environmental ethics thesis statement

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Intrinsic Value in Environmental Ethics - M.A. Thesis 1986

The thesis is divided into four chapters. Chapter One presents an overview of the intrinsic value debate within environmental ethics. Chapter Two, provides an ordinary language analysis of the term intrinsic value, then traces the philosophic history of the term from Plato to the present, and finally, shows the extent of the usage of this concept among contemporary writers in environmental ethics. In chapter three I distinguish and dis­ cuss different environmental ethics based on anthropocentric and non-anthropocentric theories of intrinsic value. In that chapter a hypothesis that there is a relationship between the range of moral considerability and what is held to be of intrinsic value is also tested. In Chapter Four I provide a critique of the attempts mentioned in Chapter Three to create or refute a new environmental ethic. There I argue that comprehensive program of environmental preservation can emerge from a mixture of weak anthropocentric and strong non-anthropocentric positons.

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Recent critics (Andrew Light, Bryan Norton, Anthony Weston, and Bruce Morito, among others) have argued that we should give up talk of intrinsic value in general and that of nature in particular. While earlier theorists might have overestimated the importance of intrinsic value, these recent critics underestimate its importance. Claims about a thing’s intrinsic value are claims about the distinctive way in which we have reason to care about that thing. If we understand intrinsic value in this manner, we can capture the core claims that environmentalists want to make about nature while avoiding the worries raised by contemporary critics. Since the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic value plays a critical role in our understanding of the different ways that we do and should care about things, moral psychology, ethical theory in general, and environmental ethics in particular shouldn’t give up on the concept of intrinsic value.

The environment in the sense of all the ecosystems on Earth, has been polluted, harmed, and put at risk of degradation to some extent. Nevertheless, the mainstream ethical philosophies have found it difficult to assign an intrinsic value to the environment itself, and most environmental ethics is based on an "enlightened"

Rolston (1991 p.73) asserts that the topic of environmentalism ‘stretches classical ethics to the breaking point’. While debate pertaining to the ethics of humanity and other life-forms has long been discussed, it is difficult, but necessary, to apply moral theory to our environment as a whole. This particular essay was inspired by a lawsuit in Eugene, Oregon, in which two teenagers sued the governor over the degradation of Oregon’s natural resources (House, 2015). This case has been replicated across the country, and initially prompts a number of ethical topics and questions which humanity may not have time to discuss or act upon. Assuming, as all ethical beings should, that there ought to be an ethic framework concerning the environment, it is important to establish how classical ethics relate to this increasingly important discussion (Rolston, 1988). The following paragraphs will first examine the value of nature from the perspective of virtue ethics, and then refute this position with the utilitarian philosophy. By including literature and real-world examples advocating each position, the contrasting perspectives on this topic will become clear. Ultimately, both perspectives advocate some form of respect for our natural world and both should be further considered by policy-makers, corporations, and individuals for the better of humanity.

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Two major philosophical movements have sought to fundamentally rethink the relationship between humans and their environment(s): environmental ethics and enactivism. Surprisingly, they virtually never refer to or seek inspiration from each other. The goal of this analysis is to bridge the gap. Our main purpose, then, is to address, from the enactivist angle, the conceptual backbone of environmental ethics, namely the concept of intrinsic value. We argue that intrinsic value does indeed exist, yet its "intrinsicality" does not boil down to being independent of the interests and needs of humans. Rather, it is brought forth by what we call shared enaction of an axiological domain. The latter is built upon such core posits of enactivism as autonomy, enaction, participatory sense-making as well as the most recent concept of loving as knowing proposed by Hanne De Jaegher.

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Two generations of conservationists and philosophers have built a strong case for intrinsic values in nature; they are the basis of the normative postulates of conservation biology. I argue that the recognition of intrinsic natural value is a fundamental and non-negotiable aspect of an eco-evolutionary worldview. Recently, relational values, "preferences, principles, and virtues associated with relationships", have been proposed as a third category of values in nature, which may help to resolve the debate between instrumental and intrinsic valuation. By depicting intrinsic values as part of an unhelpful dichotomy between anthropocentric and ecocentric values, the current assessment of relational values fails to adequately account for the modern philosophical view of intrinsic natural value. The recognition of intrinsic natural value is not merely an academic exercise, but rather a vital aspect of conservation of the biosphere; recognition of value entails the obligation to do what is right, i.e., protect the good. Any attempt to reframe the discussion about values and environmental protection through more formal recognition of relational values will need to more clearly address how relational and intrinsic values coexist and how they can jointly form the basis for nature conservation.

Since the 1970's, the question of intrinsic value has held a central place in environmental ethics. The claim that the environment, or parts of it, has non-instrumental value is quite popular. However, the metaphysical claims that the environment has value in its own right remain controversial. Contemporary criticisms of metaphysical accounts of value represent a continuous strand in environmental philosophy that seeks to refute non-anthropocentric views of intrinsic value. This essay focuses on the ecosystem's capacity to flourish as a characteristic that imbues it with intrinsic value. Given this capacity, I argue one can ground a land ethic in intrinsic value.

