- "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."
The study of ethical issues related to the environment, including our moral obligations to the environment and to future generations.
Introduction to Environmental Ethics: This topic gives you an overview of what environmental ethics is all about, its scope, and importance.
Anthropocentrism: This is the ethical view that prioritizes human needs and interests over the environment and non-human life forms.
Biocentrism: This is the ethical view that considers all living organisms, including plants and animals, to be equally valuable.
Ecocentrism: This is the ethical view that recognizes the intrinsic value of the environment as a whole, rather than just the components that make it up.
Environmental Justice: This topic explores the fair and equitable distribution of environmental benefits and costs among different groups of people.
Sustainable Development: This is the concept of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Environmentalism: This refers to the philosophical and social movement that advocates for the protection and preservation of the natural environment.
Media and the Environment: This topic explores the relationship between media communications and the environment, including issues of representation and framing.
Climate Change: This topic covers the scientific, political, and ethical dimensions of climate change and its impact on the natural environment and human society.
Consumption and Consumerism: This topic explores the impact of our consumption patterns and consumer culture on the environment.
Environmental Policy: This topic covers the legal and political frameworks that govern environmental protection and management.
Ethics and Technology: This topic examines the ethical implications of technological advances for the environment and society.
Environmental Ethics and Religion: This topic explores the role of religion, spirituality, and ethics in shaping attitudes and behaviors towards the environment.
Environmental Ethics and Economics: This topic examines the relationship between economic systems and the environment, including the ethical dimensions of alternative economic models.
Environmental Ethics and Animals: This topic explores the ethical considerations involved in human interaction with animals and nature.
Environmental Ethics and Biodiversity: This topic examines the importance of biodiversity for human welfare and the ethical issues raised by its loss.
Environmental Ethics and Environmental Education: This topic explores the role of education in shaping attitudes, values, and behaviors towards the environment.
Environmental Ethics and Social Movements: This topic examines the advocacy and activism efforts of various social movements in the context of environmental ethics.
Anthropocentrism: This is the belief that humans are the most important entities in the universe and that their well-being should be given priority over that of other living beings and the environment.
Ecocentrism: This is the belief that emphasizes the intrinsic value and rights of nature and ecosystems independent of human interests. It suggests that humans should view themselves as part of the larger natural world and take care to preserve the environment.
Biocentrism: This is the belief that all living things have inherent value and should be protected, including non-human animals and plants. This ethics argues that humans should accept that they are not the only living beings that matter and cannot use other living beings for their own benefits.
Deep Ecology: This is a philosophical and ecological movement that recognizes the interconnectedness of all living beings and the environment. It emphasizes the intrinsic value of nature and advocates for the preservation of biodiversity, creation of sustainable communities, and reduction of human impact on the environment.
Ecofeminism: This is a philosophical and social movement that explores the intersection of feminism and environmentalism. It argues that the domination and exploitation of women by men is connected to the domination and exploitation of nature by humans. It suggests that a shift towards a more equal and respectful relationship with nature could be achieved by overcoming patriarchy oppression.
Eco-Socialism: This is an ethical and political movement that advocates for the democratization of the economy and the elimination of capitalism as a means to achieve ecological sustainability. It argues that capitalism is inherently incompatible with environmental protection because of its emphasis on economic growth and profit maximization.
Animal Rights: This is a belief that non-human animals deserve certain basic rights such as the right to life, freedom from pain and suffering, and freedom from exploitation and abuse. This ethics recognizes animals as sentient beings and argues that they should be treated with the same respect and dignity as humans.
- "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."