Different Theories of Ecological Ethics
analytical Essay
1862 words
All three theories by Heidegger, Bookchin, and Naess are based on the normative assumption: humans perceived themselves as being distinct from a world that unites both humans and non-humans. To better understand the distinguishments that each author makes in his theory, I will reconstruct each of their assumption. After that, we will explore the rational fashioning of integrative ways and the problems that it raises. In conclusion, there may be a reiteration of the assumption in our effort to act ethically according to the ecosystem.
Heidegger’s theory orbits around the idea that humans are mortal stewards of things on the earth. He believes that humans should consider and respect non-human life forms as part of this comprehensive world in all dimensions of earth, sky, divinities, and their roles in their relative locations. In the same manner, non-humans share an undiscriminating relationship closely knit together in a network by their functions and bestowals. Because of this proximity, human’s stewardship should not promote egocentricity or superiority over non-human items. This responsibility does not seek selfish coercion, but deferential regards to such items in order to bring forth diversity and life. His assumption here implies that humans are like tenants responsible to take care of the rest of the earth as a shared home for all living things. Along with this heuristic, Heidegger supports the saving, preserving, dwelling, building, and integrating of our daily lives with respect to the whole earth.
Similarly, Bookchin believes in a respectful co-evolving community of life on earth. His theory of social ecology characterized humans as citizens of a community. Although he does not press on equality like Naess does in...
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... life for all or do we seek to use our power and values to dominate? If our treatment of our own kind is considered unjust, consider how our treatment of non-human life forms must be. As I have mentioned earlier, the consequences of our actions and values may be backfired at us and passed to future generations. Perhaps we are ignorant towards the outcome of the transformation we impose on non-human life or perhaps we are, unfortunately, ignorant towards the destruction of our own flourishing of life.
Work Cited
Sessions, George. “Arne Naess: The Deep Ecological Movement.” Deep Ecology for the 21st
Century. Ed. George Sessions. Boston: Shambhala Publication, Inc., 1995. 64-84. Print.
Sessions, George. “Arne Naess: The Eight Points Revisited.” Deep Ecology for the 21st Century. Ed. George Sessions. Boston: Shambhala Publication, Inc., 1995. 213-221. Print.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how bookchin believes in a respectful co-evolving community of life on earth. he promotes symbiosis and criticizes the distinction in which we often place on humans and non-humans.
- Explains that naess promotes the respect for all forms of life, individual and collective. he focuses on the self-realization factor in human response to the surrounding environment.
- Argues that humans are not a homogeneous part of the world that unites humans and non-humans because they have the values and the ability to integrate.
- Explains that it is impossible to conceive of an ecological ethic without an assumption even if the assumption is implicit. heidegger's theory of stewardship suggests that we can use the freedom we have to maintain the earth in a respectful way.
- Explains that extrinsic values are values of something which depend on our use of it, such as oil and cattle, and that intrinsic values have a larger scope in the protection and reproduction of the biosphere.
- Opines that self-identification and self awareness play important roles in our dealings. if our treatment of our own kind is considered unjust, consider how we treat non-human life forms.
- States sessions, george, "arne naess: the eight points revisited." deep ecology for the 21st century.
- Explains that heidegger, bookchin, and naess' theories are based on the normative assumption that humans perceive themselves as distinct from a world that unites both humans and non-humans.
Related
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how mary ann warren disagrees with regan and singers' strong animal rights position and thinks there is a reasonable way of dealing with animals of different kinds to vary in strength.
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- Cites rolston iii, holmes, and andrew light, eds. environmental ethics: an anthology. singer, peter. "all animals are equal" from tom regan and peter singer.
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes paul taylor's argument for a deontological, biocentric egalitarian attitude toward nature based on the conviction that all living things possess equal intrinsic value and are worthy of the same moral consideration.
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- Explains taylor's premise that all species exist as a "complex web of interconnected organisms", which is the fundamental concept in ecology.
- Explains taylor's premise that organisms are "teleological centers of life" and possess a good of their own, which helps him introduce the principles of moral consideration and intrinsic value.
- Analyzes taylor's fourth premise, that humans are superior to other species is unfounded. he cites a number of reasons to accept his position.
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how paul taylor develops the four elements of the biocentric outlook on nature in respect for nature.
- Explains that humans are members of the earth's community of life in the same sense and terms as other living things.
- Explains that each organism is a teleological center of life (tcl) with its own good.
- Explains that humans are moral agents and have an obligation to respect all life. to do the right action is a moral obligation that only humans have.
