Environmental Ethics

What Does Ethics Mean?

Ethics is a branch of philosophy that tries to define what is fundamentally right and wrong, regardless of cultural differences. Dictionary: A discipline dealing with what is good and bad, with moral duty and obligation

Ethics is the preferable way society can achieve the right decisions without having to use
- codes - laws - courts - diplomacy - boycott - physical force

Ethical Subsections Social Ethics

Ethics which guides human behavior towards each other

Professional Ethics
Ethics which guides professionals within its group and toward society

Environmental Ethics
Ethics which guides human behavior towards the earth

Why need to study Environmental Ethics?

To overcome the following questions. 1. What are the environment damage produce by the present generation? 2. What values must be give up to slow such damage?

Environmental Damage
1) Pollution:
Air pollution Water pollution Land pollution

2) Resource depletion: Depletion of Species & Habits Depletion of Fossil fuels etc..

The Ethical Values for Pollution Control

We should recognize our moral duty to protect the welfare not only a human beings, but also of other non-human parts of this system. Usefulness of non-human world for human purposes. Humans have no rights to reduce this richness & diversity expect to satisfy vital needs.

Ethical Values for Conserving depletable resources

Development that meets the needs of the present with comprising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Proper utilisation of resources We should adopt voluntary measures to conserve the resources.

Environmental Ethical Value Systems

Biocentrism Ecocentrism Anthropocentrism

Biocentrism
1. Humans are members of the Earths community 2. All species are integral elements in a system of interdependence 3. All organisms are centers of life, each pursuing its own good 4. Humans are not inherently superior to other living things

Ecocentrism
Expansion of biocentrism by including abiotic components of the environment. It cares less about individual life forms but emphasizes interaction between them and fosters a system approach

Anthropocentrism
Emphasizes human domination over nature and views non-human environment as a bundle of natural resources to be managed and exploited for maximal human gain. The ecosystems have only instrumental value, not intrinsic worth.

Environmental Ethics Principles

We should have profound respect for nature. We must maintain a harmonious relation with other species. Everyone should take responsibility for this impact on nature. We must plan for the long term.

Conclusion
We should follow the Environmental Ethical Values for our Welfare of the environment. We are only the responsible for Environment damage. We should love & respect the human as well as non human beings.