Lecture 2: Environmental Science and Ethics

Question 1

Science

Answer 1

a systematic process for learning about the world and testing our understanding of it

Question 2

Scientific Method

Answer 2

Scientist makes an observation and asks questions of some phenomenon

Creates a hypothesis: a statement that tries to explain the question

Hypothesis generates predictions: specific statements that can be directly tested

The test results either support or reject the hypothesis (NOT PROVE)

Question 3

Fact

Answer 3

readily observable evidence

Question 4

Theory

Answer 4

probable cause and effect relationships of the evidence that has been observed
1) must be repeatedly tested through variety of hypotheses
2) well tested and widely accepted
3) will never be definitively proven
examples (evolution, climate change, relativity, the big bang)

Question 5

Law

Answer 5

indisputable principles that govern the universe, must be very sound or sometimes mathematical equations
example (thermodynamics)

Question 6

Paradigm Shift

Answer 6

a dramatic upheaval in thought that changes the dominant viewpoint

Question 7

Morals

Answer 7

an individual’ or society’s distinction between right and wrong

Question 8

Ethics

Answer 8

a system of moral principles (criteria that help differentiate right from wrong)

Question 9

Environmental Ethics

Answer 9

application of ethical standards to relationships between human and nonhuman entities
*hard to resolve because everyone has different ethical standards

Question 9

Opinion

Answer 9

a personal belief or judgement
what we shoulddd do

Question 10

Ecological Footprint

Answer 10

the environmental impact of a person or population
the are of biologically productive land and water
to supply raw resources and to dispose and recycle
rich nations and people residing there have much greater ecological footprints

Question 11

GDP

Answer 11

Gross domestic product (how much we make)

Question 12

GPI

Answer 12

Genuine Progress Indicator (our wellbeing)

Question 13

Domination of Nature

Answer 13

Environmental Management Strategy
used by early European Americans, control of nature to improve the human condition

nature exists purely for our benefit

Question 14

Altruistic Preservation

Answer 14

“in wilderness is the preservation of the world” exclusion of resources to various degrees
example (national parks)

Question 15

Resource Utilitarian Conservation

Answer 15

use of resources for the greatest good of the largest number over the longest time.. May result in tragedy of the commons: if ppl have unlimited access to finite resources, they tend to overuse it and deplete its value? Essentially what is the maximum we can take without wrecking the environment, can result in tragedy of commons when the entities produce for us and can still be biologically happy and healthy, it could be miscalculating the maximum sustainable yield and accidentally overuse it.

Question 16

ecological management

Answer 16

something is right when it tends to improve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise. The idea that you’re looking at the entire ecology of the system and able to understand how much resources we can glean from that and still have a functioning biological community.

Question 17

the tragedy of the commons

Answer 17

we overuse that resource to the point that the environment suffers, miscalculate maximum sustainable yield