Introduction to Ethics and Environmental Ethics

Some Classic Characteristics of Ethics 1. Central concern is the well-being of people. 2. Consider not just yourself, but also all others who stand to be affected. 3. Moral evaluations and judgments should be impartial. 4. Moral evaluations and judgments should be universalizable. 5. Moral evaluations and judgments are inescapable. 6. Moral considerations typically override other considerations.

Approaches to Ethics 1. Metaethics and Conceptual Analysis 2. Descriptive Ethics 3. Normative Ethics 4. Practical Ethics

Some Neighbors of Ethics Religion Religion Law Law Politics Politics Economics Economics Other Social Factors Other Social Factors

Some Challenges to Ethics Ethical Nihilism: ethics do not exist. Ethical Nihilism: ethics do not exist. Cultural Ethical Relativism: ethics are relative to particular cultures. Cultural Ethical Relativism: ethics are relative to particular cultures. Individual Ethical Relativism: ethics are relative to particular individuals. Individual Ethical Relativism: ethics are relative to particular individuals.

Traditional Ethical Theories: The Big Picture

Moral Principles Principle of Nonmaleficence Principle of Nonmaleficence Principle of Beneficence Principle of Beneficence Principle of Utility Principle of Utility Principle of Respect for Autonomy Principle of Respect for Autonomy Principle of Justice Principle of Justice

“Introducing Justice” Harry Brighouse Justice can help us navigate between conflicting values. Justice can help us navigate between conflicting values. Justice can help steer social science and policy. Justice can help steer social science and policy. Justice has practical significance. Justice has practical significance.

Justice Classic Formulation of Formal Justice: “Equals must be treated equally, and unequals must be treated unequally.” So what counts as relevant conditions for equal or unequal treatment?

Material Conditions of Justice Equal and unequal treatment concerns how burdens and benefits are distributed. This could be based on some of the following: 1. Need6. $ 2. Effort7. Race and Ethnicity 3. Contribution8. Gender 4. Merit9. Economic Class 5. Full Equality10. Country of Origin

Distributive Justice This concerns what material conditions are used to determine how burdens and benefits are distributed. This concerns what material conditions are used to determine how burdens and benefits are distributed. Distributive Justice = Equity. Distributive Justice = Equity. Most past and contemporary theories of justice focus almost exclusively on distributive justice. Most past and contemporary theories of justice focus almost exclusively on distributive justice.

“Environmental Ethics” Robert Elliot

How can we justify a particular environmental ethic? 1. Anthropocentrism a. Use traditional moral theories b. Create some new ethical theory or approach 2. Moral Extensionism 3. Novel Features Approach

How can we flesh out a particular environmental ethic? 1. Anthropocentrism: a. Strong B. Weak C. Economics-Based D. Future Generations 2. Zoocentrism (variants include psychocentrism and sentientism) 3. Biocentrism

More Ways to Flesh Out an Environmental Ethic 4. Ecocentrism 5. Universal Moral Consideration And the three “radical ecologies” 6. Social Ecology 7. Deep Ecology 8. Ecological Feminism or Ecofeminism

Environmental Ethics are based on values. But what are values?