1
Q
What was Aldo Leopold’s last ethic?
A
a thing is right when it tends to pressure the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise
2
Q
What is plato’s thoughts on humans in nature?
A
Humans are immaterial beings who belong in an eternal realm of perfect forms. This world of nature is not our true home.
3
Q
What is Gould’s view on humans in nature?
A
Humans are embedded in nature, products of nature, and values are ephemeral
4
Q
What is Murdy’s view on humans in nature?
A
Humans are the present crest of the evolutionary wave. Transcendent values exist and humans emerge into a dual sphere of biological and spiritual evolution.
5
Q
What is Descartes’ view on humans in nature?
A
humans are composed of corporeal substance and thinking substance. Thinking substance is what makes us human and distinguishing us from animals.
6
Q
What is Kant’s view on humans in nature?
A
Only humans are able to rationally determine the universal moral laws, and there is no discernible goal in the rest of nature.
7
Q
What is Singer’s/Regan’s view on humans in nature?
A
Human culture gives rise to ethical rules that do not apply in nature. Humans create a world within a world.
8
Q
What is Dillard’s view on humans in nature?
A
Nature is amoral, humans are moral. We are moral freaks in nature
9
Q
What is the physical world definition of nature?
A
the physical world including all natural phenomena and living things
10
Q
What is definition of nature for the forces controlling the physical world?
A
the forces and processes collectively that control the phenomena of the physical world independently of human volition or intervention
11
Q
What is the definition of nature that is for non-human world (free of human influence or presence)?
A
a basic state of existence, untouched and uninfluenced by civilization
12
Q
What are the ways in which we thought we could know about the nature of things?
A
- Aristotle: the essence of a thing (the pigness of a pig)
- shared eastern cultures where taoist and buddhist thought focused on nature
- teleology: purpose and final causes
13
Q
What are the ways in which are we no longer confident that we can know nature?
A
- Immanuel Kant: noumena (the thing itself) and phenomena (the thing as it appears)
- science deals with phenomena and delivers near-certain knowledge
- the humanities use an entirely different sort of reason altogether
- we can’t know nature
14
Q
What does ecstasy mean?
A
- to stand out(side of one’s self)
15
Q
What are some characteristics of the idea of wilderness?
A
- the word ‘wilderness comes from the same root as the word “will”, meaning self-willed, uncontrollable
- an ancient Scandinavian symbol for wilderness is boiling water, unruly and chaotic
- what is the closest English word to “wilderness”? bewilder
16
Q
What are some ancient perceptions of wilderness?
A
- greeks considered wilderness the domain of wild, sensuous gods and beasts (panic)
- romans considered it uncivilized
- in barbarian Europe, it was the domain of wood-sprites, trolls, and the wild-man
17
Q
What are the Judeo-christian perspectives on wilderness?
A
- wilderness is mentioned in the Hebrew and christian scriptures over 200 times
- refers to desert, or waste places
- is the abode of demons (temptation of Jesus)
- is forsaken by God, absence of blessing
- is a place of punishment
- is the place where God finds you
- the place of purification
- facilitates spiritual strengthening
- is the first taste of freedom from bondage
- is a place for communion with dependence upon God
- essenes/eremitic monasticism
18
Q
When did romanticism in Europe take place?
A
1800-1850
19
Q
What is romanticism?
A
- emphasis on natural over artificial
- closely related ideas were ‘the sublime’, nature as an arena of a deistic God’s grandeur, vigor, ad virtue
-Civilization seen as corrupting; nature seen as invigorating and virtuous.
20
Q
What was Lord Byron’s view on romanticism and nature?
A
- pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture on the lonely shore, there is society where non intrudes, I love not the man less, but nature more
21
Q
What was eastwick evans’ view on romanticism and nature?
A
- how great are the advantages of solitude! how sublime is the silence of nature’s ever-active energies! there is something in the very name of wilderness, which charms the ear, and soothes the spirit of man. there is religion in it.
22
Q
What are American attitudes toward wilderness?
