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environmental ethics final
n/a
81
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate 1
04/25/2011

Additional Environmental Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Kenneth Goodpaster
Definition
"On Being Morally Considerable"
Being alive is the only criteria for being morally considerable
Necessary and sufficient condition
biocentric view
Term
Aaron Simmons
Definition
"Do Animals have interest in Continued Life"
Future opportunities view
instinctual to want to live
Non humans due moral consideration
The interest principle: those who have interests have rights
Death can harm animals even if they don't experience suffering.
Term
Thomas White
Definition
"Is a Dolphin a Person?"
believes dolphins are persons because they meed his criteria for personhood.
definition of a person
Term
Elisa Aaltola
Definition
"Personhood and Animals"
3 approaches to personhood: perfectionist, humanistic, interactive
animals are individuals ontologically, not morally
cluster theory: personhood consists of plurality of specific capacities
Term
Slizabeth Skakoon
Definition
"Nature and Human Identity"
Plastic brains
root of our environmental problem is that we are separated from nature and therefore think we are superior to it.
cartesian subject: mind in a vat, unconnected to the world around him
artifacts; nature as an artifact and able to use it however we want.
Term
Peter SInger
Definition
"All Animals are Equal"
Normative ethics
equal consideration
speciesism (coined)
sentience is necessary for equal consideration
utilitarianism
Term
Aldo Leopold
Definition
"Land Ethic"
Intrinsic Value lies within the whole
love, respect, admiration, interconnectivity in the land.
disconnect of where we get our food
holism
3 enemies of morality: middle man, indifference, false faith in science/government.
Term
Arne Naess
Definition
"Self Realization"
ecosophy- chance in worldview
ecophilosophy (broad)
biocentric holism
first distinction between shallow and deep ecologies.
Term
Katie McShane
Definition
"Why Environmental Ethic Shouldn't Give up on Intrinsic Value"
need for concept of intrinsic value
environmental problems aren't fundamentally scientific
need alternative ways of valuing nature
relationship between the kind of value we think an entity has and the attitude we take toward it.
Term
Donald Van De Veer
Definition
"Interspecific Justice"
Supports two factor egalitarianism
forms of interspecific justice: radical speciesism, extreme speciesism, two factor egalitarianism, species egalitarianism, interest sensitive speciesism.
Term
Tom Regan
Definition
"The Case for Animal Rights"
moral agents and moral patients
subject of a life
justice theory
dismisses utilitarianism
fundamental wrong is not suffering, it is the belief that we view animals as our resources.
Term
Paul Taylor
Definition
"An Ethics of Respect For Nature"
Individual nonhuman biological organisms are a value of their own.
obligation to protect and promote the good of nonhuman living things for their sake (life centered theory).
argument: biocentric
ethics of respect for nature is made up of belief system, ultimate moral attitude, set of rules of duty and standard character.
teleological center of life
Term
Victoria Davion
Definition
"Itch Scratching and Patio Building"
biocentric individualism- all life has intrinsic value
Believes it is agains the average person's intuitions to not step on a bug.
Argues agains Kawall's "virtuous observer"

"How Feminist is Ecofeminism"
truly feminist perspective embraces both feminine and masculine critically.
5 ecofeminist views
important task is finding different ways of thinking that are not contaminated by the logic of domination.
Term
Sarah Pohl
Definition
"Technology and Wilderness Experience"
Practice responsible simplicity when in the wilderness
Technology can skew unique characteristics of outdoor experience.
Allowing room for wilderness in everyday lives
Virtue ethics
Term
Ramachandra Guha
Definition
"Environmentalism and Wilderness Preservation"
Critique of deep ecology's emphasis on wilderness preservation: reducing human population, neglecting other issues, appropriation of eastern spiritual tradition, perception of itself as the leading edge of environmentalism.
Militarism and overconsumption are root of environmental problems.
Term
Karren Warren
Definition
"The Power and Promise of Ecological Feminism, Revisited"
Important interconnections among domination of women and others.
Important to understand these connections to find solutions.
Feminist philosophy should include ecofeminist insights into those interconnections and should so should solutions to env. problems.
oppressive conceptual framework
logic of domination
exploitation of nature/animals is justified by feminizing them.
ecofeminist ethic.
Term
Chris Cuomo
Definition

"Ethics and the Ecofeminist Self" Animal rights theories developed by Peter Singer and Tom Regan are based on questionable philosophical assumptions. Ecofeminist theories are more accurate and useful than others.

