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Applied Ethics > Environmental Ethics > Flashcards

Environmental Ethics Flashcards

Learn applied ethical theories to environmental ethics

1
Q

Islam

A

Stewards of the Earth, so will be judged for any wrong we do to it

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2
Q

Pope Francis

A

Laudato si: Integral ecology. Human and creation are interrelated

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3
Q

St Francis of Assisi

A
  • > God communicates through the natural world

- > All creatures have telos and we ought to not destroy that

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4
Q

Environmental Virtue Ethics

A

A virtuous life is to flourish while taking care of the environment

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5
Q

Neo-Kantianism

A

Paul Taylor:

  • > Animals and plants do not have moral rights, but they have legal rights
  • > They therefore have rights to their ecosystem, which ought to not be destroyed by humans
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6
Q

St John Houghton (Dominion)

A

We ought to treat the environment with respect

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7
Q

Disadvantages of Christian Ethics

A
  • > Do you take a dominion or stewardship approach
  • > Do non-human things have the ability to flourish ?
  • > The environment ought to have intrinsic value, not merely protected for the benefit of humanity
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8
Q

Disadvantages of existentialism

A
  • > Assumes that man is abandoned (Sartre rejects this being a problem)
  • > Only sentient beings have value - promotes an ‘anything goes’ mentality to plants
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9
Q

Church of England

A
  • > Wants to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050
  • > Shallow ecology: ‘the effects of climate change fall disproportionately on the poor’
  • > Husbandry: ‘we have a serious obligation to care for all of creation’ (Vatican 1989)
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10
Q

Peter Singer

A
  • > Moral status comes from sentience
  • > Animals have moral rights so should protect animal welfare
  • > Importance of long-term satisfaction: we should preserve world heritage sites
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11
Q

Advantages of existentialism

A
  • > Does not hinge upon the transcendental

- > Relies on subjectivity, rather than objectivity

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12
Q

Case study of the dam - Utilitarianism

A

Singer: Building a dam has more benefits than costs (these being to the environment)
Mill: Environment is a higher pleasure so ought to be preserved

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13
Q

Bible: Dominion or Stewardship

A

‘Let [man] have dominion over the fish of the sea’ (Genesis 1:26)’
‘…guard and till the earth’ (Genesis 2:25)

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14
Q

Bentham

A

-> Animals are sentient beings, so accounted for in the hedonic calculus

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15
Q

Advantages of Christian Ethics

A
  • > Consistent with Biblical teachings
  • > Virtue Ethics support: Celia Deane-Drummond takes the virtue of “Sophia”(wisdom) to link creation, incarnation and redemption for the whole of the material universe.
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16
Q

Fletcher

A
  • > Relativism/personalism: Treatment of the environment based on each situation
  • > No absolute rights of the environment
  • > Humans are superior to all other things (Christian roots)
17
Q

Advantages of utilitarianism

A

-> Animals and humans have equal rights

Mill: Consistent with other beliefs

18
Q

Kant

A
  • > Humans are the only rational/conscious being, so not subject to the CI
  • > Anthropocentric: Cruelty to animals is instrumentally wrong as can develop traits negative to humans. Nature is purposely, revealing autonomy and freedom. Harming the environment is thus irrational and immoral
  • > Exploitation of the environment cannot be universalised (contradiction in nature)
19
Q

Advantages of Virtue Ethics

A
  • > Humans are superior
  • > Focusses on the intent rather than the consequence
  • > Consistent with conservative views on the environment
20
Q

Modern Natural Law

A
  • > Practical rationality: the reason for action is the basic goods inscribed in human nature
  • > Finnis: This is freedom, peace and friendship
  • > Davidson: Can be applied to non-human things, so they also have goods which needs to be respected
21
Q

Scruton

A
  • > Agrees with Aristotle

- > Animals should not be treated in a way that will tend humans to the vices

22
Q

Buddhism/Hinduism

A

Importance of ahimsa: non-violence towards all things

23
Q

Advantages with Kantian Ethics

A
  • > Supports conservatism (shallow ecology)
  • > Gives rights to animals
  • > Absolutist (consistent theory, albeit unclear)
24
Q

Sartre

A
  • > The environment has no intrinsic value

- > Animals are a sentient being like humans. To do against them is to commit bad faith

25
Q

Aristotle

A
  • > Hierarchy in nature: vegetative/appetitive/rational
  • > Look after the environment to benefit humans
  • > Cultivate virtues in the way in which we treat the environment
26
Q

Disadvantages of utilitarianism

A
  • > Tyranny of the majority issues
  • > Cost-benefit analysis issues
  • > Plants have rights too (deep ecology)
27
Q

Disadvantages of Virtue Ethics

A
  • > It is possible for a virtuous person to do a bad thing
  • > How are we to decide what virtues to apply
  • > Aristotle’s notion of phronesis (practical wisdom) is impossible when considering the environment
  • > Is Virtue Ethics merely cultural relativism?
28
Q

Disadvantages of Situation Ethics

A
  • > Impractical
  • > Is our love more important than the love of animals
  • > No consistency of an approach
  • > Is it possible to treat the environment in a relative manner ? You would need an accurate assessment of facts
29
Q

Disadvantages with Kantian Ethics

A

Regan: Ethical theory only applies to conscious beings, but what about humans with different level of consciousness? Should they only be treated with instrumental value ?

  • > Is the approach too theoretical and not practical enough ? What are we supposed to do ?
  • > It is absolutist
30
Q

Husbandry

A

We should care for the environment as God cares for us

31
Q

Mill

A

-> Higher pleasure: enjoy the natural world

32
Q

Advantages of Situation Ethics

A
  • > Sweeping generalisations may promote more harm than good
  • > Exercising compassion for humans over nature seems consistent with the view of Dominion (largely rejected)
33
Q

Heidegger

A
  • > Beings are central
  • > Phenomenologist: The only things we know come from our experience
  • > Humans have come to view nature as a giant resource to be exploited

Applied Ethics (2 decks)

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