A
Pre-colonial period:
- wilderness is a threat to survival and humanity
- it’s a source of degeneracy: Hawthorne’s Scarlett letter
- in a subsequent generations, a lament at loss of strong virtues found in past from battling wilderness.
23
Q
What is the American Post-revolutionary war perspective on wilderness?
A
- primitivism: virtue inversely related to contact with civilization
- eastwick evans: wilderness provides a temporary, exciting alternative
- James Fennimore Cooper: wilderness produces the virtuous Natty Bumpo
- Wilderness is something that America has that Europe does not. Almost levels the playing field between civilized Europe and juvenile America.
24
Q
What is the perspective on Transcendentalism in America?
A
- Henry Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson
- inverted platoism - through wilderness one taps into spiritual and moral values
- Thoreau: in wildness is the preservation of the world
- Moral influences emanate from field and forest
25
How do you express Thoreau's basic thesis?
- Wildness is a pathway to the sacred/spirit
26
What is the expression or Muir's basic thesis?
Wilderness is a manifestation of God/the divine
27
What is wildness to Thoreau?
- a characteristic of natural places that provides a pathway to individual transcendence and enlightenment
- This is a Utilitarian, anthropocentric perspective: wilderness is good because it provides a service to human beings
28
What is wilderness to muir?
- A place. It's God's natural cathedral, a location to encounter the sacred or divine
- Non-utilitarian perspective: wilderness has intrinsic value, was not created specifically for humans
29
From William Cronon's perspective, what wilderness?
- American notions of wilderness built on the concepts of the sublime and the frontier.
30
What is the sublime?
- a quality with religious overtones that was grasped by Romantics and transcendentalists as exemplary of Nature at its best
- a focus of the Hudson River School, movement of landscape painters based in New York and founded by Thomas Cole
31
What was Thomas Cole's perspective on American scenery
- heard that America lacked quality scenery
- Romantic movement in Europe highlighted solitude/individuality, the picturesque, and historical time
- believed that American scenery was equal to and different from European scenery
- wildness, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, rivers, forests, and skies are worthy scenery
-identifies 3 elements that the American landscape painting should manifest: the magnificent, the picturesque, and the sublime
32
What is considered the sublime in paintings?
- refers to raising above a threshold level to the transcendent
- what elevates a person from the mundane to the transcendent
- brushes up against the notion of beauty, also encompasses fear and a sense of magnitude and power that dwarfs the individual human person
33
What was the frontier?
- primitivism: hostility to modernity
- rugged individualism: Owen sister the Virginian and teddy Roosevelt "rough rider of the plains
- Nostalgia for transient lifestyle
- Masculinity found in the wilderness, civilization as emasculation
- sentiment of the bourgeois
34
What is the unnatural history of wilderness?
- areas created to protect the nation's most sacred myth of origin
- forceful removal of native Americans to fit idealized notion of uninhabited pristine ness
- most wilderness has a history of logging, farming, or occupation
35
What ist he trouble with wilderness?
- pristine, uninhabited wilderness is a myth
- leaves no room for humans within nature
- any use is abuse = example of romanticism
- evade responsibility where we actually live
- need environmental ethic that tells us about how to use nature, as much as how not to use nature
36
What are critical points about wilderness?
- modern environmentalist thought still shows its roots in the sublime and frontier myth
- pristine wilderness locations are essentially nonexistent, humans have affected remote ecosystems on a global scale
- wilderness as a place can lead us to conceptualize nature as only where humans are not, neglecting responsibility for our immediate environment and leaving little room for environmental actions
37
What might we mean when we say "eat well"?
- enjoy your food (pleasure/satisfaction is the measure)
- eat for good health (health/well-being is the measure
- Eat for the good of the community (human, the biotic, and the land communities
38
What is Michael Pollan's Thesis on food production?
The U.S. has developed 3 primary systems for the production of food:
- industrial (chemical)
- industrial organic
- beyond organic
39
What is the "good" behind industrial chemical farming?
- with scientific efficiency behind cheap, plentiful, and profitable-processed food
- utilitarian - strong anthropocentrism
40
What is the "good" behind industrial organic food production?
