Environmental ethics - Shallow ecology
- Created by: Alasdair
- Created on: 21-05-17 12:52
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- Shallow Ecology
- Outline
- Also known as Conservationism
- Theory that Environment's Importance is related to usefulness to humans
- Linked to anthropocentric approach - idea that humans are of central importance in world
- McKibben: "Deprive nature of its independence. We live in a Post Natural World'
- Views environment decision making from human perspective - provision of care for environment to be regulated by what is seen to serve human interests
- Animals and environment not regarded as having intrinsic value
- Rights are granted by human persons to each other and by human societies to animals or environment
- Human rights are just entitlements given by society to individual and relative to that society
- Rights may be granted or removed
- Thus in human sphere, right to freedom is accepted in today's society: but slavery was once regarded as normal
- Society has right to grant and remove rights - e.g. if a person commits a crime
- If 'rights' originate in human persons then it is up to them to grant animals and features of the environment rights or not
- E.g. if it is seen as beneficial to build a dam and flood habitat of many animals and also ruin immediate environment this end of spectrum would argue it is valid human choice
- Environment does not have any intrinsic rights unless we grant it to them - this largely depends on human interests therefore making taking care of environment a pragmatic affair
- We could allow pollution to continue if it is deemed acceptable to human interests
- Cons
- Kant may argue that using environment as a means in itself means for human flourishing is an example of using means to an end
- Further examples of extinct species and impacts of future generations
- Further impact of all areas of the environment due to population growth/industry etc.
- Possible future disasters linked to Nuclear Power expansion
- Placing human welfare at centre may benefit human population initially but may result in long-term problems which are unforeseen.
- Many ecologists argue that survival of all species on planet is relational but evidence for these claims my only become available when it it too late to take action
- It is questionable whether human interest, even on long scale, provides strong enough reason to protect other species.
- It is acceptable within shallow ecology for an animal species to become extinct if no human good was served by preserving it as animals do not have any intrinsic rights
- Small human populations and small countries, such as Maldives, could be allowed to disappear as water levels rise if cost of preventing them seemed too high to rest of human population
- Animals and plants have instrumental value alone - that is to say their only value is to help humanity flourish.
- This is main reason Peter Singer isn't necessarily shallow ecologist (describes himself as in-between deep and shallow)
- Singer, as a benefit utilitarian, argues that animals have intrinsic value
- This is main reason Peter Singer isn't necessarily shallow ecologist (describes himself as in-between deep and shallow)
- Pros
- Allows continuation of Human Development
- Allows us to put our needs first
- Argue that something is valuable only if we perceive it to be so
- Outline
- Cons
- Kant may argue that using environment as a means in itself means for human flourishing is an example of using means to an end
- Further examples of extinct species and impacts of future generations
- Further impact of all areas of the environment due to population growth/industry etc.
- Possible future disasters linked to Nuclear Power expansion
- Placing human welfare at centre may benefit human population initially but may result in long-term problems which are unforeseen.
- Many ecologists argue that survival of all species on planet is relational but evidence for these claims my only become available when it it too late to take action
- It is questionable whether human interest, even on long scale, provides strong enough reason to protect other species.
- It is acceptable within shallow ecology for an animal species to become extinct if no human good was served by preserving it as animals do not have any intrinsic rights
- Small human populations and small countries, such as Maldives, could be allowed to disappear as water levels rise if cost of preventing them seemed too high to rest of human population
- Animals and plants have instrumental value alone - that is to say their only value is to help humanity flourish.
- This is main reason Peter Singer isn't necessarily shallow ecologist (describes himself as in-between deep and shallow)
- Singer, as a benefit utilitarian, argues that animals have intrinsic value
- This is main reason Peter Singer isn't necessarily shallow ecologist (describes himself as in-between deep and shallow)
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