- "Environmental ethics is an established field of practical philosophy... Ethics exerts influence on a large range of disciplines including environmental law, environmental sociology, ecotheology, ecological economics, ecology and environmental geography."
Covers topics such as environmental values, environmental philosophy, environmental theology, animal rights, and moral dilemmas.
Ecocentrism: A philosophical viewpoint that values the natural world as inherently valuable, rather than just as a resource for human use.
Anthropocentrism: A belief that human beings should be the central or most important moral concern.
Environmental Justice: A social movement that seeks to ensure that no group or community bears an unfair burden of environmental pollution and other hazards.
Sustainability: The ability to maintain a certain rate or level of economic or social development, without depleting natural resources or degrading the environment.
Climate Change: Changes in the Earth's climate, including temperatures, precipitation, and sea levels, that are caused by human activity and are having significant impacts on natural environments and human societies.
Biodiversity: The variety of living organisms, including the diversity of species, genes, and ecosystems, that are found on Earth.
Environmental Ethics: A branch of philosophy that examines the moral and ethical aspects of human interactions with the environment, including questions of value, obligation, responsibility, and justice.
Natural Resource Management: The process of managing natural resources, including land, water, minerals, forests, and wildlife, in a way that balances economic, social, and environmental concerns.
Environmental Policy: The set of laws, regulations, and guidelines that govern environmental issues, including pollution, resource conservation, and climate change.
Environmental Philosophy: A field of philosophy that explores the relationship between humans and the environment, including questions about our moral obligations to the natural world.
Green Politics: A political ideology that focuses on ecological issues, advocating for policies and practices that promote sustainability, environmental protection, and social justice.
Environmental Economics: A field of economics that studies the relationship between economic activity and the environment, including the costs and benefits of environmental policies and regulations.
Environmental Education: The process of educating people about the natural environment, including its value, importance, and the impact of human activities on it.
Ecological Footprint: A measure of the impact that human activities have on the environment, taking into account the amount of resources and energy used, as well as the amount of waste and pollution generated.
Environmental Geography: A branch of geography that studies the spatial relationships between humans and the natural environment, including the impact of human activities on ecosystems and landscapes.
Anthropocentrism: This type of environmental ethics places human interests at the center of all environmental decision-making. Humans are seen as the most important species on the planet, and their needs and desires are prioritized over all other living beings.
Biocentrism: In this ethics, all living beings are considered equal in terms of importance, with no species taking precedence over another. Biocentrism also tends to advocate for the protection of ecosystems and natural habitats, as well as promoting biodiversity.
Ecocentrism: This type of environmental ethics emphasizes the interconnectedness and interdependence of all living things.By valuing the health of the entire ecosystem, rather than individual species, ecocentrism advocates for the protection and restoration of natural habitats and ecosystems.
Deep ecology: Deep ecology is a type of ecocentrism that emphasizes spiritual and philosophical connections to the natural world. It considers humans as a part of the ecosystem, rather than above it, and encourages the preservation and restoration of natural environments.
Environmental pragmatism: This theory focuses on practical solutions to environmental issues rather than abstract ideals or philosophical beliefs. Environmental pragmatists argue that environmental protection should be based on the best available scientific evidence and practical solutions.
Social ecology: This type of environmental ethics considers the social and political systems that contribute to environmental issues. Social ecology advocates for a more equitable distribution of resources and power, and emphasizes the importance of community-based actions and decision-making.
Ecofeminism: Ecofeminism connects environmental issues to feminism and social justice, highlighting the ways in which environmental degradation and exploitation disproportionately affect women and marginalized communities. It advocates for a more inclusive and holistic approach to environmental ethics that recognizes and values the interconnectedness of social and environmental issues.
Green conservatism: This is an approach that blends traditional conservative values with environmental protection. The focus is on conservation of natural resources and non-intervention in natural systems.
- "The main competing paradigms are anthropocentrism, physiocentrism (called ecocentrism as well), and theocentrism."
- "These decisions raise numerous questions."
- "Should humans continue to clear cut forests for the sake of human consumption?"
- "Why should humans continue to propagate its species, and life itself?"
- "Should humans continue to make gasoline-powered vehicles?"
- "What environmental obligations do humans need to keep for future generations?"
- "Is it right for humans to knowingly cause the extinction of a species for the convenience of humanity?"
- "How should humans best use and conserve the space environment to secure and expand life?"
- "What role can Planetary Boundaries play in reshaping the human-earth relationship?"
- "The academic field of environmental ethics grew up in response to the works of Rachel Carson and Murray Bookchin and events such as the first Earth Day in 1970..."
- "Two papers published in Science had a crucial impact: Lynn White's 'The Historical Roots of our Ecologic Crisis'... and Garrett Hardin's 'The Tragedy of the Commons'..."
- "An essay by Aldo Leopold in his A Sand County Almanac, called 'The Land Ethic,' in which Leopold explicitly claimed that the roots of the ecological crisis were philosophical."
- "The first international academic journals in this field emerged from North America in the late 1970s and early 1980s..."
- "The US-based journal Environmental Ethics in 1979..."
- "The Canadian-based journal The Trumpeter: Journal of Ecosophy in 1983."
- "The first British-based journal of this kind, Environmental Values, was launched in 1992."