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Treves et al. explain the need to preserve the rights of nonhuman species, human youth, and future generations. Although conservation biology has claimed to have an intrinsic valuation ethic since its inception in the 1980s, many aspects of the field have taken a decidedly anthropocentric and instrumentalist trajectory. This has important consequences for conservation-related policy and practice at all scales: local, regional, and global.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Environmental ethics'

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Leard, Jason. "Ethics Naturally: An Environmental Ethic Based on Naturalness." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2004. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4458/.

Nelson, Michael Paul. "The land ethic : a theory of environmental ethics defended." Thesis, Lancaster University, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.246100.

Kronlid, David. "Ecofeminism and Environmental Ethics." Doctoral thesis, Uppsala University, Department of Theology, 2003. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-3307.

This study focuses on ecofeminist ethical theory. A first aim is to clarify ecofeminist views on five central issues in the field of environmental ethics. These issues are: (1) Views of nature, (2) social constructivism and nature, (3) values of nature, (4) ethical contextualism, and (5) ethical pluralism. A second aim is to compare ecofeminist standpoints with certain standpoints within nonfeminist environmental ethical theory. A third aim is to critically discuss some of the main standpoints in ecofeminism. The analysis focuses on the works of Karen Warren, Sallie McFague, Chris Cuomo, and Carolyn Merchant. Other important sources are the environmental philosophers and ethicists J. Baird Callicott, Paul Taylor, Irene Klaver, Bryan G. Norton, Christopher Stone, Eugene Hargrove, Holmes Rolston III, Per Ariansen, Don E. Marietta, and Bruno Latour.

The result of this study is that there are no main differences between ecofeminism and nonfeminist environmental ethics regarding the main standpoints on the five issues. Rather, the significant differences are found within these main standpoints. In addition, one important characteristic of ecofeminist ethics is its "double nature," that is, the fact that it is rooted in feminism and environmentalism. The double nature of ecofeminism results in a foundation out of which ecofeminism as an environmental philosophy has a unique potential to handle some of the theoretical tensions that environmental ethics creates.

From the perspective that environmental problems consist of complex clusters of natureculture- discourse and that environmental ethical theory ought to be action guiding, it is argued that ecofeminist ethical theory has an advantage compared to nonfeminist environmental ethics. This standpoint is explained by the fact that ecofeminism holds a variety of views of nature, kinds of social constructivism and contextualism, and conceptions of values and of the self, and from the presumption that this variety reflects the reality of environmental problems. However, in order for ecofeminist ethical theory to fulfill its promise as an acceptable environmental ethical theory, its theoretical standpoints ought to be explicated and further clarified.

James, Simon Paul. "Heidegger and environmental ethics." Thesis, Durham University, 2001. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3958/.

Palmer, Clare. "Environmental ethics and process thinking /." Oxford : Clarendon press, 1998. http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb37649968g.

Torres, Christopher. "What is Ethics without Justice? Reframing Environmental Ethics for Social Justice." Thesis, University of Oregon, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/1794/20705.

Wall, Don Hargrove Eugene C. "Earth tones how environmental journalism and environmental ethics influence environmental citizenship /." [Denton, Tex.] : University of North Texas, 2007. http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-3907.

Wall, Don. "Earth Tones: How Environmental Journalism and Environmental Ethics Influence Environmental Citizenship." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2007. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3907/.

Fishel, Jason Lee. "An evaluation of environmental pragmatism : applications to environmental ethics /." Online access for everyone, 2008. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Thesis/Spring2008/J_Fishel_042408.pdf.

Burns, Michael Edmund Reid. "Co-evolutionary relationships between environmental ethics and environmental assessment." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52735.

Meyers, Ronald B. "A Heuristic for Environmental Values and Ethics, and a Psychometric Instrument to Measure Adult Environmental Ethics and Willingness to Protect the Environment." The Ohio State University, 2002. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1039113836.

Corbeil, Marc J. V. "Process environmental philosophy." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2003. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc6148/.

Runwen, Zhu. "Environmental Virtue Ethics : Wildlife Tourism in Sweden." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för organisation och entreprenörskap (OE), 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-76288.

Chenoweth, Alan R. "The Ethics of Professional Environmental Practice: an Exploratory Study of the Ethical Principles of Practitioners." Thesis, Griffith University, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/400564.

Gillespie, Al. "International environmental ethics : value and method in international environmental law and policy." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 1994. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.361026.

Spash, Clive L. "Environmental Values in Conservation: Ethics, Economics and Pragmatism." WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, 2017. http://epub.wu.ac.at/5499/1/sre%2Ddisc%2D2017_01.pdf.

黃廣昌 and Kwong-cheong Wong. "On the virtues approach to Buddhist environmental ethics." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2008. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B4154738X.

Palmer, Clare. "Process theology and the challenge of environmental ethics." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1993. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:7592ee99-6439-4bd9-82cb-a8d47077911a.

Tan, Gregory. "Ecological Virtue Ethics: Towards Conversion and Environmental Action." Thesis, Boston College, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2345/bc-ir:107480.

