Environmental Ethics

Question 1

Culture

Answer 1

The knowledge, beliefs, values, and education shared by a group of individuals

Question 2

Personal Experiences

Answer 2

What has happened to you

Question 3

Worldview

Answer 3

A person or group’s beliefs about the surrounding world

Question 4

Values

Answer 4

The ideas, things, or experiences you hold to be important

Question 5

What shapes your worldview:

Answer 5

Religion - probably the largest factor globally
Landscape (area you live) - your environment impacts the way you have to live
Economics - the world revolves around money
Politics - your personal ideologies
Vest Interests - outcome will have personal gain/loss for decision maker

Question 6

Ethics

Answer 6

Branch of philosophy that deals with what is right and wrong, good and evil

Question 7

Relativists

Answer 7

Believe that ethics do and should vary with social context

Question 8

Universalists

Answer 8

Believe that notions of right and wrong hold across cultures and situations

Question 9

Ethical Standards

Answer 9

What helps shape what is right and wrong

Question 10

There are three approaches that have shaped our ethics:

Answer 10

Virtue - the personal achievement of moral excellence in character through reasoning and moderation
Categorical Imperative - the golden rule
Utility - something is right when it benefits the most people

Question 11

Environmental Ethics

Answer 11

The application of ethical standards to nonhuman entities

Question 12

Anthropocentrism

Answer 12

A human-centered view of our relationship with the environment; no other entities have rights

Question 13

Biocentrism

Answer 13

Certain living things have rights; actions must consider living and nonliving things

Question 14

Ecocentrism

Answer 14

The whole ecological system has rights; values the well being of the entire system

Question 15

Transcendentalism

Answer 15

Views nature as manifestation of the divine, your soul can be one with God through nature; Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman were transcendental authors/poets

Question 16

Preservation Ethic

Answer 16

Led by John Muir, a thought that we should protect the environment in an untouched, unaltered state

Question 17

Conservation Ethic

Answer 17

Led by former forester Gifford Pinchot, supposes that we should manage our resources in a wise and responsible manner (more anthropocentric view of environmental philosophy)

Question 18

Land Ethic

Answer 18

Aldo Leopold, a former forester and wildlife manager, stated that humans should have a responsible and balanced view of nature; we are in the same community and are therefore obligated to treat the land in an ethical manner (this is what governs the majority of our environmental ethics today)

Question 19

Deep Ecology

Answer 19

1970s movement that says we are inseparable from nature and thus should protect our environment as we would protect ourselves

Question 20

Ecofeminism

Answer 20

1970s movement that states the world’s view towards male dominated society is the reason for social and environmental problems

Question 21

Environmental Justice

Answer 21

The fair and equitable treatment of all people with regard to environmental decisions, policies, and treatment (ex: urban work/living areas, Native American mining)

Question 22

Ecoterrorism

Answer 22

An act of terrorism against individuals or companies by individuals or organizations to protest the use or abuse of resources in the environment

Question 23

British communities led by _ _ started to become aware of English cities’ aesthetic deterioration (Scottish Rights of Way Society)

Answer 23

John Ruskin

Question 24

The _ _ caused a lot of philosophers of the time to reevaluate the ethical concern of nature

Answer 24

Industrial revolution

Question 25

“The land is our ancestral home and we must cherish it even more than children cherish their mother.”

Answer 25

Plato

Question 26

Christianity on environmental ethical history

Answer 26

Has made a large impression both ways; stewardship vs. dominion