1. Spencer Gall and Jordan Budrevich
Environmental Ethics
Spencer Gall and Jordan Budrevich

2. Learning Objectives
Define environmental ethics and a brief history of the field.
Be able to differentiate the types of environmental ethics and philosophies.
Apply environmental ethics to modern-day problems.

3. Definition of Environmental Ethics
Division of environmental philosophy
Studies the moral relationship of human beings to the environment and its non-human contents
Human beings have to make ethical decisions with respect to the environment

4. History
Started in 1970s when environmentalists asked philosophers to look at the philosophical aspects of environmental problems
“The Tragedy of the Commons” by Garrett Hardin
First international academic journals
U.S. based journal Environmental Ethics in 1979
Canadian based journal The Trumpeter: Journal of Ecosophy in 1983
After 1990, the field gained institutional recognition
The field has been expanding to other universities ever since
Continues to develop today

5. Environmental Ethics Types vs. Philosophies
Types - categorical groups that describe people’s approach to the environment
Philosophies - combines philosophical principles that have been established in the philosophy field with views of the environment
Environmental philosophies make up one’s type
Depending on the person and the issue, different environmental philosophies can make up one’s type and one’s type can change depending on the issue

6. Libertarian/Conservationist/Humanist Applied
Environmental Ethics
Ecological
Libertarian/Conservationist/Humanist
Applied
Land Ethics
Deep Ecology
Romanticism
Anthropocentrism
Environmental Justice
Food Justice

7. Types of Environmental Ethics
Libertarian Extension: a civil liberty approach for all humans and nonhumans
Extend equal rights to all members of the community
Political reflection of the world
Ecologic Extension: emphasis on the fundamental interdependence of all biological (and some abiological) entities and their essential diversity
Scientific reflection of the world
Applied Theology: religion meets environmental ethics
2 schools of thought:
1: Religion holds the basis of environmental stewardship
2: Use of theology to rationalized the unmanaged consumption of natural resources

8. Types of Environmental Ethics
Conservation Ethics: only looks at how the environment can be useful to humans
Humanist Theories: require a set of criteria for moral status and ethical worth
Emphasis on reason over feelings

9. Specific Environmental Ethical Philosophies
Anthropocentrism
Humans are the only primary concern
Everything in existence should be evaluated in terms of its utility for us
Similar to utilitarianism
Free market environmentalism/ property rights
Romanticism
What is good is what is “wild”
Human intervention is bad
Response to Industrial Revolution
Thoreau’s Walden

10. Specific Environmental Ethical Philosophies
Deep Ecology
All life has intrinsic value
Life is valuable (intrinsic value), as is the environment that contributes to that life
Humanity needs to cut back on population growth and environmental impact
Land Ethic
Members of a community treat one another with respect for the mutual benefit of all
Community includes all local biotic and abiotic factors
Leopold: “We can only be ethical in relation to something we can see, understand, feel, love, or otherwise have faith in.”

11. Specific Environmental Ethical Philosophies
Environmental Justice
Certain at risk groups face more problems with environmental justice than other groups (poor, women, racial minorities)
Clinton’s executive order declaring that all new power plants must consider the environmental justice impact of their new plant locations
Food Justice
Food deserts - cities have limited access to fresh, local, organic, healthy food
Food sovereignty - right of people to have access to healthy and culturally appropriate foods sourced through ecologically sustainable methods (ex. problems with International Rice Market)
Food security - people should have physical, social, and economic access to safe and nutritious food

12. Example Problem
Which of the following best describes the main reason for opposing widespread use of genetically modified crops in agriculture according to a Romantic approach? A land ethic approach?
A. Widespread use of GMO crops disrupts local ecosystems by allowing for large-scale monoculture farming, thereby contributing to the degradation of soil and water quality.
B. GMO crops represent the height of human arrogance in the manipulation of nature.
C. GMO crops should be used more widely--they are a product of human activity, and whatever we do is an expression of our nature. Therefore, transgenic crops are natural.
D. The long-term risks to both human and ecological health are too great.

13. Example Problem
"In Nicaragua, preliminary work has begun on a canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This canal will be three times the length of Panama's and will cut through forests, wetlands and a giant inland lake. Backers say the project will create 50,000 jobs and double the size of Nicaragua's economy Lake Nicaragua is Central America's largest and provides drinking water to dozens of towns Biologist Jorge Huete is vice president of the Nicaraguan Science Academy. He says the dredging could kick up so much sediment that it would discolor the water, lower its oxygen content and kill off marine life." (John Otis, "Opposition Grows to Nicaragua Canal Connecting Atlantic and Pacific," All Things Considered, NPR, February 26, 2015.)
Using a romantic approach, do you support the canal?
How about an anthropocentric approach?
How about a land ethic approach?
What would you need to consider from an environmental justice approach?

14. Practical Applications of Environmental Ethics
Keep in mind environmental impact and other potentially impacted parties.
What are your priorities for a project?
Who are you working for/with and what is their ethical approach?
Is there a sustainable middle-ground to work towards?

15. Sources http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Environmental_ethics