- "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."
Environmental ethics is the branch of philosophy that deals with ethical questions related to the environment. It explores questions about the moral obligation to protect the natural world, the value of nonhuman organisms, and the relationship between humans and the environment.
Anthropocentrism: This is the idea that humans are the center of the universe and therefore have the most value, and is a key concept when discussing environmental ethics.
Biocentrism: This is the idea that all living things have value, not just humans.
Ecocentrism: This concept focuses on the value of ecosystems in their entirety, rather than on individual species or people.
Environmental justice: This refers to the equitable treatment of all people when it comes to environmental issues.
Sustainability: This is the idea that we must work to maintain our resources for future generations.
Climate change: This is a pressing issue in environmental ethics, as it is directly tied to human behavior and its impact on the planet.
Environmental economics: This is the study of the economic impact of environmental issues.
Environmental policy: This is the study of the regulations and laws that govern environmental issues.
Environmental education: This is education about environmental ethics, with the goal of increasing awareness and promoting responsible behavior towards the environment.
Pollution: This topic involves the impact of human behavior on the environment, including the production of pollution and other harmful substances.
Biodiversity: This refers to the variety of life on Earth, and the importance of preserving it.
Conservation: This involves the preservation of natural resources and the protection of species and ecosystems.
Animal rights: This is the concept that animals have rights and should be treated fairly and compassionately.
Land use: This involves the responsible use and management of land, and the impact of human behavior on it.
Corporate responsibility: This concept involves holding companies accountable for their environmental impact, and promoting responsible behavior among corporations.
Ethics of consumption: This involves the ethical implications of our choices as consumers, especially as they relate to the environment.
Environmental ethics and religion: This involves the relationship between religious beliefs and environmentalism.
Wilderness: This is the concept of preserving wild spaces and the protection of the natural world.
Environmental history: This is the study of the impact of human history on the environment and the influence of the environment on human history.
Environmental sociology and psychology: These fields involve the study of human behavior and its impact on the environment, including attitudes towards the environment and the role of social and cultural factors in environmental behavior.
Anthropocentrism: This approach sees human welfare as the most important factor in environmental decision-making. It places human beings at the center of environmental issues and advocates for the protection of the environment only if it benefits human beings.
Biocentrism: This approach places equal importance on all living organisms and ecosystems. It is a holistic approach that attempts to address environmental problems by considering the intrinsic value of all living things.
Ecofeminism: This approach is based on the belief that women and the environment have historically been oppressed under patriarchal structures, and that the liberation of women and the environment are interconnected. It seeks to replace the hierarchical and exploitative relationship between humans and nature with one that is cooperative and mutually beneficial.
Deep Ecology: This approach is centered on the idea that humans are interconnected with all other forms of life and that all living things have intrinsic value. It advocates for a radical shift in human consciousness and behavior to address environmental problems.
Social Ecology: This approach emphasizes the interdependence of environmental problems and social issues. It advocates for a social revolution that will lead to a more ecologically sustainable society.
Environmental Justice: This approach is concerned with the disproportionate burdens that low-income and communities of color bear in relation to environmental pollution and degradation. It seeks to address these injustices and promote environmental equity.
Conservation Ethics: This approach sees the environment as a resource to be managed for the benefit of present and future generations. It advocates for sustainable use of natural resources through practices such as conservation and restoration.
Animal Welfare Ethics: This approach is concerned with the well-being of animals and advocates for the humane treatment of animals in all human practices, including farming, research, and entertainment.
- "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."