Environmental Ethics Michael Lacewing enquiriesalevelphilosophy co uk Michael

Environmental Ethics Michael Lacewing enquiries@alevelphilosophy. co. uk © Michael Lacewing

What is environmental ethics? • Environmental issues: – Pollution – Depletion of natural resources – Impact of overpopulation on ecosystems • How do ethical systems respond? – What is of value? Just human beings? Just individuals or also species, ecosystems, natural objects (rivers, mountains)? – How should we make decisions about these issues?

Our question • Which effects of pollution, depletion of natural resources, overpopulation, matter morally? Do only human beings ‘count’, or do effects on the environment matter as well? Why?

Hedonist utilitarianism • Only pleasure and pain matter morally. • So plants, ecosystems, natural resources, landscapes and species don’t count. Oi! That hurts!

Hedonist utilitarianism • Environmental issues should therefore be decided on the basis of their effects on individual animals and human beings – particularly human beings – alone.

Preference utilitarianism • The right thing to do is to maximise preferences. • People have preferences about things they don’t experience, e. g. the desire that the rainforests continue to exist ‘unspoiled’. I want lakes to be unpolluted. Pollution? Wha’sh that, then?

Preference utilitarianism • But the environment, species, resources, etc. still only has (and as much) value as we give it in our preferences.

Arguing in the opposite direction • The predicted effects of environmental problems won’t be that bad; and technology will help fix problems. • Preferences for preserving the environment are very weak compared to the need to use it. • Discounting: uncertain bad consequences in the distant future don’t count as much as certain benefits now.

Virtue ethics • Is not polluting the environment and conserving natural resources part of a virtuous life? • Virtuous people respect what has value. But does anything apart from human well-being have value? But I’m having a wonderful life, darling.

Virtue and the self • Destruction of the environment, like vandalism, displays a bad character, e. g. greed, inability to appreciate beauty. • Being human involves a relationship to the environment – both physical and ‘spiritual’, as shown in our aesthetic and personal relationships to animals, plants, landscapes, and in science.

Virtue and the self • But why single this out as important to a good human life? It is just as human to treat nature as an object to be mastered.