Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Ethics: Theory and Practice Jacques P. Thiroux Keith W. Krasemann

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter Sixteen Environmental Ethics

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Definition of Key Terms Speciesism is a prejudice for one’s own species and against other species Sentientism is the theory that only those beings with mental states should be the subject of moral concern Holism is a conception of nature that sees humans and nature together as forming a moral community

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Definition of Key Terms Vegetarianism is the refusal to eat the flesh of animals in favor of a diet of vegetables An endangered species is a species of animals in danger of becoming extinct because of the encroachment of civilization upon the natural environment and because of careless exploitation by human beings

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Nature and Morality Human beings have discovered in recent years that natural resources, including animals, plants, and trees, are not boundless but are subject to diminishment, destruction, and loss This will affect us with regard to the social aspect of our morality, but many consider that nature also is valuable in itself

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Environmental Ethical Issues We cannot continue the waste and destruction of natural resources, but must take action now to conserve and replenish what we take from nature for our own uses Neither can we continue to exploit, misuse, and pollute the environment The rights of animals should be respected

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Our Attitude Toward Nature and What Lies Behind It These attitudes have not developed overnight – Platonic dualism and the beginnings of Western philosophy tended to split human beings off from nature – Judeo-Christian teachings in the Bible taught that human beings are imbued with a soul whereas the rest of nature is not

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Our Attitude Toward Nature and What Lies Behind It The advancement of science and technology has made nature more subservient to humans

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Arguments for Use and Exploitation of the Natural Environment Religious: Western religions condone dominion by citing the Bible Natural order/evolution: humans are the highest evolved species, so they control Civilization is more important than nature Only humans are deserving of moral rights and obligations

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Arguments Against Use and Exploitation of the Natural Environment Monistic holism v. dominion and domination Religious arguments about superiority have been misinterpreted or are irrelevant Evolution of humans does not mean that they are entitled to dominion over nature The proper relationship between man and nature is holistic, not dominant

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Moderate Position Nature is important and significant but not necessarily on the same footing with humans It may therefore be used for human ends but with care so as not to endanger or destroy it

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Moderate Position This position generally agrees with the holistic position but is not against using nature for the good of humans as long as it is done carefully, allowing for the preservation and protection of the environment

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Criteria for Animal Rights Anything that is alive is deserving of moral consideration Those with interests have rights Attributes of soul, mind, and feelings – moral consideration is based on whether or not beings have these attributes Animals seem to possess the power of reason, at least at the rudimentary level

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Ways of Dealing with Animal Rights Vegetarianism Sentientism – Animals have mental states that are to some extent akin to those of humans and are therefore deserving of rights Holism – Every living thing is deserving of respect, because they are all a part of nature as a whole

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Use of Animals for Food Is it moral to kill sentient beings possessing all of the attributes previously described, and use them for food? How do our ways of raising animals impact this question?

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Use of Animals for Food The moderate (between vegetarian and carnivore) argues that animals can be eaten but we should not accept wholesale slaughter or mistreatment of animals

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Arguments for Use of Animals for Experimentation Arguments For: – Without our ability to use animals for experimentation, humans would have to be used and would be harmed or killed, or no cures for diseases could ever be found

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Arguments for Use of Animals for Experimentation Arguments For cont’d: – Because, by law, humans cannot be used for experimentation without informed consent and strict guidelines, scientific and medical progress need animals – Animals are less valuable than humans

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Arguments Against Use of Animals for Experimentation Animals are thinking and feeling beings; it is immoral to make them suffer and die for human progress Many experiments are absolutely unnecessary to human health and well-being Scientific progress must stop if it cannot advance without animals

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Killing Animals for Sport Argument For: – Ancient activity – Animal population control – Need for animal meat and products Argument Against: – Hunting is no longer needed – Animal populations will control themselves – Domestic meat alleviates the need to hunt

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Protection of Endangered Species An irreverence for even a small segment of life affects one’s reverence for all life Most species are beautiful and interesting and they should be available to future generations

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Protection of Endangered Species All animals seem to contribute in some way to the balance of nature and its food chain, and we should be careful not to upset that balance

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Non-Western Perspectives on Environmental Issues Because environmental problems are global in scope and implications raised by these important issues of concern affect people the world over, it will be worthwhile to briefly note the value of non-Western ethical viewpoints The great goal of Chinese thought is to achieve harmony and balance

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Non-Western Perspectives on Environmental Issues The immanent worldviews of Hinduism and Buddhism, which stress the oneness and interconnectedness of the natural order, present clear alternatives to Western transcendent perspectives where human beings stand over/against nature

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Non-Western Perspectives on Environmental Issues In Daoist thought the key concept is the dao – the way, which refers to ultimate reality, the way of nature, and ethical living

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Non-Western Perspectives on Environmental Issues Confucianism attempts to extend the way by establishing social conventions and Kongzi ritualized proper conduct so that the life, in effect, becomes a performance that is designed to further natural harmony

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Non-Western Perspectives on Environmental Issues In a world of pluralistic cultural values an expanded field of possibilities makes room for alternative responses to serious environmental challenges not easily resolved