1.1: Perspectives Flashcards
What are worldviews?
The lenses through which groups of people see and understand the world around them
Their view of the world
Effect how people think, believe and behave
Their moral compass, judgement decisions
What aspects contribute to people’s worldviews?
Cultural beliefs
Philosophical ideas
Political opinions
Religious teaching
Etc.
What is the difference between worldviews and perspective?
Worldview ->
broader and deeper set of beliefs
Values/ideologies that shape how individuals/groups perceive and interpret the world
Perspective ->
More specific and immediate viewpoints/attitudes
Pertains to particular issues or topics (situational)
What is the impact of tech and media to worldviews?
Exposed to a wider range of worldviews outside of local community
Attempts to categorize different perspectives into groups can become challenging -> complex mix of beliefs and opinons
What is an environmental value system (EVS)?
The way that an individual/group of people perceive the environment and the resources it provides them with
What can influence a group/persons environmental value system?
Can be influenced by variety of factors:
Cultural
Religious
Social
Political
Economic
Environmental
Etc.
Factors act as flow of information into individuals within society
Individual then processes and transforms this information into THEIR perception of environment and how to act on such matters
Why is an environmental value system considered a system?
Determined by:
Set of inputs (ex: factors listed)
That generates outputs (ex: persons perceptions, decisions, actions, evaluations, etc)
What are the types of environmental value systems?
Broadly divided into three categories:
Ecocentric (nature centered)
Intrinsic value of nature > human needs and interest
Anthropocentric (people centered)
Humans needs and interest > other living things and environment
Technocentric (technology centered)
Technology/human ingenuity -> center of ‘solution’
What values do ecocentrism include?
Ecocentric ->
Nature has inherent value
Nature central to humanity
Minimum disturbance to natural processes
Restraint on natural resource use
Less materialistic
Biorights and environmental education
What values does anthropocentrism include?
Anthropocentric ->
Humans have the right to use natural resources
Humans must sustainably manage global systems (tax, law, regulation, etc.)
Everyone should participate in environmental decision making
Economic growth/exploitation of natural resources can continue if managed carefully
Preserving biodiversity -> economic+ecological benefits
What values does technocentrism include?
Technocentric ->
Technology will provide solutions (despite humans pushing natural systems to their limits)
Need to understand natural systems to control them
Scientific research/predictions used to inform policy
Emphasis on sustaining global market
Continual economic growth
Assumes all can be solved via technology -> neglect need for conservation?
Strengths and weaknesses of: ecocentrism
Strengths:
Reuse material -> sustainable
Minimize environmental impact
Better for long term
No need to wait for technological development
Weaknesses:
Conservation is expensive -> no quick economic return
Developing countries argue they should be allowed to continue growing economically
Hard to change individual attitudes
Strengths and weaknesses of: technocentrism
Strengths:
Substitutes materials -> avoids costly industrial changes
Provides solution -> convenience
Allow social and economic progress
Weakness:
Greater rate of resource consumption
May lead to further environmental problems
High cost
Humans will become more disconnected from nature
What is a perspective?
How an individual sees and understand a particular situation
Not fixed -> can evolve
What factors influence perspective?
Assumptions
Values
Beliefs/religion
Personal experience
Background
Societal influences/norms
Science
Laws
Economic/educational status
Etc.
What is the influence of perspectives?
Vary widely among groups/individuals -> diverse views
Perspective influences decisions/choices
Influences how people interpret information and events
Ex:
Different perspectives -> contrasting approaches
environmental perspective
Human based -> prioritize human interest
Nature based -> prioritize biodiversity conservation, ecosystem health, etc. (Doesn’t always directly benefit humans)
Social perspective
Collectivist -> wellbeing of community > individual rights
Individualist-> personal freedom of choice > community
How do perspectives differ from arguments?
Arguments ->
constructed to support or challenge a particular perspective
Logical/reasoned explanations presented to PERSUADE of the validity of a perspective
Can defend or criticize/counter
What can influence a change in environmental perspective?