 

Shifts to looking at responsibility of corporations. 

Act politically. Moral responsibility. 

Term
Murray Bookchin
Definition
"What is Social Ecology"
Connection between domination of nature and social hierarchies
In a society with social hierarchies, we are inclined to accept certain forms of domination, including that of nature.
first nature and second nature
Not Marxism, or anarchy
Term
Vandana Shiva
Definition

"Politics of Climate Change" Favors local trade/ agains WTO and world bank Paradigm shift, not fossil fuel shift extreme weather due to destabilizing GHG development must be defined autopoetically against carbon trading. "Food for Cars or People" Biofuel-monocultures and hurting biodiversity harming the poor biofuels are a greenhouse threat, cause water scarcity, threat to food security. need democratic decision making at the business level.

Development and Maldevelopment

Term
Ernest Partridge
Definition
"Future Generations"
We know a few things about the future generations
First, do no harm
Lockean Proviso
Moral education is crucial
anticipation and prevention are better than finding a cure.
just forebearance
doing well by doing good
moral responsibility
Term
Dale Jameison
Definition
"Nature's Future"
I=PAT
need voluntary reductions in fertility for stable population.
We should deny people food because more will die if we don't.
3 scenarios: environmental catastrophe, increased inequality and env. degradation, change in lifestyle for privileged people.

