Environmental Values

Where do you fit on this earth?

Environmental Values

• Vocabulary:–Ecocentric–Anthropocentric–Technocentric–Biocentric–Holistic–Being Green

Environmental Values

• After watching this clip. • How does it make you

feel?• Does it bring up any

questions you have about what we as humans are doing on this earth?

3 minutes

(this video contains graphic pictures and may not be suitable for young viewers)

Environmental Values• Do you think the

government can decide the outcome of our beliefs when faced with environmental issues?

• Do you think there should be laws and rights for our planet against society?

Environmental Values

• What are some things you can do to “fix it”?

Environmental Values• Where do you stand? The glass is half empty or half full?

Pessimistic or optimistic?• Environmental values (worldviews):

– Ecocentric: Life-centered, respects the right of nature and us as humans depending on nature for our survival.

– Anthropocentric (technocentric): human-centered (individually-centered), nature is beneficial to human survival but we are not dependent on nature. We are the dominant species on earth.

– Cornucopians: Believes that there are infinite resources for human needs and we as a human race can solve any problem that arises.

– Environmental managers (stewards): Believe that we must tend the earth and we have an ethical duty to protect the earth.

– Deep ecologists: Earth-centered, All species have rights and values and that humans are over-consuming the earth’s resources. They value nature more than humankind.

Environmental Values

• Answer the following questionnaire– Write your answers in your journal.

Keep in mind the following:• Which value system do you more strongly

agree with? Which one do you not agree with? (Based on your answers)

• Where do you think Denton…Texas…and the United States… fit in the environmental value system?

• When finished we will discuss each question.

Enviro Attitudes QuestionnaireAnswer with: strongly agree (SA), agree (A), disagree (D), strongly disagree (SD)

1. Humans are a part of nature.2. Humans are to blame for all the world’s environmental problems.3. We depend on the environment for our resources (food, water, fuel, etc.)4. Nomadic and indigenous people live in balance with their environment.5. Traditional farming methods do not damage the environment.6. Nature will make good any damage that humans do to the Earth.7. Humans have every right to use all resources on the planet Earth.8. Technology will solve our energy crisis.9. We have passed the tipping point on climate change and the Earth is warming

up and we cannot stop it.10. Animals and plants have as much right to live on Earth as Humans.11. Looking at a beautiful view is not as important as economic progress.12. Species have always become extinct on Earth and so it does not matter that

humans are causing extinctions.

Your Values Identified

Scale

Deep Ecologist AnthropocentricEcocentric

Enviro Manager Technocentric

Earth/Nature Humans