Environmental Ethics China’s sustainable development - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Environmental Ethics

China’s sustainable development

Guo

Ru

Ph.D

.

CESE,

Tongji

University

ruguo@tongji.edu.cn

Slide2

OutlineReviewEcocentrism

Slide3

ReviewDescribe the meaning of ethicsDescribe the meaning of environmental ethics

Explain the differences between ethics and environmental ethics

Slide4

Ethics vs Environmental EthicsEthics : A major branch of

philosophy that includes a set of principles of right conduct

. Environmental ethics : is concerned with the moral relations that hold between humans and the natural world.

Slide5

Differences between Traditional Ethics and Environmental Ethics

Traditional Ethics

Environmental Ethics

Back-

ground

Racial liberation, women liberation, etc.

Environmental crisis & movement

Range of moral standing

Within human being

Out of human being, within Species, ecological system

Ideology

Anthropocentrism

Nonanthropocentrism

Nature

’

s value

Instrumental value

Intrinsic value

Slide6

Ecocentric and Anthropocentric worldview

In the field of

environmental ethics, two contrasting worldviews describe the extremes on a continuum (moral line). Ecocentric or “nature-centred

” Nature is more important.Anthropocentric

or “human-centred”.Human is more important.

Slide7

The ways of seeing the world greatly influence our decision making and related actions!

Slide8

Case

Discussion DDT case

Topic: Who is responsible for harm caused by DDT? How should we do?Requirement: each group (3-4 people) select one stakeholder and give your answer on behalf of this stakeholder(5 minutes)

Summary: 2 minutesQ&A: 1 minute

Slide9

DDT

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, commonly known as DDT, is a powerful insecticide that combats the vectors of human disease and crop pests. DDT was first used in World War II to combat infectious disease in humans, but its main use was as a pesticide.

Paul Hermann Müller who discovered insecticidal properties of DDT was awarded Nobel Prize in1948.Problems with DDT arose when it was discovered that the compound is stable and fat soluble, which means that it accumulates in animal fat tissue and becomes more and more concentrated in the offspring of infected species. Thus, It can greatly disturb ecological balance.

Slide10

The Effect of DDT on Ecosystems

E.g.,

DDT in Lake Kariba (Zimbabwe, Zambia)

Slide11

QuestionsWho is responsible for harm caused by DDT? Why?

Governor?Scientist?

Chemical company?Farmer?consumer who ask for too much?Others?How should we do?

Slide12

Case summaryThe root of environmental crisis lies in the behavior of human being.The ideology and related actions can greatly influence the whole world.

Slide13

Ecocentrism

Slide14

What is Ecocentrism?

Ecocentrism : a philosophy that recognizes that the ecosphere, rather than any individual organism, is the source and support of all life and as such advises a

holistic and ecological approach to government, industry, and individual.

Slide15

Aldo Leopold (1887-1948)A forester, conservationist, ecologist

The first one to call for a rethinking of ethics in light of ecology. A Sand County Almanac (1949)

a watershed event in the history of environmental thought

Slide16

Leopold’s early research

In his early research, Leopold was to game management.Game Management (1933) :game species such as deer were

“resources” or “crops”.His early opinion regarding predators : varmints

Slide17

The change to ecocentric viewLeopold found the problems with the conservationist approach to nature after field experiences and research.

A mere object cannot be manipulated for human ends without repercussions. The overpopulation of deer herds after killing predators

An ecological conscience that reorganizes an intrinsic worth in natural systems was developed and presented by Leopold then.

Slide18

Thinking like a mountainOur belief that the earth is dead matter arises in part from our inability to recognize the

“enormously slow, intricate, and interrelated functions” of its life process.Our shortsightedness was more likely to harm than to help the balance of nature.

Slide19

Land ethicsThe story of Odysseus

He hanged a dozen of his women slaves for misbehavior because slaves were understood as property at his time.Since that time ethics has evolved to a point where moral standing is extended to all human beings. And the land ethics is Leopold

’s call to continue this extension of ethics to include land, plants and animals.

