Environmental Science The Earth as seen from space.

Environmental Science What is it?

Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary field that includes scientific and social aspects of human impact on the world. What does this mean?

Environmental science studies how humans impact the environment and how these interactions affect humans.

Environmental Concerns Individual Local Regional Global

Approaches to Environmental Ethics Anthropocentrism (human-centered) This view holds that all environmental responsibility is derived from human interests. Assumes that only humans are morally significant. Assumes nature is an instrument for human manipulation. Biocentrism (life-centered) All life forms have an inherent right to exist. Ecocentrism This view maintains that the environment deserves direct moral consideration, not consideration derived from human or animal interests.

Approaches to Environmental Ethics Philosophical approaches

Approaches to Environmental Ethics “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise….We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” —Aldo Leopold A Sand County Almanac, 1949

Environmental Attitudes Because ethical commitments pull in different directions at different times, it is often easier to talk in terms of environmental attitudes or approaches. The three most common attitudes/approaches are: Development approach Preservation approach Conservation approach

Development This approach is the most anthropocentric. It assumes the human race is, and should be, master of nature. It assumes that the Earth and its resources exist solely for our benefit and pleasure. This approach is reinforced by the capitalist work ethic. This approach thinks highly of human creativity and holds that continual economic growth is a moral ideal for society.

Preservation This approach is the most ecocentric. It holds that nature has intrinsic value apart from human uses. Preservationists such as John Muir, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman articulated their positions differently, but all viewed nature as a refuge from economic activity, not as a resource for it. Some preservationists wish to keep large parts of nature intact for aesthetic or recreational reasons (anthropocentric principles).

Conservation This approach finds a balance between unrestrained development and preservationism. Conservationism promotes human well-being but considers a wider range of long-term human goods in its decisions about environmental management. Many of the ideas in conservationism have been incorporated into an approach known as sustainable development.

What are your environmental attitudes? 1. Why are you taking this class? Is it just a class your counselor told you to take? Do you need the science credits? Are you interested in the environment? Are you interested in learning what all this environmental stuff is all about? 2. Do you do anything that would be regarded as “good environmental practices”. Examples: recycle, by organic, conserve water, use natural products 3. In your opinion what are the 5 most critical environmental issues affecting humans today? 4. What are the critical environmental issues affecting the local or regional area we live in?