- Argues that humans are superior to all other teleological centers of life because of their moral duty. organisms without moral agency cannot understand or appreciate the inherent worth of other beings.
- Argues that taylor's first two elements of the biocentric outlook on nature are undeniably true.
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- Analyzes how shakespeare's references to "nothing" suggest the importance of removing the essentially meaningless aspects of life that hold back the integral traits of humanity.
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- Analyzes how the characters in the tragedy of king lear are narrow-minded and have not progressed from the common animal instincts that all humans have early on in life.
- Analyzes how the basis of humanity is emphatically elaborated upon with a profusion of animal imagery which reinforces the importance for humans to evolve from their substructure.
- Analyzes shakespeare's ability to create a symbolic arrangement of themes by employing connections to the ideas of "nothing", foolishness, and wisdom, as well as to animals.
- Analyzes how shakespeare communicates to the audience that humans are born with the capacity to emerge from their simple selfish instincts based on survival and grow in both moral and social conduct.
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- Analyzes how aldo leopold describes how ethics in an ecological and philosophical view needs to be changed to have a good use of them.
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453 wordsRead More - The Links Between Environmental Ethics and Sciencesanalytical essayI propose a circle of continuous reciprocal influences between ecological theories and ethical norms respecting nature.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that darwinian evolutionary theory provides clear examples of reciprocal relationships that are undetermined and open to the influences of sociocultural and natural environments.
- Explains that ecological theories and environmental ethics are reciprocally and dynamically linked. ethical conceptions participate in the genesis and evaluation of ecological theories.
- Explains that ecologists approach nature with the aim of understanding it, while environmental ethicists approach it asking how we should relate to it or live in and with it.
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- Opines that if we are disenchanted with modernity, we need a cultural transformation that leaves behind that state of civilization. the darwinian notions of struggle for existence and natural selection are pervasive.
- Explains that haeckel coined the term ecology in the middle of the nineteenth century.
- Explains that aldo leopold coined the term land ethics in the middle of this century.
- Analyzes how both ecological sciences and environmental ethics contain theoretical notions that retain links with the kind of modern thinking we need to leave behind.
- Explains that darwinian evolutionary theory and leopoldian environmental ethics transcend the image of nature as a struggle for existence, proposing broader forms of relationship. ecology derives holistic theories from darwin’s work.
- Illustrates how british modern culture and society, the natural environment, and ethics could have influenced the darwinian theory.
- Explains that the basic notion of evolution came into darwin's family via philosophy, more particularly from the work of david hume.
- Analyzes how evolution was developed synchronously in diverse natural and social sciences, such as geology and astronomy, or positivism and marxism, with particular force since the late 18th century.
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- Explains that darwinian theory of the struggle for existence is simply the transference from society to organic nature. once this feat has been accomplished, it is very easy to transfer these theories back again from the natural world to the history of society.
- Opines that engels' interpretation of the social and cultural influences on darwinian theory has been extensively developed by marxist historians and philosophers during this century.
- Analyzes darwin's autobiography, stating that the voyage of the beagle was the most important event in his life, and has determined his career.
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- Cites harrison j and huxley j as examples of darwinism and darwin's view of evolution.
- Cites engels, marx, and darwin's autobiography of chrles darwin and selected letters.
- Cites rozzi r, darwin c, thompson jn, and pikett et al.
- Cites rozzi r, hargrove, armesto, pickett & silander's "natural drift" as a post-modern evolutionary metaphor.
- Cites costanza et al., the value of the world's ecosystem services and natural capital, and rozzi r, la filosofa ambiental de baird callicott.
4378 wordsRead More - Peter Singer, And Tom Regan, Peter Singer And Aldo Leopoldanalytical essayAnalyzing human obligation pertaining to all that is not man made, apart from humans, we discover an assortment of concerns, some of which have been voiced by philosophers such as Tom Regan, Peter Singer and Aldo Leopold. Environmentally ethical ideals hold a broad spectrum of perspectives that, not only attempt to identify a problem, but also focus on how that problem is addressed through determining what is right and wrong.
In this essay, the author
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- Analyzes how tom regan influenced the animal rights movement, arguing that animals deserve to be treated with equal respect to humans. his veganism answer is valid in developing a more ethical treatment of our animal friends.
- Analyzes how peter singer's edgier approach to environmental ethics harmonizes with utilitarianism. he believed that one born to pain and suffrage could not reach such pleasure.
