Reading Notes Flashcards
The Land Ethic (Aldo Leopold)
Key Concept: Humans are part of the biotic community and must act as responsible members rather than conquerors.
Definition: “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”
Main Ideas:
Ethical responsibility extends to land, plants, animals, and ecosystems.
Shift from anthropocentric (human-centered) to biocentric (life-centered) perspectives.
Interconnection: Aligns with deep ecology principles that emphasize the intrinsic value of all life forms.
restoring the balance (scharper)
Key Concept: Achieving harmony between human development and ecological preservation through an anthropo-harmonic ethic.
Themes:
Indigenous knowledge systems provide models of coexistence with nature.
Calls for integrating ecological integrity into political, economic, and cultural frameworks.
Interconnection: Aligns with the Honourable Harvest by emphasizing restraint, reciprocity, and gratitude.
the obligation to endure (rachel carson)
Key Concept: Modern industrial society has introduced irreversible changes to the environment through chemical pollutants.
Themes:
Environmental degradation from synthetic pesticides and industrial chemicals.
Need for informed public action and stricter environmental regulation.
Interconnection: Highlights the failure of anthropocentric models to account for long-term ecological impacts.
Example: Regulation of DDT after public awareness raised by Carson’s work
gaia hypothesis (tim lenton and james lovelock)
Key Concept: Earth operates as a self-regulating system where living organisms interact with the environment to maintain conditions conducive to life.
Key Mechanisms:
Feedback loops (e.g., CO2 regulation via vegetation and oceans).
Role of biodiversity in stabilizing planetary systems.
Interconnection: Reinforces the need for systemic ecological thinking, as promoted in the Earth Charter and deep ecology.
Example: Coral reefs acting as both biodiversity hotspots and carbon sinks.
Oceans Flowing (World Scientists’ Warning)
Key Concept: Oceans play a critical role in regulating Earth’s climate but face severe threats from overfishing, acidification, and pollution.
Solutions:
Marine protected areas to preserve biodiversity.
Reduction of plastic waste and transition to sustainable fishing practices.
Interconnection: Aligns with the Gaia hypothesis in recognizing the ocean’s role in planetary regulation.
Vandana Shiva’s Call for Earth Democracy
Key Concept: Challenges industrial agriculture and corporate exploitation of natural resources.
Themes:
Importance of seed sovereignty and traditional farming practices.
Connection between biodiversity, food security, and cultural integrity.
Interconnection: Builds on the Honourable Harvest’s principles of reciprocity and minimizing harm.
Ripple effects (world scientists’ warning)
Key Concept: Urgent need for systemic changes to avoid ecological tipping points.
Key Findings:
Rising greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation threaten climate stability.
Positive feedback loops (e.g., Arctic ice melt) accelerate global warming.
Solutions:
Transition to renewable energy.
Large-scale reforestation efforts.
Interconnection: Aligns with green growth models that aim to decouple economic development from environmental degradation.
What is the main idea of Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic?
A) Humans are conquerors of the land.
B) Ethical responsibility extends to the entire biotic community.
C) Nature exists solely for human benefit.
D) Land management should prioritize economic output.
Answer: B
According to Rachel Carson’s “The Obligation to Endure,” what is the main threat posed by industrial society?
A) Increased biodiversity
B) Irreversible environmental changes caused by chemical pollutants
C) Decline in economic growth
D) Overproduction of food
Answer: B
What does the Gaia Hypothesis propose?
A) Earth operates as a self-regulating system.
B) Biodiversity has no impact on climate stability.
C) Human activities have minimal influence on planetary systems.
D) Earth’s systems function independently without feedback loops.
Answer: A
What is a key principle of the Honourable Harvest, as described by Robin Wall Kimmerer?
A) Take only what you need and minimize harm.
B) Maximize resource extraction for human benefit.
C) Focus solely on technological advancements.
D) Ignore ecological limits in resource use.
Answer: A
Which concept emphasizes harmony between human development and ecological preservation?
A) Anthropo-harmonic ethic
B) Anthropocentric worldview
C) Industrial capitalism
D) Linear economic growth
Answer: A
What is the main focus of Vandana Shiva’s Earth Democracy?
A) Corporate control of resources
B) Seed sovereignty and traditional farming practices
C) Industrial-scale agriculture
D) Reducing biodiversity
Answer:B
How do positive feedback loops contribute to climate change?
A) They stabilize global temperatures.
B) They amplify the effects of warming (e.g., Arctic ice melt).
C) They reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
D) They slow down ecological degradation.
Answer: B
What is one proposed solution to the threats facing the ocean, according to “Oceans Flowing”?
A) Increased plastic production
B) Creation of marine protected areas
C) Expanding deep-sea fishing
D) Ignoring acidification impacts
Answer: B
The ripple effects discussed in “World Scientists’ Warning” refer to:
A) Stabilization of ecosystems
B) Accelerated changes due to ecological tipping points
C) Gradual decline in biodiversity
D) Minimal human impact on climate systems
Answer: B