"Climate Change, Responsibility, and Justice"
Two kinds of risks- linear and non-linear
practical, theoretical, prudential, and ethical responsibility.
respect for nature
Term
Steve Vanderheiden
Definition
"Two shades of Green: Food and Environmental Sustainability"
light green: human welfare
dark green: save nature
feeding people is a distribution problem, not availability.
Term
William Murdoch
Definition
"Population and Food: Critique of Lifeboat Ethics"
Think Hardin's metaphors are misleading and other factors are needed to understand population and hunger problem.
Hardin favors private ownership
Two things asked of rich nations: increase nonmilitary foreign aid, and to give it in ways and to governments that will deliver it to the poorest people and improve access to national economic institutions.
Term
Philip Cafaro
Definition
"Getting to Less"
No avail thesis
increased efficiency is not enough. we must reduce consumption.
two routes: exalted view- happiness in mental realm.
second route: pleasurable contentment as goal.
less consumption needs to overtake more consumption as a more popular decision.
Term
Anthropocentrism
Definition
Human centered
Deep ecologists critical
Term
Biocentrism
Definition
value of non-human nature
4 basic components (taylor)
1. humans and other beings are of equal level of membership on earth.
2. interdependence between ecosystems.
3. each living being is a teleological center of life
4. humans are not superior
Term
Deep ecology
Definition
Ecological philosophy that recognizes inherent worth of being aside from utility.
nature is ontologically independent.
coined by Arne Naess attempting to describe the deeper more spiritual approach to nature.
goes beyond factual science
criticisms: misanthropic, western imperialism, what to do when vital interests come into conflict, too abstract.
Term
Land ethic
Definition
expansion of ethics to include non human members of the biotic community.
An action is right when it promotes the integrity, stability, and beauty of the land and wrong when it does otherwise.
Individuals are members of a community.
Term
Biocentric individualism
Definition
all living beings have intrinsic value, against the objection that it is contrary to the average persons intuitions.
Victoria Davion
Term
Relativism
Definition
it is not possible to make objective ethical judgments
Implications: no objective basis for praising or condemning anyone
"who and I to say who is right and who is wrong?"
Term
Intrinsic value
Definition
A being has value of its own, independent of its usefulness to others.
Need for the concept (McShane) 1. env. problems aren't solely scientific. 2. need to think of other ways of valuing nature 3. connection between what value we give a being and how we treat it.
Criticisms: 1. things can possess value independently of other things suggest and atomistic picture of the world. 2. commit us to a doubtful picture of the world. 3. unnecessary, we do not need to work up a theory to show importance.
Term
Speciesism
Definition
The view that one's own species is superior to all others and is alone worthy of moral consideration.
Term
necessary condition
Definition
a condition that, if lacking, guaranteed that a statement is false or that something won't occur.
Term
Ethics
Definition
Consist of the general beliefs, attitudes, or standards that guide customary behavior; the scholarly study of morality.
Term
Morality
Definition
A behavioral system that regulates individual behavior in order to facilitate social cooperation.
Abilities and dispositions necessary for morality: sympathy, empathy, generosity, ability to control behavior, suppress impulses and desires, and do what we have god reason to do.
challenges: amoralism, theism, relativism
Term
utilitarianism
Definition
overall good for the greatest number of people
critiques: difficulty quantifying qualitative goods, justice/rights, backward looking and reasoning.
Term
Kantian ethics
Definition
we can be held responsible only for the things we can control.
critiques: 1. so long as I am treating people correctly, no ethical basis exists to evaluate the choices I make. 2. greatest challenge is to specify rights claims 3. no account of what is good, valuable or worthy. consumption is no better than being ecologically sound if no wrong is done.
Term
Subject of a life
Definition
to be able to be a conscious being with a welfare that is important to oneself independent of one's usefulness to others.
Inherent, not instrumental value
Tom Regan
Term
Naturalistic fallacy
Definition
assume that what we value is what we should value
Term
Divine Command Theory
Definition
is a thing right because the Gods command it, or do the Gods command it because it is right?
In opposition to moral relativism
criticisms: implies that morality is based on God's whim, calling God "good" makes no sense, implies humans are morally blind and we rely on God's knowledge.
Term
Divine Command Theory
Definition
is a thing right because the Gods command it, or do the Gods command it because it is right?
In opposition to moral relativism
criticisms: implies that morality is based on God's whim, calling God "good" makes no sense, implies humans are morally blind and we rely on God's knowledge.
Term
Principle of utility
Definition
one ought to do that which maximizes the good and minimizes the bad. Balance of pleasure over pain.
Term
Instrumental value
Definition
value is a function of how it might be used by others or what it might mean to others.
Term
Radical speciesism
Definition
morally considerable to treat animals in any fashion
Van de Veer
Similar to the view of Decartes that animals were mere automata
moral implications: no objections to torturing an animal simply to do it.
not speciesist because it doesn't weigh interest of other species at all.
Term
Basic interest
Definition
necessary for functioning in a minimally adequate way
Term
interest sensitive speciesism
Definition
when there is a conflict interest between an animal and a human, it is morally permissable so to act that an interest of the animal is suboordinated for the sake of promoting like interest of a human
Depends on whether the conflicting interest is basic or not.
criticisms: permits evident discrimination of humans (caged bird as pet), puts all non humans in the same category.
Term
Two factor egalitarianism
Definition
when there is an interspecies conflict between A and B 1. sacrifice the interest of A to promote a like interest of B if A lacks significant psychological capacities possessed by B 2. sacrifice a basic interest of A to promote serous interest of B. " " 3. sacrifice the peripheral interest to promote more basic interest if the beings are similar with respect to psychological capacity.
Term
Species Egalitarianism
Definition
when there is a conflict of interest between humans and animals, it is morally permissible to subordinate the more peripheral to the more basic interest but not otherwise.
Term
Extreme speciesism
Definition
when there is an interspecies conflict, it is morally permissible to act that a basic interest of the animal is subordinated for the sake of promoting even a peripheral interest of a human being.
When there is not an interest conflict, it will promote animal interest.
Term
Peripheral interest
Definition
necessary for the individual to thrive
Term
Extreme speciesism
Definition
when there is an interspecies conflict, it is morally permissible to act that a basic interest of the animal is subordinated for the sake of promoting even a peripheral interest of a human being.
When there is not an interest conflict, it will promote animal interest.
Term
Moral agent
Definition
free and rational, able to do right and wrong
Term
self realization
Definition
a process through which people come to understand themselves as existing through interconnectedness with the rest of nature.
Term
biocentric equality
Definition
the recognition that all organisms and beings are equally members of an interconnected whole and have equal intrinsic value.
Term
Ethical holism
Definition
right and wrong are a function of the well being of the entire community, not the well being of individuals alone.
Term
amoralism
Definition
right and wrong do not exist.
Term
moral patient
Definition
due moral consideration. unable to formulate and act on the basis of moral principles and act on the basis of moral principles, unable to do right and wrong.
Term
Meta ethics
Definition
nature of moral language
"this is right"
Term
teleological center of a life
Definition
an entity whose world can be view from the perspective of its life.
Term
Ecosophy
Definition
a particular attempt to formulate an alternative worldview.
Term
Sentience
Definition
the capacity to suffer and/ or experience enjoyment
Term
personhood
Definition
persons are aware of the world in which they are a part of.
personhood does not necessarily mean being human.
3 approaches: humanistic, perfectionist, interactive.
Term
interactive approach
Definition
the capacity to interact with others that forms the grounds for personhood.
supported by Aaltola
Term
perfectionist approach
Definition
perfectionist capacities refer to capacities which are highly valued and one should excel in.
Term
categorical imperative
Definition
fundamental ethical duty
act only in those ways that all rational beings would find acceptable.
Term
social ecology
Definition
connection between domination of nature and social hierarchies
root in marxist principles
Term
Ecofeminism
Definition
connection between the domination of nature and the domination of women
Term
cost benefit analysis
Definition
we ought to do what which maximizes benefit and minimizes cost
Term
logic of domination
Definition
a logical structure of argumentation that "justifies" unjustified domination and subordination keeps "downs" down.
Provides moral premise that superiority justifies domination.
Term
Christopher Stone
Definition

