Chapter 26

Chapter 26Chapter 26

Environmental Environmental Worldviews, Ethics, and Worldviews, Ethics, and

SustainabilitySustainability

Chapter Overview QuestionsChapter Overview Questions

What philosophies and religions can help us What philosophies and religions can help us decide how to value life and distinguish decide how to value life and distinguish between right and wrong environmental between right and wrong environmental behavior?behavior?

What human-centered environmental What human-centered environmental worldviews guide most industrial societies?worldviews guide most industrial societies?

What are some life-centered and earth-What are some life-centered and earth-centered environmental worldviews?centered environmental worldviews?

How can we live more sustainably?How can we live more sustainably?

Updates OnlineUpdates Online

The latest references for topics covered in this section can be found at The latest references for topics covered in this section can be found at the book companion website. Log in to the book’s e-resources page at the book companion website. Log in to the book’s e-resources page at www.thomsonedu.com to access InfoTrac articles. www.thomsonedu.com to access InfoTrac articles.

InfoTrac: The ethical dilemma of genetically modified food. Valeria InfoTrac: The ethical dilemma of genetically modified food. Valeria Jefferson. Jefferson. Journal of Environmental HealthJournal of Environmental Health, July-August 2006 v69 , July-August 2006 v69 i1 p33(2).i1 p33(2).

InfoTrac: Putting a Price Tag on the Planet. Lila Guterman. InfoTrac: Putting a Price Tag on the Planet. Lila Guterman. The The Chronicle of Higher EducationChronicle of Higher Education, April 7, 2006 v52 i31. , April 7, 2006 v52 i31.

InfoTrac: THE GREEN MACHINE. Marc Gunther. InfoTrac: THE GREEN MACHINE. Marc Gunther. FortuneFortune, August , August 7, 2006 v154 i3 p42 .7, 2006 v154 i3 p42 .

Scientific AmericanScientific American: Soccer Goes Green: Soccer Goes Green The Earth Charter InitiativeThe Earth Charter Initiative Common VisionCommon Vision

Core Case Study: Core Case Study: Biosphere 2 - A Lesson in HumilityBiosphere 2 - A Lesson in Humility

Biosphere 2, was designed to be self sustaining life-Biosphere 2, was designed to be self sustaining life-supporting system for eight people sealed in the supporting system for eight people sealed in the facility in 1991. The experiment failed because of a facility in 1991. The experiment failed because of a breakdown in its nutrient cycling systems.breakdown in its nutrient cycling systems.

Figure 26-1Figure 26-1

ENVIRONMENTAL WORLDVIEWS ENVIRONMENTAL WORLDVIEWS AND VALUESAND VALUES

Your environmental worldview encompasses:Your environmental worldview encompasses: How you think the world works. How you think the world works. What you believe your environmental role in the What you believe your environmental role in the

world should be.world should be. What you believe is right and wrong What you believe is right and wrong

environmental behavior.environmental behavior.

ENVIRONMENTAL WORLDVIEWS ENVIRONMENTAL WORLDVIEWS AND VALUESAND VALUES

Environmental worldviews lie on a continuum.Environmental worldviews lie on a continuum.


Fig. 26-2, p. 616

More holisticMore atomistic Biosphere- or Earth-centered

Ecosystem-centered

Biocentric (life-centered)Anthropocentric

(human-centered)Instrumental values play bigger role

Intrinsic values play bigger role

Self-centered

Environmentalwisdom

Stewardship

Planetarymanagement

HUMAN-CENTERED AND LIFE-HUMAN-CENTERED AND LIFE-CENTERED ENVIRONMENTAL CENTERED ENVIRONMENTAL

WORLDVIEWSWORLDVIEWS The major difference among environmental The major difference among environmental

worldviews is the emphasis they put on the worldviews is the emphasis they put on the role of humans dealing with environmental role of humans dealing with environmental problems.problems. Some view that humans are the planet’s most Some view that humans are the planet’s most

important species and should become managers important species and should become managers or stewards of the earth.or stewards of the earth.

Planetary Management

• We are apart from the rest of nature and can manage nature to meet our increasing needs and wants.

