Environmental Issues Flashcards
What is environmental ethics
An area of philosophy which considers the moral relationship human rights have with other animals and the environment
Stewardship
idea that God has given humanity the task of looking after the world
conservation
the idea that humanity should protect natural resources and the environment and maintain them
Secular
unconnected with or independent of religion
pantheism
the view that God is everywhere in nature
The Crownwall alliance
argues for stewardship but is against environmentalism
Deep ecology
Belief that humans and non human species are equal and integral elements of the global system.
Advocated by Erne Naesss
What does deep ecology argue
- radically reduce earth’s population
- abandon all goals of economic growth
- converse diversity of species
- minimise our impact on environment
Shallow ecology
Focuses on conservation, values the environment but not the same extent as deep ecology
What does shallow ecology argue
- biodiversity needs to be sustained because planta can provide essential medicine
- rainforest should be preserved
- aim to prevent excitation of species.
Concepts of dominion and stewardship on animals
- humans in the world are starving
- humans are more important than animals
- humans are objects of moral concerne whereas animals are not part of the moral community
- there are no situations in which the death of a human species is less important than the death of an animal
Speciesism
Assumption that human beings are the superior species
What does peter singer argue
Because we dont kil or eat or experiment on babies or adults in a coma, we should extend the same respect to animals, if we have the same responsibility to weaker humans then we should have a responsibility to animals