Corporate responsibility

different arguments (polestar, promissory)

Term
Mae Wan Ho
Definition
"The Unholy Alliance"
GMO harms
Too much trust into science
Term
Stuart Newman
Definition
"Genetically Modified Foods and the Attack of Nature"
Term
Jonathan Rauch
Definition
"WIll Frakenfoods Save the Planet?"
positive outlook on GMOs
Term
Biological Postmodernism
Definition
we lose sense that there is a nature independent of us
Term
oppressive conceptual framework
Definition
one that functions to explain, maintain, and justify relationships of unjustified domination and subordination.
Hierarchal thinking, oppositional value dualisms, logic of domination.
Term
Value dualism
Definition
dualisms that have higher status to that which has historically been defined as "male, white, rational, culture" than to that which has been identified as "female, black, emotional, nature"
Karren Warren
Term
Value hierarchal thinking
Definition
attributes greater value to that which is up than to that which is down (men: up, women: down).
Term
promissory argument
Definition
corporations have made promises to their share holders to maximize their profits
criticism: 1. no actual promise made 2. even if actual promise made, no opportunity to refuse terms 3. sometimes morally permissible to break promises 4. still does not mean "maximize profits by any means necessary"
Term
Agency argument
Definition
management is an agent of the shareholders
criticism: 1. not true, shareholders don't select directors 2. companies fight shareholders requests to be more socially responsible 3. the so called agents don't demonstrate an interest in learning how their shareholders want them to behave.
Term
Role Argument
Definition
certain responsibilities that are attached to ones role. may or may not have actually promised shareholders or directly made shareholders agent, but this is implied in the role- management has responsibility not to waste company assets.
Criticism: 1. advocates of corporate responsibility are not suggesting that corporations must waste assets. 2. pay more than required amount, but not so much that they violate fiduciary duties 3. only prima facie force 4. if dissatisfied the shareholder can leave/sell.
Term
Polestar argument
Definition
acting as though they are required to maximize shareholders profits and it is best for all of us, society as a whole.
many judgments made in business are based on best guesses.
circumstances in which the law and market are not enough to keep corporations under control.
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