Slide20

Land ethicsMan had an obligation to the land

rather than a dominion over itEthics holism: community (land) outweighs individual

Land as organism

Slide21

Leopold’s moral rule

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.”

Slide22

Leopold’s version of holism

Ethical holism: Right and wrong are a function of the well-being of the community, not of its constituent members.A practical reason: failure of more individualistic thinking.To think only in terms of individual plants and animals often leads to risky land management policies.

Slide23

Criticisms on the Land EthicsEthics holism: Environmental fascism

When deer overpopulation threatens the stability of the herd or the integrity of an entire ecosystems within which the deer live, we might have an obligation to selectively kill individual deer.What happens if humans harm the integrity of an ecosystem?

Slide24

Deep Ecology

Slide25

DescriptionDeep ecology refers primarily to the approach to environmental issues

developed by Naess,Bill Devall,and George Sessions.Deep ecology indicts what is calls the dominant worldview as being responsible for environmental destruction.

Slide26

Shallow Ecology and Deep Ecology(1973)Shallow Ecology: fight against pollution and resource depletion

An anthropocentric approach protecting the health and affluence of the people.Focus on the immediate effects of environmental crisisDeep Ecology: a relational, total-field perspective, rejecting the anthropocentric approach

Focus on deep philosophical causesWhat’s the difference?

Slide27

QuestionWhat’s the mainstream perspective now？ Shallow or deep

？

Slide28

A cure for the environmental crisis can come only with a radical change in our philosophical outlook.This change involves both personal and cultural transformations and would affect basic economic and ideological structures.

Slide29

How to step outside our personal and cultural worldview or ideology and alternate it to something radically different?

Deep ecologists use a variety of strategies.Poetry, Buddhism, spiritualism, political activism via civil disobedience and ecosabotage.

Slide30

Arne Naess (1912-)A Norwegian philosopher

Founder of Deep EcologyDirect action1970, Arne Naess chained himself to rocks in front of a waterfall in a Norwegian fjord and refused to descend until plans to build a dam were dropped.

What’s your comment to

Naess’s action?

Slide31

The Deep Ecology PlatformDeep ecologists believe that a radical transformation in our worldview is necessary. Thus they proceed in two directions:

The types of changes neededSeek to develop and articulate an alternative philosophy to replace the dominant worldview.

Slide32

The Deep Ecology PlatformUltimate norms

Principles: Deep Ecology Platform8 rules

Slide33

Two Ultimate Norms of Deep Ecology

Self-realizationThe role of human life is one part of the ecosphere.

No one is saved until we are all saved.Biocentric equalityAll organisms and entities in the ecosphere, as parts of the interrelated whole, are equal in intrinsic worth.

Slide34

8 rules of Deep Ecology Platform

(1) The flourishing of human and non-human life on earth has intrinsic value. The value of non-human life forms is

independent of the usefulness these may have for narrow purposes.(2) Richness and diversity of life-forms are values in themselves and contribute to the flourishing of human and non-human life on earth.

(3) Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital needs;(4) Present human interference with the non-human world is excessive

, and the situation is rapidly worsening

Slide35

8 rules of Deep Ecology Platform

(5) The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with a substantial decrease of the human population. The flourishing of non-human life requires such a decrease.

(6) Significant change of life conditions for the better requires change in policies. These affect basic economic, technological, and ideological structure.(7) The ideological change is mainly that of appreciating life quality (dwelling in situations of intrinsic value) rather than adhering to a high standard of living. There will be a profound awareness of the difference between

big and great.

(8) Those who subscribe to the foregoing points have an obligation directly or indirectly to participate in the attempt to implement the necessary changes.

Slide36

Criticisms on Deep EcologyIt has overgeneralized in its critique of anthropocentrism and the dominant worldview. Not all humans and not all human perspectives are equally at fault for environmental problems.

Not very helpful to the environmental concerns of peoples of developing countries

Slide37

Any Questions or Comments?

Slide38

Thank you!