed now to prevent environmental disaster. Immediate action and changes in attitude are not only necessary for survival but are also morally required. In this paper, I will approach the topic of environmental ethics from severalRead MoreEssay on Environmental Ethics2347 Words   |  10 Pages Ethics is the study of what is right and wrong in human conduct. Environmental ethics studies the effects of human’s moral relationships on the environment and everything within it (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2008). The ethical principles that govern those relations determine human duties, obligations, and responsibilities with regard to the Earth’s natural environment and all of the animals and plants that inhabit it ( Taylor, 1989). The purpose of this paper is to reveal environmental