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Professor Jayashree Sadri And Dr Sorab Sadri ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

Environmental ethics

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Page 1: Environmental ethics

Professor Jayashree SadriAnd

Dr Sorab Sadri

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

Page 2: Environmental ethics

Environmental ethics is the part of environmental philosophy which considers extending the

traditional boundaries of ethics from solely including

humans to including the non-human world.

What is Environmental Ethics?

Page 3: Environmental ethics

For example:It exerts influence on a large range of disciplines including law, sociology, theology, economics, ecology and geography.

There are many ethical decisions that human beings make with respect to the environment.

Page 4: Environmental ethics

For example:Should we continue to clear cut forests for the sake of human consumption?

Should we continue to propagate? Should we continue to make gasoline powered vehicles?

When will this thirst for exploitation and profit end?

Why this “conspicuous consumption?”

Page 5: Environmental ethics

For example:What environmental obligations do we

need to keep for future generations?[ Is it right for humans to knowingly cause the extinction of a species for the convenience of humanity?

Is “false consciousness” combining with “conspicuous consumption”?

Why do governments across the world fail to “walk their talk”?

Page 6: Environmental ethics

HUNTING INDISCRIMINATELYExtinction of the White Rhino (Assam) for

aphrodisiacSlaughter of the Black Rhino (Central Africa) for

aphrodisiacDisappearance of the White Tigers (Reva) for

stupidityThe Indian Lion (Gir) and the Royal Bengal Tiger

being killed because the Government has no will to act.

Slaughter of the Seals (Antarctica) for food and oilWhale hunting (Japanese waters and China Sea) for

food Fox hunting (Mark Twain’s quip on British sport)Himalayan Deer (for Kasturi)Grizzly Bear hunting (Canada – human-animal turf

war)

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Can Humans Live In Harmony With Nature?

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Some DefinitionsMoral Agents

Those who have the freedom and rational capacity to be responsible for choices

Those capable of moral reflection and decision.

Example: adult humans of sound mindInfants and mentally

infirm adults are NOT moral agents

Page 9: Environmental ethics

DefinitionsMoral Standing:

If you have moral standing:Your continued existence or

welfare is valuable in itself (intrinsic value)

Your interests and well-being must be weighed when deciding what is permissible to do.

Example: humans of all kinds Babies, children, adults,

old people, etc. Women, different races,

different cultures

Page 10: Environmental ethics

Definitions

Moral Duties That which is owed

by moral agents to those with moral standing.

Example: It is wrong to kill our children because we have a moral duty toward them

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Philosophical IssueWho or what has

moral standing, and why?Does the environment

have moral standing?Must look at criteria

for moral standingWhat moral duty do

we (moral agents) have toward those with moral standing?Different ethical

positions suggest different moral duties.

Yosemite National Park

Page 12: Environmental ethics

Ideas on Criteria for Moral Standing

Membership in the species Homo sapiens Humans have a soul Humans are moral

agents and are responsible for

knowing right from wrong Humans are intelligent Humans have

personhoodand self-consciousness

Humans have language

Page 13: Environmental ethics

Ideas on Criteria for Moral Standing

Sentience, the ability to feel painTherefore extend

moral standing to animals.

On the evolutionary chain as well as in the food chain we are all linked anyway.

Page 14: Environmental ethics

Ideas on Criteria for Moral Standing

Being aliveTherefore extend

moral standing to animals and plants:

All living things.

Take this understanding as your contribution to Plant Earth for all the things you have got from it.

Page 15: Environmental ethics

Ideas on Criteria for Moral Standing

Being part of natureTherefore extend

moral standing to the earthecosystems rocks rivers plants animals the entire natural

world

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Ethical PositionsAnthropocentris

m: Human centered moralityOnly humans

have intrinsic value and moral standing.

The rest of the natural world has instrumental value (use to humans).

Page 17: Environmental ethics

AnthropocentrismWe can best protect

nature by looking out for human needs. Ex: Ducks Unlimited

preserves wetlandsEx: Saving the

rainforests will provide O2 and medicines for humans.