• Because of our ingenuity and technology we will not run out of resources.

• The potential for economic growth is essentially unlimited.

• Our success depends on how well we manage the earth's life support systems mostly for our benefit.

Stewardship

• We have an ethical responsibility to be caring managers, or stewards, of the earth.

• We will probably not run out of resources, but they should not be wasted.

• We should encourage environmentally beneficial forms of economic growth & discourage environmentally harmful forms.

• Our success depends on how well we manage the earth's life support systems for our benefit and for the rest of nature.

Environmental Wisdom

• We are a part of and totally dependent on nature and nature exists for all species.

• Resources are limited, should not be wasted, and are not all for us.

• We should encourage earth sustaining forms of economic growth & discourage earth degrading forms.

• Our success depends on learning how nature sustains itself and integrating such lessons from nature into the ways we think and act.

Fig. 26-3, p. 617

Environmental Worldviews

Environmental Worldviews: An Environmental Worldviews: An OverviewOverview

Some analysts doubt that we can effectively Some analysts doubt that we can effectively manage the earth because we do not have manage the earth because we do not have enough knowledge to do so.enough knowledge to do so.

Life-centeredLife-centered and and earth-centeredearth-centered environmental worldviews believe that we environmental worldviews believe that we have an ethical responsibility to prevent have an ethical responsibility to prevent degradation of the earth’s ecosystems, degradation of the earth’s ecosystems, biodiversity, and biosphere.biodiversity, and biosphere.

Environmental WorldviewsEnvironmental Worldviews

Deep ecology calls for us to think more Deep ecology calls for us to think more deeply about our obligations toward both deeply about our obligations toward both human and nonhuman life.human and nonhuman life.

Ecofeminist environmental worldview Ecofeminist environmental worldview believes that women should be given the believes that women should be given the same rights that men have in our joint quest same rights that men have in our joint quest to develop more environmentally sustainable to develop more environmentally sustainable and socially just societies.and socially just societies.

Shifts in Environmental Values and Shifts in Environmental Values and Worldviews: Worldviews:

Some Encouraging TrendsSome Encouraging Trends Global and national polls reveal a shift Global and national polls reveal a shift

towards the stewardship, environmental towards the stewardship, environmental wisdom, and deep ecology worldviews.wisdom, and deep ecology worldviews.

How Would You Vote?How Would You Vote?To conduct an instant in-class survey using a classroom response To conduct an instant in-class survey using a classroom response system, access “JoinIn Clicker Content” from the PowerLecture main system, access “JoinIn Clicker Content” from the PowerLecture main menu for Living in the Environment.menu for Living in the Environment.

Which one of the following comes closest to your Which one of the following comes closest to your environmental worldview: planetary management, environmental worldview: planetary management, stewardship, environmental wisdom, deep ecology, stewardship, environmental wisdom, deep ecology, ecofeminist?ecofeminist? a. Planetary managementa. Planetary management b. Stewartshipb. Stewartship c. Environmental wisdomc. Environmental wisdom d. Deep ecologyd. Deep ecology e. Ecofeministe. Ecofeminist f. Otherf. Other

Which Worldview Is More Likely to Which Worldview Is More Likely to Prove Correct?Prove Correct?

Using images of economic or ecological Using images of economic or ecological collapse can deter us from preventing or collapse can deter us from preventing or slowing environmental degradation.slowing environmental degradation.

How Would You Vote?How Would You Vote?To conduct an instant in-class survey using a classroom response To conduct an instant in-class survey using a classroom response system, access “JoinIn Clicker Content” from the PowerLecture main system, access “JoinIn Clicker Content” from the PowerLecture main menu for Living in the Environment. menu for Living in the Environment.

Do you believe there are physical and Do you believe there are physical and biological limits to human economic growth?biological limits to human economic growth? a. No. I have faith in human ingenuity and a. No. I have faith in human ingenuity and

creativity.creativity. b. Depends. Some (but not all) aspects of b. Depends. Some (but not all) aspects of

economic growth are limited.economic growth are limited. c. Yes. Ecological economists are generally c. Yes. Ecological economists are generally

correct. correct.

