Environmental Ethics

Question 1

definition of stewardship

Answer 1

the human duty to take care of the world on behalf of God

Question 2

Christian ideas of human dominion in creation

Answer 2

Genesis = idea that the world was made for us:

• Imago dei
• Adam allowed to name animals
• G1: let them have dominion
• G1: humans as VERY good

Because of this power, we have a responsibility for it as stewards

Question 3

Christian ideas of human stewardship

Answer 3

Because of our dominion, we have responsibility for creation

• G2: work it and take care of it
• duty to fix injustice of climate change (poverty)

Question 4

christianity as not environmentally ethical (4)

Answer 4

• “be fruitfull and multiply” not practical in time of over population
• jesus banishes demons into pigs + curses a fig tree
• because of the fall we may no longer have dominion/stewardship
• ideas of God’s control + book of revelations may reduce Christian’s motivations to save environment

Question 5

what is deep ecology?

Answer 5

Næss
ecocentric idea that all parts of nature have intrinsic value and are interdependent

• therefore human exploitation of natural resources is wrong

Question 6

deep ecology as religious or not

Answer 6

secular: predomidently seen as secular - i.e spirituality found through nature + rejects idea of dominion
buddhist: encorporates buddhist idea of spiritual unity with nature - naess adopted Ghandi’s peaceful protests
christian: Aquinas’ view of harmonious creation (but more anthropocentric)

Question 7

Evaluate deep ecology

⛔️⛔️
✅✅✅

Answer 7

⛔️ no practical solutions: Naess’ peaceful protests dont cause change 🛢️🔸
⛔️ ecocentrism overlooks human crisis’: poverty and hunger which can be helped by natural resources
✅ promotes reverence for nature
✅ transcends cultural barriers and promotes equality
✅ highlights human destruction and promotes accountability

Question 8

What is the Gaia Hypothesis?

Answer 8

Lovelock 🔒
Anthropomorphic sentiment that all organisms and their surroundings form a ”single, self-regulating system”

Question 9

History of the Gaia hypothesis (3)

Answer 9

• named after the ancient Greek goddess of Earth 🏺
• originates in plato’s idea of the 4 elements forming 1 earth 🌬️☄️
• Darwin proposed any unity in nature is due to adaptation 🐸🏝️

Question 10

Evaluate the Gaia Hypothesis
⛔️⛔️
✅✅

Answer 10

⛔️ anthropomorphic language is inappropriate when talking about earth
⛔️ hasn’t been scientifically proved (Darwin)
✅ makes us more considerate of our actions effecting earth
✅ helps us understand interdependence of humanity and nature

Question 11

What is shallow ecology?
(Termed by Næss but he didn’t agree with it)

Answer 11

Anthropocentric idea that nature has Instrumental value depending on its usefulness to humanity.

Promoting conservation + biodiversity as this is beneficial for us. 👩🏽‍🌾

Question 12

Attitudes towards conservation + biodiversity (2)

Answer 12

Deep ecology: we should up hold the intrinsic value in all creation
Shallow ecology: done to ensure natural resources are available for humans and future gens

Question 13

Example of conservation

Answer 13

Nature reserve i.e Sutton park:

• protected land with strict building and hunting regulations
• allows people to connect with nature + collect resourses (i.e game)

Question 14

Evaluate shallow ecology
⛔️⛔️
✅✅

Answer 14

⛔️ Singer= animals that feel pain have intrinsic value
⛔️ needs of humans change over time/culture = impractical
✅ allows human development and eudaemonia
✅ realistic to believe humans will prioritise own needs

Question 15

Religious attitude towards animal welfare: (2)

Answer 15

• 👨‍🌾 St Francis of Assisi = animals have souls and deserve moral treatment as Gods creatures
• 🦍 Dominion to use them how we like but stewardship means we should do it in a caring way

Question 16

Utilitarian attitude towards animal welfare (secular)

Answer 16

Singer
Animals and humans aren’t politically equal
But likely have equal ability to suffer/thrive so they should have moral equality

Speciesism: wrong to inflict pain on one specie rather than another, or to increase pleasure of another 🐶🐷

Question 17

Problems of and solutions to incorrect waste management

Answer 17

• land/water/air pollution
• release of toxic chemical
• loss of habitat to landfill
• wasted money

Appropriate disposal:

• recycling
• compost
• reusing

Question 18

The environment act - 2021

• pretty much make up any point

Answer 18

Strategies to improve air and water quality and harsher legislations for companies
Mirrors changing attitudes towards need for climate protection

Question 19

Caritas

Answer 19

Christian charity that works globally to combat injustice often caused by climate change:

• emergency response after natural disaster
• defences for floods
• teaching sustainable farming techniques
• doubt resistant seeds

Question 20

Sustainable ways to prevent climate change

Answer 20

• laws and regulations
• reusable energy
• technology to combat emissions
• carbon offsetting
• preservation of biodiversity (rainforest)
• less meat consumption

Question 21

Social changes as a result environmental issues (3)

Answer 21

• unpredictable crop patterns for farmers
• developing countries will struggle to adapt to climate change
• communities forced to relocate, i.e due to flooding, threatening thier culture

Question 22

attitudes about human responsibility for saving the planet (4)

Answer 22

Nihilist: reject human ability to fix climate change - natural disaster are inevitable (revalations = all in Gods hands)
G7 Summit: diplomacy is not making musch impact
Næss: need to change our rel with nature through peaceful protest
Lovelock: we should respect Gaia and work with nature to help it

Question 23

🌔

Answer 23