Environmental Ethics An Invitation to Environmental Philosophy

by Des Jardins, Joseph R.

• ISBN13: 9780534519667
• ISBN10: 0534519660
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-10-11
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

The text serves as an introduction to ethical theory as it applies to environmental issues and as a casebook on contemporary problems of science, industry, and individual decision-making. It provides a readable, yet philosophically careful survey of the field of environmental ethics. It is comprehensive, covering topics from the relevance of Aristotle's ethics for environmental issues to Deep Ecology and Ecofeminism.

Author Biography

Joseph R. Des Jardins (Ph.D., University of Notre Dame) teaches in the Philosophy Department formed jointly by the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
PART I Basic Concepts	1	(36)
Science, Ethics, and the Environment	2	(13)
Discussion: Technological Solutions to Environmental Problems	2	(3)
Introduction: Why Philosophy?	5	(2)
Science and Ethics	7	(4)
What is Environmental Ethics?	11	(2)
Summary and Conclusions	13	(2)
Notes, Discussion Questions, and Further Reading	13	(2)
Ethical Theory and the Environment	15	(22)
Discussion: Individual Rights and Social Goods	15	(2)
Introduction	17	(2)
Why Ethical Theory?	19	(1)
Ethical Relativism	20	(2)
Natural Law---The Tradition of Teleology	22	(4)
The Utilitarian Tradition	26	(3)
Deontology: An Ethics of Duty and Rights	29	(2)
Social Justice and Property Rights	31	(3)
Summary and Conclusions	34	(3)
Notes, Discussion Questions, and Further Reading	34	(3)
PART II Environmental Ethics as Applied Ethics	37	(90)
Ethics and Economics: The Cases of Forests and Pollution	38	(29)
Discussion: Development Versus Preservation	38	(2)
Introduction	40	(1)
Forests: Conservation or Preservation?	41	(2)
Managing the National Forests	43	(5)
Pollution and Economics	48	(3)
Ethical Issues in Economic Analysis	51	(2)
Cost-Benefit Analysis	53	(2)
Ethical Analysis and Environmental Economics	55	(5)
Sustainable Economics	60	(2)
Summary and Conclusions	62	(5)
Notes, Discussion Questions, and Further Reading	63	(4)
Responsibilities to Future Generations: Population and Consumption	67	(26)
Discussion: Population and Consumption	67	(2)
Introduction	69	(1)
Population, Consumption, and Ethics	69	(3)
Do We Have Responsibilitis to Future Generations?	72	(4)
Responsibilities to the Future: Utilitarian Happiness	76	(3)
Responsibilities to the Future: The Rights of Future People	79	(3)
Responsibilities to the Future: Caring for the Future	82	(4)
Do We Consume Too Much?	86	(2)
Conclusion: Sustainable Living---Now and in the Future	88	(5)
Notes, Discussion Questions, and Further Reading	89	(4)
Responsibilities to the Natural World: From Anthropocentric to Nonanthropocentric Ethics	93	(19)
Discussion: Mass Extinctions	93	(2)
Introduction	95	(1)
Moral Standing in the Western Tradition	95	(3)
Early Environmental Ethics: Passmore and Blackstone	98	(5)
Moral Standing: The Recent Debate	103	(3)
Do Trees Have Standing?	106	(2)
Summary and Conclusions	108	(4)
Notes, Discussion Questions, and Further Reading	109	(3)
Responsibilities to the Natural World: The Case for Animals	112	(15)
Discussion: Animal Research and Factory Farming	112	(2)
Introduction	114	(1)
Peter Singer and the Animal Liberation Movement	114	(2)
Tom Regan and Animal Rights	116	(2)
Ethical Implications of Animal Welfare	118	(1)
Criticisms	119	(4)
Summary and Conclusions	123	(4)
Notes, Discussion Questions, and Further Reading	124	(3)
PART III Theories of Environmental Ethics	127	(135)
Biocentric Ethics and the Inherent Value of Life	128	(24)
Discussion: Biodiversity	128	(1)
Introduction	129	(2)
Instrumental Value and Instrinsic Value	131	(4)
Biocentric Ethics and the Reverence for Life	135	(2)
Ethics and Character	137	(2)
Taylor's Biocentric Ethics	139	(4)
Practical Implications	143	(2)
Challenges and Developments	145	(3)
Summary and Conclusions	148	(4)
Notes, Discussion Questions, and Further Reading	149	(3)
Ecology, Wilderness, and Ethics	152	(29)
Discussion: Fires and Wilderness Management: The Cases of Yellowstone and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness	152	(3)
Introduction	155	(1)
The Wilderness Ideal	156	(5)
The Wilderness ``Myth'': The Contemporary Debate	161	(6)
From Ecology to Philosophy	167	(7)
From Ecology to Ethics	174	(2)
Varieties of Holism	176	(1)
Summary and Conclusions	177	(4)
Notes, Discussion Questions, and Further Reading	178	(3)
The Land Ethic	181	(29)
Discussion: A Place for Predators	181	(3)
Introduction	184	(2)
The Land Ethic	186	(4)
Leopold's Holism	190	(2)
Criticisms of the Land Ethic: Facts and Values	192	(3)
Criticisms of the Land Ethic: Holistic Ethics	195	(6)
Callicott's Revisions	201	(5)
Summary and Conclusions	206	(4)
Notes, Discussion Questions, and Further Reading	206	(4)
Deep Ecology	210	(22)
Discussion: Environmental Activism: Legal and Illegal	210	(3)
Introduction	213	(1)
The Deep Ecology Platform	214	(1)
Ecology and Ecophilosophy	215	(2)
Metaphysical Ecology	217	(3)
From Metaphysics to Ethics	220	(4)
Self-Realization and Biocentric Equality	224	(3)
Criticisms	227	(2)
Summary and Conclusions	229	(3)
Notes, Discussion Questions, and Further Reading	229	(3)
Social Ecology and Ecofeminism	232	(30)
Discussion: The World Bank Memo and the Chipko Movement	232	(3)
Introduction	235	(2)
Theories of Social Justice	237	(3)
Environmental Justice and Environmental Racism	240	(3)
Murray Bookchin's Social Ecology	243	(3)
Critical Reflections	246	(3)
Ecofeminism: Making Connections	249	(4)
Ecofeminism: Recent Developments	253	(3)
Summary and Conclusions	256	(6)
Notes, Discussion Questions, and Further Reading	257	(5)
Epilogue Pluralism and Pragmatism	262	(11)
Index	273