LIVING MORE SUSTAINABLYLIVING MORE SUSTAINABLY

Environmental literate citizens and leaders Environmental literate citizens and leaders are needed to build more environmentally are needed to build more environmentally sustainable and socially just societies.sustainable and socially just societies.

In addition to formal learning, we need to In addition to formal learning, we need to learn by experiencing nature directly.learn by experiencing nature directly.


Some affluent people are voluntarily adopting Some affluent people are voluntarily adopting lifestyles in which they enjoy life more by lifestyles in which they enjoy life more by consuming less.consuming less.


Fig. 26-7, p. 623

Biosphere and Ecosystems

Species and Cultures Individual Responsibility

Help sustain the earth’s natural capital and biodiversity

Avoid premature extinction of any species mostly by protecting and restoring its habitat

Do not inflict unnecessary suffering or pain on any animal

Do the least possible environmental harm when altering nature

Use no more of the earth’s resources than you need

Avoid premature extinction of any human culture

Fig. 26-6, p. 622

SolutionsDeveloping Environmentally

Sustainable Societies Guidelines Guidelines Strategies

Learn from & copy nature Sustain biodiversity

Eliminate povertyDo not degrade or deplete the earth's natural capital, and live off the natural income it provides

Develop eco-economies

Build sustainable communities

Do not use renewable resources faster than nature can replace them

Take no more than we need

Do not reduce biodiversityUse sustainable agriculture

Depend more on locally available renewable energy from the sun, wind, flowing water, and sustainable biomass

Try not to harm life, air, water, soil

Emphasize pollution prevention and waste reduction

Do not change the world's climate

Do not overshoot the earth's carrying capacity

Do not waste matter and energy resourcesHelp maintain the earth's capacity for self-repair Recycle, reuse, and compost 60–80% of

matter resourcesRepair past ecological damage Maintain a human population size such that

needs are met without threatening life support systemsLeave the world in as good a shape as

—or better than—we found itEmphasize ecological restoration


We can help make the world a better place We can help make the world a better place by not falling into mental traps that lead to by not falling into mental traps that lead to denial and inaction and by keeping our denial and inaction and by keeping our empowering feelings of hope ahead of any empowering feelings of hope ahead of any immobilizing feeling of despair. immobilizing feeling of despair.

Living More Lightly on the Earth: Living More Lightly on the Earth: The Sustainable DozenThe Sustainable Dozen

AgricultureAgriculture Reduce you meat consumption.Reduce you meat consumption. Buy locally grown and produced food.Buy locally grown and produced food. Buy more organic food and grow your own.Buy more organic food and grow your own. Don’t use pesticides.Don’t use pesticides.

TransportationTransportation Drive an energy-efficient vehicle.Drive an energy-efficient vehicle. Walk, bike, carpool, or take mass transit.Walk, bike, carpool, or take mass transit. Work at home or live near work.Work at home or live near work.


Home Energy UseHome Energy Use Caulk leaks, add insulation, use energy efficient Caulk leaks, add insulation, use energy efficient

appliances.appliances. Try to use solar, wind, flowing water, biomass for Try to use solar, wind, flowing water, biomass for

home energy.home energy. WaterWater

Use water-saving showers and toilets, use drip Use water-saving showers and toilets, use drip irrigation, landscape yard with natural plants that irrigation, landscape yard with natural plants that do not require excess water.do not require excess water.


Resource ConsumptionResource Consumption Reduce your consumption and waste of stuff by Reduce your consumption and waste of stuff by

at least 10%: at least 10%: Refuse and ReuseRefuse and Reuse..



The Earth Charter calls for us to respect and The Earth Charter calls for us to respect and care for life and biodiversity and to build more care for life and biodiversity and to build more sustainable, just, democratic, and peaceful sustainable, just, democratic, and peaceful societies for present and future generations.societies for present and future generations.

We need hope, a positive vision of the future, We need hope, a positive vision of the future, and commitment to making the world a better and commitment to making the world a better place to live.place to live.

Chapter 26

Documents

Transcript of Chapter 26