Problem: Would you blow up the world if you were the last human alive?

Page 18: Environmental ethics

Ethical PositionsSentio-centrism:

Sentient-being centered moralityAll and only sentient

beings (animals that feel pain) have intrinsic value and moral standing.

The rest of the natural world has instrumental value.

Both humans and sentient animals have rights and/or interests that must be considered

Page 19: Environmental ethics

Ethical PositionsBiocentric

Individualism: Life-centered moralityAll and only living beings,

specifically individual organisms (not species or ecosystems) have intrinsic value and moral standing.

Humans are not superior to other life forms nor privileged, and must respect the inherent worth of every organism

Humans should minimize harm and interference with nature: eat vegetarian since less land needs to be cultivated.

Page 20: Environmental ethics

Ethical PositionsEco-centric Holism:

ecosystem centered morality

Non-individuals (the earth as an interconnected ecosystem, species, natural processes) have moral standing or intrinsic value and are deserving of respect.

Individuals must be concerned about the whole community of life/nature,

Humans should strive to preserve ecological balance and stability.

Page 21: Environmental ethics

Patriarchal DualismsGreek, Roman, Hebrew:

Humans are separate from and superior to nature

Human, mind, rationality, and manare linked and superior

Nature, body, feelings, and womanare linked, and inferior

Justifies domination by men overNatureWomen

Aristotle

Page 22: Environmental ethics

Ecofeminism

Rejects Patriarchal Dualisms

The domination of nature by men is wrong is similar to and related to the

domination of women by men.

Must break the pattern of "power over" relationships will benefit both women and the

natural world.

Acid attack victims

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Feminism

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What Price Male Chauvinism?

What or who gave males the moral authority to worship a woman in a temple or a church only to defile and denigrate her at home?

Do you realize that the dowry system puts up a man as a mere commodity for sale to the highest woman bidder?

Honour killings are nothing but an outburst of male mental impotency and false social sanction.

Page 25: Environmental ethics

Deep EcologyHumans are deeply

connected with nature. If humans identify

with nature, then taking care of the natural world will become part of taking care of one's self.

Yet human beings destroy nature and its bountiful gifts for short term and pecuniary gain.

Page 26: Environmental ethics

Chief Sitting Bull, 1877“Behold, my brothers, the

spring has come; the earth has received the embraces of the sun and we shall soon see the results of that love!

Every seed has awakened and so has all animal life.

It is through this mysterious power that we too have our being and we therefore yield to our neighbors, even our animal neighbors, the same right as ourselves, to inhabit this land…

Page 27: Environmental ethics

Chief Sitting Bull, 1877“Yet hear me, my

people, we have now to deal with another race - small and feeble when our fathers first met them, but now great and overbearing.

Strangely enough they have a mind to till the soil and the love of possessions is a disease with them . . ..

Page 28: Environmental ethics

Sitting Bull, 1877“They claim this mother of

ours, the earth, for their own, and fence their neighbors away;

they deface her with their buildings and their refuse.

They threaten to take [the land] away from us.

My brothers, shall we submit, or shall we say to them:

"First kill me before you take possession of my Fatherland."

Page 29: Environmental ethics

BioregionalismLead a simple life

with local production of food and other products by people that you know Increases

environmental awareness and caring

decreases exploitation of the environment and people.

Page 30: Environmental ethics

RealitiesWe owe it to future generations to

preserve Mother Earth since we hold it in trust for our children.

The rate at which flora and fauna are disappearing is scandalous.

Global warming is a great fear that we cannot overlook

Page 31: Environmental ethics

TRY TO SEE WHAT LIES BEHIND Sunderlal Bahaguna and the

Chipko MovementThe Chilka Lake controversyThe Netarhat Firing Range scandalThe Narbada Bachao AndolanThe Clean Ganga MovementKoel Karo Project

Page 32: Environmental ethics