1.1 Environmental Value Systems Flashcards
define an Environmental Value System (EVS)
a particular world-view or set of paradigms that shapes the way an individual, or group of people, perceive and evaluate environmental issues
EVS inputs
- education
- cultural factors
- economic factors
- religious texts and doctrine
- the media
- socio-political factors (communism, capitalism)
EVS outputs
- perspectives
- decisions on how to act regarding environmental issues
- courses of action
define a technocentric view
believe that technology will keep pace with and provide solutions to environmental issues
define an ecocentric view
nature-centred and distrust modern large-scale technology. they prefer to work with natural environmental systems to solve problems, and do this before problems get out of control
define an anthropocentric view
believes humans must sustainably manage the global system: this might be through taxes, environmental regulation, and legislation
define the cornucopian view
- belief that people will always find a way out of issues
- Optimistic in human’s potential to help the world
- faith in scientific and technological advancements and their impact on the environment
define a soft ecologist view
- one end of the ecocentrist worldview
those who reject materialism and have a conservative view regarding environmental problem-solving
define a soft deep ecologist view
those who put more value on nature than humanity
intrinsic value definition
something has value in its own right, i.e. inbuilt/inherernt worth
discuss the view that the environment can have its own intrinsic value
Resources can be valued in several ways;
- Economic: Having marketable goods and services (timber, food)
- Ecological: Providing life support services (gas exchange by forests)
- Scientific: useful applications (medicines)
- These are examples of resources being valued “instrumentally”.
Resources valued “intrinsically”: This means that a resource is valued for its cultural, aesthetic, spiritual or philosophical (moral) value and are valued regardless of their potential use to humans.
- diverse valuations of nature may be weighed more rigorously against economic values
- some argue enviornmental evaluations are impossible to quantify and price realistically
anthropocentric approach to nature
- environment = resource for humans to use
- humans must sustainably manage Earths global system
ecocentric approach to nature
- enviornment = has intrinsic value (eg. aesthetic, spiritual)
- species /landscape = biorights
- minimum disturbance to natural processes
technocentric approach to nature
- nature = model that can be replaced by technology if needed (eg. creating alternatives for some resources)
- enviornmental systems can be controlled, manipulated and changed
anthropocentric approach to the economy
- must maintain natural capital
- uses taxes, regulation, legislation by independent authorities
ecocentric approach to the economy
- priority is maintaining natural capital
- less materialistic approach
- societies should be self sufficient
technocentric approach to the economy
- economic growth is necessary
- resources should be exploited for human economic growth
- only limit = technological limit
anthropocentric view on social
- human health/ well being = central
- solutions = debate, compromise, agreement
- population control is encouraged
ecocentric view on social
- humans and nature are equal
- ecology & natures well being = essential to maintain humanity’s well being
- education is vital to improve humans relationship with nature
technocentric view on social
- mostly optimistic view of role of humans
- scientific research = encouraged
-> increase our understanding
-> increase accuracy of predictions
who decides? anthropocentric
inclusive/democratic
- elected representatives
- all groups in society
who decides? ecocentric
personal
- personal responsibility (self-restraint needed)
who decides technocentric
exclusive
- experts (often scientists)
The development of the enviornmental movement: Rachel Carson “The Silent Spring”
- novel
- published 1962
- documented harmful effects of pesticides along food chains to top predators
- led to widespread concerns about the use of pesticides and the pollution of the enviornment
- many large pesticide companies and large scale farmers tried to deny facts in this book -> controversy
The development of the enviornmental movement: Fukushima
- 2011
- earthquake in northern Japan -> tsunami -> meltdown of 3 of 6 nuclear power reactors
- damage: radioactive material
- led to many countries shutting down nuclear power stations ie. Germany
The development of the enviornmental movement: Anti-Whaling Campaign, Greenpeace
- 1975
- confronted Soviet Whalers in the Pacific Ocean
