EthicsEthicsa major branch of philosophya major branch of philosophy

proper conduct and good livingproper conduct and good living““the good life”the good life” the life worth livingthe life worth living the life that is simply satisfyingthe life that is simply satisfying

considered more important than moralsconsidered more important than morals

applied ethicsapplied ethicsasking “right or wrong” questions about real-life asking “right or wrong” questions about real-life

situationssituationsachieving the “greatest good”achieving the “greatest good”

Environmental EthicsEnvironmental Ethics includes the ‘non-human’ worldincludes the ‘non-human’ world

influences law, sociology, theology, economics, influences law, sociology, theology, economics, ecology, geography, etc.ecology, geography, etc.

influential books, articles, etc.:influential books, articles, etc.: Henry David Thoreau: Henry David Thoreau: Walden Walden (1854)(1854) Aldo Leopold: Aldo Leopold: A Sand County AlmanacA Sand County Almanac, "The Land Ethic” , "The Land Ethic”

(1949)(1949) Rachel Carson: Rachel Carson: Silent Spring Silent Spring (1962)(1962) Lynn White: "The Historical Roots of our Ecologic Crisis” Lynn White: "The Historical Roots of our Ecologic Crisis”

(1967)(1967) Garrett Hardin: "The Tragedy of the Commons" (1968)Garrett Hardin: "The Tragedy of the Commons" (1968) Earth Day (founded 1970)Earth Day (founded 1970) Al Gore: Al Gore: An Inconvenient Truth An Inconvenient Truth (2006)(2006)

Influences on Environmental Ethics

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, 1962 Earth Day, established 1970

“The Land Ethic”, an essay fromA Sand County Almanacby Aldo Leopold, 1949

Difficult QuestionsShould we continue to clear cut forests for the sake

of human consumption?

Should we continue to reproduce and spread around the world?

Should we continue to make gasoline powered vehicles?

What environmental obligations should we keep for future generations?

Is it right for humans to cause the extinction of a species for the convenience of humanity?

The Maldives

Flooding

Child Labor

Coal mining

Oil

Trash