Burkhart, Brian Yazzie. "Respect for kinship toward an Indigenous environmental ethics /." [Bloomington, Ind.] : Indiana University, 2009. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3354896.

Sarkar, Pankoj Kanti. "Environmental ethics and future generations: a Critical study." Thesis, University of North Bengal, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2551.

Yucel, (karakoc) A. Gamze. "Environmental Ethics Approach In The World And In Turkey." Phd thesis, METU, 2005. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/2/12606909/index.pdf.

Lindemann, Monica A. "Environmental Virtue Education: Ancient Wisdom Applied." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2005. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4859/.

Evanoff, Richard. "A constructivist approach to intercultural dialogue on environmental ethics." Thesis, Lancaster University, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.403730.

Laÿna, Droz-dit-Busset. "The Milieu as Common Grounds for Global Environmental Ethics." Kyoto University, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/2433/253451.

Mridha, Shibaji. "Ecocinema, Slow Violence, and Environmental Ethics: Tales of Water." Kent State University / OhioLINK, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1555608601107401.

Blechschmidt, Lara C. "Environmental ethics and the oyster of the Chesapeake Bay." Thesis, This resource online, 1992. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-10062009-020010/.

Kaplan, Christopher Francis. "Environmental Virtue Ethics and the Virtue of Ecological Sensitivity." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/579285.

Parker, Jonathan. "Sustainable Environmental Identities for Environmental Sustainability: Remaking Environmental Identities with the Help of Indigenous Knowledge." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2012. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc177240/.

Patterson, Aimee. "Theocentric ethics for a secular world : toward a general application of the ethical thought of James M. Gustafson." Thesis, McGill University, 2005. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=83137.

Day, Philip Garrett. "Environmental Imagination: the Constitution and Projection of a Sustainable Ethos." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2014. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc700043/.

Liu, Xian. "Conceptual and comparative formulations of Daoism : an interplay between Daoism and environmental ethics." Online access for everyone, 2006. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Thesis/Spring2006/x%5Fliu%5F051006.pdf.

Cook, Elizabeth Annette. "The land ethic." access full-text online access from Digital Dissertation Consortium, 2006. http://libweb.cityu.edu.hk/cgi-bin/er/db/ddcdiss.pl?3247127.

Saner, Marc A. "Environmental ethics and biotechnology, a test of Norton's convergence hypothesis." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape9/PQDD_0003/MQ43325.pdf.

Ryan, Sean Edward. "Environmental ethics, an interpretive analysis of outdoor leaders'/scholars' discourse." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape10/PQDD_0019/MQ46993.pdf.

Petersen, Heidi Jean. "The relevance of the animal liberation movement to environmental ethics." Diss., Connect to online resource, 2006. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3207684.

Saner, Marc A. (Marc Albert) Carleton University Dissertation Philosophy. "Environmental ethics and biotechnology; a test of Norton's convergence hypothesis." Ottawa, 1999.

Somaratne, Indika. "The role of religion and environmental ethics in climate change." Doctoral thesis, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Kultur-, Sozial- und Bildungswissenschaftliche Fakultät, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.18452/17763.

Roberts, James Rowland. "The development of an environmental ethics undergraduate curriculum for California." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2004. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2573.

Scott, Conohar. "The photographer as environmental activist : politics, ethics and beauty in the struggle for environmental remediation." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2015. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/19640.

Burchett, Kyle L. "Anthropocentrism as Environmental Ethic." UKnowledge, 2016. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/philosophy_etds/12.

Hanna, Paul. "Consuming sustainable tourism : ethics, identity, practice." Thesis, University of Brighton, 2011. https://research.brighton.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/e7073b3d-9105-4872-93e3-f4e9faedf906.

Jacobus, Robert J. "Defining environmental theology content analysis of associated literature /." Morgantown, W. Va. : [West Virginia University Libraries], 2001. http://etd.wvu.edu/templates/showETD.cfm?recnum=1885.

Lindemann, Monica A. "The Character of Environmental Citizenship: Virtue Education for Raising Morally Responsible Individuals." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2013. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc271857/.

Tatay, Nieto Jaime. "Catholic Contributions to an Ethics of Responsibility toward Creation." Thesis, Boston College, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/2345/2503.

Vena, Christopher J. "Beyond Stewardship: Toward an Agapeic Environmental Ethic." [Milwaukee, Wis.] : e-Publications@Marquette, 2009. http://epublications.marquette.edu/dissertations_mu/16.

Aarnio-Linnanvuori, Essi. "Environmental issues in Finnish school textbooks on religious education and ethics." University of Helsinki, 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-27403.

Kadikon, Sulaiman. "An analysis of Islamic environmental ethics with special reference to Malaysia." Thesis, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.503614.

SCHULTE, NEIDE KOHLER. "DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABLE CLOTHING: CONTIBUTIONS OF BIOCENTRIC ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS AND VEGANISM." PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO, 2011. http://www.maxwell.vrac.puc-rio.br/Busca_etds.php?strSecao=resultado&nrSeq=19116@1.

Pritchett, Justin William. "Cultivating wilderness : a phenomenological theology of wilderness spirituality and environmental ethics." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2018. http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=237796.