- With appreciation for real, natural food toward natural ends
- utilitarian - weak anthropocentrism
41
What is the "good" behind beyond organic food production?
with respect for nature's patterns
- artisanal - ecocentric
42
What is the main point of industrial chemical?
efficiency in inputs and outputs
43
What is the ecological effects of Hunter-Gatherer Agriculture?
- minimally disruptive
- changed mix of plants
- could contribute to greater biodiversity and habitat diversity
44
What are the ecological effects of traditional farming?
- development of plow and move from scratch plow to deep plow = highly disruptive to land organisms (soil, fungi, bacteria, insects, worms, aeration)
- transformed ecosystems and created agrarian landscapes
- select grains came to dominate (wheat, maize)
- husbandry and breading shaped plants and animals
- fertilizers and pest controls were organic in nature
45
What are the ecological effects of industrial farming?
- inorganic fertilizers (NPK)
- mechanization of agriculture
- pesticides and herbicides proliferate
- hybridization and GM to date reduces number of varieties grown
- some adoption of no-till practices
46
What has been the revolutionary change in food production since 1950?
- local to international
- land dependent to chemical dependent
- medium-sized operations to mega farms and agribusiness
- high variety of crops to High yield cultivars
- GMOs
- from artisanal food to commodified food
47
What did policy do up until the 1920s?
- policy on agriculture was devoted to encouraging the conversion of land to farming and protecting it from land speculators
48
What did the land act of 1820 do?
- reduced the price of federal land (northwest and Missouri territory) to $1.25 and acre, with a minimum purchase of 80 acres, and a down payment of only $100
49
What did the homestead Act of 1862 do?
- accelerated the settlement of western territory
- granting adult heads of families 160 acres of surveyed public land for a minimal filing fee and 5 years of continuous residence on that land
50
What did the Morrill Act of 1862 do?
- set aside federal lands to create colleges to benefit the agricultural and mechanical arts
51
What is the "good" about the current farming system?
- greater yields
- lower prices
- greater uniformity in crops and larger markets
- Famine alleviation
52
What is true about American food spending and shares of their income?
- poorer Americans are spending less money on food, with more of their shares coming out of their income
- richer people are spending more money on food, with less of a share coming out of their income
53
What types of crops are not subsidized?
- corn
- wheat
- soybeans
- cotton
- rice
- sorghum
- livestock
- tobacco
54
What does the narrative ethics of industrial chemical agriculture leave out?
- negative effects on humans of agricultural changes
- more food is processed with an accompanying effect on nutrition
- obesity has become an epidemic
- less variety of food is consumed
- almost no connection to land and food production
55
What does the narrative ethics of industrial chemical agriculture leave out? (ecological effects)
- reduction in biodiversity
- alteration of land ecosystem
- poisoning of soil: effect on soil and surrounding water/land systems of fertilizers and pesticides
- loss of topsoil: up to several tons/acre/yr in exposed fields, whereas it takes 100-500 years for an inch of topsoil to develop
- source of energy/climate change: movement from agriculture as harnessing of renewable solar energy to mining of past solar energy
56
What are the ecological effects of beef production?
- greater quantity of land under cultivation to convert grain to beef (in feedlot, 6:1 ration corn-to-beef)
- disrupts the cattle/grass symbiosis
- cattle feedlots and stockyards (CAFOs) constitute one of the major types of non-point source pollutants
57
Who where the main characters in developing organic farming?
- Sir Albert Howard: stressed composting all organic waste material = his "Law of Return"
- Walter Northbourne: coined the term "organic" (complex, necessary interrelationship of parts
58
What was the organic movement like in the 60s and 70s?
- a small movement resisted the industrialization of agriculture and rebelled against the use of chemicals in farming
= Co-op movement
59
What was the organic movement like in the 80s?
