4. Ecological Ethics

Question 1

What is the definition of anthropocentric ethic?

Answer 1

humans on top/at the forefront, judge human activities in relation to their effects on other humans now & in the future

Question 2

What is an anthropocentric argument against cutting down the rainforest?

Answer 2

it results in a reduction of natural resources for humans to rely on

Question 3

What is the definition of biocentric ethic?

Answer 3

humans among other species, extend our ethics to individuals of other species, animals have value independent of humans -> so biodiversity has intrinsic value

Question 4

What are examples of biocentric ethic?

Answer 4

animal welfare and rights

Question 5

Are all individuals of all species equal in biocentric ethic?

Answer 5

no, humans still have ranked species

Question 6

What is the definition of populo-centric ethic?

Answer 6

all individuals die; populations persist

populations are the unit of evolution and extinction

in this system we extend our ethics from individuals of other species to populations (ex. do our activities endanger other populations?)

Question 7

Is there a hierarchy of endangered species in the populo-centric ethic?

Answer 7

yes, but less so than in terms of animal welfare

the most endangered get the most attention, works vice versa

Question 8

What is the definition of ecocentric ethic?

Answer 8

extending our ethics to ecosystems

ecological/evolutionary ethic -> humans are citizens of a biotic community

focused on maintaining ecosystem structure and function

ecosystem ethic: highest level of an ethical hierarchy

Question 9

Why is incorporating ecosystems into ethics important?

Answer 9

populations interact within communities/ecosystems & ecosystems provide services

Question 10

What is the hierarchical nature of ethics?

Answer 10

self → kin → Canadians → all humans → individuals of other species → populations → ecosystems

Question 11

What is missing from the discussion of ethological ethics alone?

Answer 11

history & wonder!

Question 12

What is biophilia?

Answer 12

a theory from E.O. Wilson

innately emotional affiliation of human beings to other living organisms

argues that humans have an innate bond with nature

can be positive and negative bonds (ex. phobias)

perpetuated by the places we like and choose to live

perpetuated by the animals we fear

Question 13

How would WILSON describe why humans find baby mammals cute?

Answer 13

biophilia!

Question 14

How would DARWIN describe why humans find baby mammals cute?

Answer 14

we have to care about our own babies who are look close enough to other baby mammals

Question 15

How do we merge an eco-centric view of nature with biophilia? (?)

Answer 15

human connection with nature is crucial

our own mental health and to protect biodiversity

Question 16

What are the two primary roots of eco-centric ethic?

Answer 16

conservation and preservation -> there is tension between people who prefer one or the other

Question 17

What does preservation mean?

Answer 17

setting aside land for nature itself, relatively little Western human interaction

preservationists today: environmental activists (David Suzuki, Jane Goodall, etc.), NGOs, etc.

Question 18

What does conservation mean?

Answer 18

the careful use of natural resources

could include environmentalists, farmers, fishers, foresters, citizens, etc.

today: government or private resource groups

Question 19

Who are Romantic Preservationists and what did they believe?

Answer 19

Thoreau, Emerson, Muir

a more romantic, almost religious, view of preservation

Question 20

What are the positive and negative legacies of Romantic Preservationists?

Answer 20

positive: nature as more than just resources, National Park movement

negative: exclusion of Indigenous peoples from their land, some were racist (Muir)

Question 21

Who are Resource Conservationists and what did they believe?

Answer 21

Pinchot, Leopold

efficient use of resources for human benefit
“the greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time (Gifford Pinchot)

wanted to use land for wealth

Question 22

What are the positive and negative legacies of Resource Conservationists?

Answer 22

positive: sustainable development, start of the conservation movement in the US

negative: excluding Indigenous peoples

Question 23

How did Aldo Leopold approach eco-centric ethic?

Answer 23

nature as ecosystems, humans as citizens of nature (similar to Indigenous worldviews)

ecological, rather than sentimental basis for preservation and conservation

land ethic: evolved into the ecosystem approach

Question 24

What are similarities between western and Indigenous ecological ethics?

Answer 24

ecosystem ethic, humans as part of the natural world, responsibility, respect

Question 25

What are differences between western and Indigenous ecological ethics?

Answer 25

Indigenous: thanks, kinship, reciprocity, spirituality

that’s something for us to learn → learning would be called the process of indigenization as per Braiding Sweetgrass

Question 26

What is the eco-centric ethic today?

Answer 26

living within the limits of ecosystems

maintaining ecosystem function

today: basis of modern conservation science

mix of preservation & conservation

include humans in ecosystems