Environmental Ethics

Environmental ethics is the discipline that studies the moral relationship of human beings to, and the value and moral status of, the environment and its nonhuman contents. Like all philosophical debates, theories of environmental ethics are numerous, varied, and often diametrically opposed.

Most of these theories seek to assign a system of value to all things existing in Nature in a relevant manner. Herein lies the problem. Relevance to whom? By whom? For whom? Relevant when? Relevant why? Relevant how? Relevant where? Relevant in part? Relevant in sum? In situations of competing relevance, who makes the determination? Using what criteria? Is the hierarchal value of criteria stable or flexible? Does the ends justify the means? Or is existence justification in and of itself?

Are human beings the jewel of creation with complete dominion over nature and the right to exploit its resources unreservedly? As we have discussed in class, human beings are, by definition, a part of Nature. Their tools are natural. They interact with, and modify other elements of Nature like all other species. Bacteria and insects exert on Nature far more influence with farther reaching consequences than Man has ever done. What is so distinctive about humankind that human beings are considered to have moral status but non-humans and nature do not?

Is anthropocentrism imbedded in the “dominant western view”, or “the western superethic”, or “human chauvinism” as Routley claims? Is it blind class “loyalty” or prejudice which unjustifiably discriminates against those outside the privileged class? Do nonhuman objects in the environment have intrinsic value, a value which is independent of their usefulness for humans?

If we grant moral status to animals as holders of interests do we also consider trees, forests, rivers, fungi, or fleas as having interests of a morally relevant kind?

Is there intrinsic and extrinsic value in intangibles like the beauty of a sunset, fall foliage, snow on pristine mountains, or in an ecstatic event which a humanbeing may experience in natural, wild areas of nature.

Should humankind consider the "rights" of other beings and of nature as a whole in determining a least harmful course of action?