Lec 4: The Kantian approach and beyond

Question 1

According to Timermann, why is it wrong for us to use animals, but not for animals to mistreat us?

Answer 1

It is wrong to treat others as a mere mean, BECAUSE you are misusing your rational/cognitive faculties in doing so.

Animals do not have cognitive faculties, thus they are not misusing them.

Question 2

What do kantian ethics and utilitarianism agree on?

Answer 2

they both agree that non-sentient and non-living things do not have moral standing.

Question 3

Arne Naess is a proponent of …

Answer 3

deep ecology

Question 4

what is the goal of shallow ecology

Answer 4

the health and affluence of people in developed countries

Question 5

what are the concerns of deep ecology?

Answer 5

diversity, complexity, autonomy, decentralization, symbiosis, egalitarianism, classlessness

Question 6

What are the 3 main points of shallow ecology?

Answer 6

1) it is anthropocentric
2) it is atomistic (parts constitute a whole)
3) it is an ideology of economic growth (nature is only valuable in that it contributes to people’s health and wealth)

Question 7

Compare shallow and deep ecology

Answer 7

shallow:

• anthropocentric
• sees environment as separate parts of a whole
• intrinsic value in humans only
• simplistic
• hierarchical
• ideology of economic growth

deep ecology:

• non-anthropocentric
• holistic, sees environment as interconnected parts
• complex
• egalitarian
• ideology of sustainable ecology