- Analyzes how aldo leopold considered the causes and effects within the ecosystem, referred to as ecocentrism. he understood that each natural character nurtured another, hence, his biotic pyramid.
- Opines that we must take in every perspective to be ethical in our approach. with contributions by tom regan, peter singer, and aldo leopold, we begin to develop an educated and informed response in attending to our moral duties.
- Explains that animal rights philosopher tom regan appeared on the late late show part 1 of 4. mitchell, helen. roots of wisdom.
- Explains singer, peter, a companion to ethics. oxford, uk: john wiley and sons, inc.
1133 wordsRead More - Jeremy Bentham's Theory Of Utilitarianism And Nonhuman Animalsanalytical essayWhat do we, as humans have to do in order to give nonhuman animals the proper treatment and equal moral consideration as we owe for other humans? Some, such as Jeremy Bentham would address that, “The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation” (99). Other moral philosophers, like Henry Sidgwick, however reject the theory of utilitarianism thinking that is pleasure all that really matters and are consequences all that matters (111-112)? Humans use nonhuman animals for one purpose; pleasure from using their skins for luxury goods. In this paper, I will explain and examine what Jeremy Bentham is trying explain in his argument, and will attempt to show that his argument is a plausible one, by replying an objection against his utilitarian view.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that jeremy bentham's argument is a plausible one, by responding to an objection against his utilitarian view.
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- Explains bentham's utilitarian approach to achieve happiness is the foundation of morals and legislation. in the case of nonhuman animals, the wealthy first class, rich, and upper middle class are in high demand for luxury goods.
- Analyzes bentham's argument that animals have no moral standing and can be treated in harsh ways to get what they want from them.
- Explains that if any passages of holy scripture seem to forbid us to be cruel to brute animals, such as killing a bird with its young, this is either to remove man’s thought from being cruel.
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- Opines that bentham makes a plausible argument in favor of unmoral consideration for nonhuman animals. he extends the concept that we can give equal moral consideration to animals if we use them for our own benefit.
- Argues that the only way to achieve happiness is to not mistreat them for the overall happiness for nonhuman animals. being more intellectual than our non-human counterparts shouldn't determine whether something should be used or taken advantage of for our own good.
- Explains that bentham and other philosophers don't agree with utilitarians' views, and that humans and nonhumans are equally entitled to moral concern.
- Explains that bentham argues that whether an animal is human or nonhuman is just as irrelevant as whether it is black or white.
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how mark sagoff and peter singer's "animal liberation and environmental ethics: bad marriage, quick divorce" seem to ignore a fundamental defining characteristic of animals, namely their level of domestication.
- Explains that ecosystems and species competed and selected for/against each other, causing evolutionary change. j. baird callicott's extension of aldo leopold’s land ethic addresses a possible ethic toward wild and domestic animals, but doesn't examine why we should treat them differently.
- Argues that domestic animals should be treated as best we can while preserving their evolutionary and ecological entitlements to a good life and potential consumption by humans.
- Argues that a human community ethic could apply to domestic animals, since together we've evolved into an ecological predator-prey system that has just some residual nature in it.
- Explains that pre-historically, there was a natural order of life where species and ecosystems operated on competition, adaptation, and natural selection.
- Explains that humans started a process of domestication sometime in our evolutionary history, not only of animals, but also of plants and the landscape.
- Analyzes how j. baird callicott extends leopold's thoughts in "the land ethic" and "animal liberation: a triangular affair".
- Argues that callicott's interpretation of the land ethic suits the question of ethics toward wild animals, but the assumptions he makes about domestic animals simplify too much.
- Cites callicott, j. baird and leopold, aldo. "the land ethic" in environmental ethics edited by david schmidtz and elizabeth willott.
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- Analyzes how emerson's lecture on "humanity and science" describes the unseen cosmic processes of water which operate far beyond man’s puny direction.
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- Analyzes how thoreau rejected emerson's transcendental rhapsodizing about perceiving nature as symbol of the human mind for a rigorous exploration of his natural world.
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- Explains that emerson's greatest gift was lessons in seeing in and through nature and extracting symbolic meaning, but his intimate encounters with nature were relatively rare and indirect.
- Analyzes how thoreau became the prophet of wilderness for modern environmentalists who have adopted as motto his assertion that "in wildness is the preservation of the world."
- Analyzes how thoreau and emerson pointed the way for us to discard our false sense of dominion and superiority and discover our proper ethical and spiritual place in nature.
2277 wordsRead More