Often by:
Governments
NGOs
Campaigns
Social/demographical changes
Ex: 1970 -> rise in environmental awareness due to campaigns against pollution
What is a behavior-time graph?
Behavior-time graphs illustrate how specific behaviors change over time
What are examples of using behavior-time graphs?
Littering tendencies
Water usage
Recycling rates
Use of renewable energy sources
Use of public transport…
What is the environmental movement?
A term used to describe humanity’s increasing awareness of the damage we are causing to the environment and the importance of conserving environmental health -
Addressing urgent environmental challenges (climate change, pollution, deforestation, etc.)
Promotes sustainable development, renewable resources
Through implementation of public policy and change in individual behaviors
What are some examples of events or influences that helped the development of the environmental movement?
Individuals and environmental activist
Literature
Media
Major environmental disasters
International conferences/agreements
New technologies
Scientific discoveries
Greta Thunberg:
Field:
Description:
Effect on environmental movement:
Climate action
Led youth strikes for climate action
Raise awareness
Challenging political leaders
Inspired millions to join climate activism
Urging policy makers to take action
Rachel Carson
Year:
Work:
Description:
Effect on environmental movement:
1962
Silent spring
Outlined harmful effects of the pesticide DDT
Widespread concern about the danger of pesticide use
Increased awareness of environmental pollution
Breaking boundaries
Year:
Description:
Effect on environmental movement:
2021
Documentary about how humans are pushing earths boundaries (that have kept earth stable for last 10,000 yrs)
DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
Highlighted pressing environmental issues
Importance of global cooperation for sustainable solutions
Minamata disease
Year:
Description:
Effect on movement:
1956
Minamata, Japan
Chemical factories released toxic methyl mercury into waste water -> accumulation in fish/shellfish -> mercury poisoning in people/cats
Severe symptoms: neurological disorders, paralysis, death, etc.
-> raised awareness of the risks of industrialization/need for regulation
Paris agreement
Year:
Description:
Effect on environmental movement:
2015
International treaty agreed by 195 parties at COP21
Aimed to to stop the increase in global average temperature (no more that 2°C change)
50% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
Every country agreed to set targets and regularly report on progress
Electric cars
Description:
Effect on environmental movement:
Vehicles powered by electric motors instead of internal combustion engines
Reduced reliance on fossil fuels and emission of GGs
-> lower carbon emission
-> lower air pollution
Drive transition to sustainable transport and energy systems
Ocean acidification
Description:
Effect on environmental movement:
Decreasing pH levels in earths oceans
Increased CO2 emissions
Raised concern about marine ecosystem health/biodiversity
Driving research/policy action
What are values?
Qualities or principles that people believe have worth or importance in life
What is the influence of values?
Affect people’s priorities, judgements, perspectives, choices
Very personal
Values in communities
Within communities -> shape and share our values
Reflect how we communicate/interact with our community but also others
Values in organisations
Organisation have values which affect their communication and actions
Can be seen through -> ads, social media, policies, decisions
Tension from different values
Different values -> tension between groups/individuals
In multicultural societies, navigating tension required understanding, respecting diverse values
What are value surveys?
They investigate the perspectives of social groups towards various environmental issues
Help us understand how environmental concerns are viewed and prioritized
Effective design of values surveys
Take into account:
many viewpoints
Range of opinions within a group
Results:
Give insight into values/attitudes/beliefs that influence how people view and respond to local/global environmental challenges
How can data be gathered for value surveys?
Questionnaires, interviews, online survey tools (good for wider audience/more data)
What are the two types of questions that can be asked? What are their benefits/weaknesses?
Closed ended:
Good for quantitative analysis (easily quantified)
Fixed set of responses
Helps identify trends, correlations, patterns, etc.
Open ended:
More detailed idea of viewpoint
More difficult to analyse
But still important
Why are behavior-time graphs useful?
Can easily track daily habits, change in environmental behaviors (ex: recycling rates)
Important for:
Monitoring progress towards goals
Evaluating effectiveness of environmental initiatives
Visualization of impact
Identifying areas for improvement
