Environmental Aesthetics and Public Environmental Philosophy Katherine W. Robinson & Kevin C. Elliot Seminar Presentation Taylor Edmund April 11, 2012 Prof. Hettinger Katherine W. Robinson & Kevin C. Elliot Seminar Presentation Taylor Edmund April 11, 2012 Prof. Hettinger

The Lily pond story Killing the lilies, diminish the clarity of the water, and contaminate a connecting lake Aesthetic considerations are motivational “Sense of place” Aesthetic concerns shine light on other issues Aesthetic considerations should play a role in developing a public environmental philosophy Killing the lilies, diminish the clarity of the water, and contaminate a connecting lake Aesthetic considerations are motivational “Sense of place” Aesthetic concerns shine light on other issues Aesthetic considerations should play a role in developing a public environmental philosophy

The purpose Beauty is an important reason for protecting nature To make a case for environmental aesthetics Aesthetic Integrity Central to people’s sense of place Written to be motivational instrument Beauty is an important reason for protecting nature To make a case for environmental aesthetics Aesthetic Integrity Central to people’s sense of place Written to be motivational instrument

Aesthetic Integrity Complexity of environmental aesthetics calls for this concept “a kind of aesthetic principle for strategy and planning” (Brady 2002, 75) Environmental, ecological, and diachronic integrity Difficult to evaluate aesthetic integrity, but is often easier to point out detriments to the aesthetic integrity Examples of threats to aesthetic integrity Differences in opinions and problems with economics Complexity of environmental aesthetics calls for this concept “a kind of aesthetic principle for strategy and planning” (Brady 2002, 75) Environmental, ecological, and diachronic integrity Difficult to evaluate aesthetic integrity, but is often easier to point out detriments to the aesthetic integrity Examples of threats to aesthetic integrity Differences in opinions and problems with economics

Importance of Aesthetic Integrity A fundamental component in public environmental philosophy Important in our sense of place People’s attachment and care of a particular place Aesthetic integrity and its position in “sense of place” A fundamental component in public environmental philosophy Important in our sense of place People’s attachment and care of a particular place Aesthetic integrity and its position in “sense of place”

Stedman’s Study (2003) 3 models of how a landscape may influence the sense of place Direct Effects Model Meaning-mediated Model Experiential Model The “take-home lesson” 3 models of how a landscape may influence the sense of place Direct Effects Model Meaning-mediated Model Experiential Model The “take-home lesson”

Moral Importance Problems with developing a public environmental philosophy Sense of place is not only a motivational aspect, but affects human well-being AIP Principle Kant and Mill degradation is a moral issue 3 environmental rights in democracy Problems with developing a public environmental philosophy Sense of place is not only a motivational aspect, but affects human well-being AIP Principle Kant and Mill degradation is a moral issue 3 environmental rights in democracy

the Green Diamond case Economic impacts What did the citizens do? The 4 lessons about aesthetic integrity effectiveness, deliberation, umbrella and objectivity Useful on a national and global scale Economic impacts What did the citizens do? The 4 lessons about aesthetic integrity effectiveness, deliberation, umbrella and objectivity Useful on a national and global scale

The case cont.. Use other issues to benefit environmental concerns 4 significant effects Generating more interest Subjectivity of aesthetic judgements Use other issues to benefit environmental concerns 4 significant effects Generating more interest Subjectivity of aesthetic judgements

Conclusion What should philosophers be doing? Using the frames Changing the institutions Social learning Bettering the importance of aesthetic integrity What should philosophers be doing? Using the frames Changing the institutions Social learning Bettering the importance of aesthetic integrity

Works Cited Katherine W. Robinson & Kevin C. Elliot (2011): Environmental Aesthetics and Public Environmental Philosophy, Ethics, Policy & Environment, 14:2,