- in the late 80s, the fringe movement had developed a substantial following so much so that it was an economically significant marker segment and the term Organic was identified as a potent advertisement, still no uniform standards
- some states attempted to initiate standards
- the Alar (daminozide) scare in the apple industry tipped the balance in favor of national organic standards and the act was passed
60
What was the organic movement like in the 90s and early 2000s?
- 90s: the organic foods production act mandated the establishment of national organic program, a board was constituted in 1992
- final rules went into effect October 2002
- standards were the responsibility of the agency
- first set of rule drafts were issued in 1997
61
What were the draft standards in 1997?
- large businesses had a lot of influence in drafting the organic standards
- use of sewage sludge as fertilizer
- irradiation for sterilization
- genetic modification
62
What were the final 2002 standards like?
- synthetic pesticides were prohibited
- GMOs are prohibited
- irradiation is prohibited
- use of biosolids, sewage sludge, prohibited
- livestock must be given access to pasture
- livestock not given growth hormones or antibiotics and given organically grown feed
- land must be free of chemical applications for three years before crops are considered to be organic
- written farm plans and audit trails are required
63
What is the "good" of the Organic food system?
- produce food that is "natural" and to protect humans health from man-made substances
64
What are the twelve fruits and veggies to buy organic?
- Peaches, apples, pears, winter squash, green beans, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, spinach, potatoes, tomatoes, and cantaloupe
65
What are some criticisms of the the organic standards?
- says nothing about food-miles and their impact off the environment
- little importance of local and regional organic foods
- preservations of biodiversity and diverse crops and animals
- humane treatment of farm animals
- social justice and equity for farm workers
- fitting farm operations within an ecosystem of relationships
66
What are the goals of Beyond organic farming?
- treat farming ecosystemically as a relationship between humans and the land organism
- re-establish a relationship between the general population, land, and the people who grow food
- reduce reliance on transportation and encourage local farming
- recover a sense of the practical in farming
- recognize th symbioses that exist between different plants animals and humans
- return farming to being the work of artisans rather than factory workers
- health the land and the biotic community
67
What is the animal rights/liberation movements' view on killing/eating/using animals?
- no, but yes if it is below the sentience line
68
What is the animal welfare movements' view on killing/eating/using animals?
yes, if done humanely
69
What is the CAFO cartesianism movements' view on killing/eating/using animals?
yes, they're just production units
70
What is the CAFO Organic movements' view on killing/eating/using animals?
yes, so long as everything is natural
71
What is the Traditional/Beyond Organic movements' view on killing/eating/using animals?
Respect sacred bond
72
What are the ecological challenges of CAFOs?
- concentration and dispersal of waste
- prevention of pollution/runoff
73
What are characteristics of CAFOs?
- 4000 dairy cows (all holstein)
- corn and soy fields
- nearby waterway
- 3 manure lagoons
- sileage stacks
74
What are the characteristics of using cows for milk production?
- significantly controlled living conditions
- average life cycle of 2+ years
- bred yearly and calves removed immediately
- closely monitored milk production
- when production wanes, sent for slaughter
75
What are the characteristics of a pig's life on a CAFO?
- significantly controlled living conditions
- life cycle of 6 months for pigs raised for pork
- average life cycles of 6 pregnancies (14 piglets per pregnancy) in 2+ years for sows, then made out of pork
- bred as often as possible
76
What did Idaho do?
ban secret filming of animal abuse at agriculture facilities is unconstitutional
77
What are the types of Ag-Gag laws?
- prohibiting filming or recording for purposes of damaging a business or its reputation
- requiring that abusive behavior be reported within 24 hours of observing such behavior
- preventing employees form entering areas of business not within their responsibilities.
78
What are some recent Ag-Gag business?
- Kansas: a federal judge in Kansas rule in 2020 that the ag-gag law was unconstitutional
- North Carolina - federal court rulesNC's Ag-Gag law is unconstitutional
- Iowa: federal judge finds ag-gag law as unconstitutional
79
Who is Arne Naess?
- 20th century Norwegian Philosopher
- Professor at 20, Retired at 50
- founded deep ecology with bill Devall and George Sessions
- His own ecological philosophy is Ecosophy-T (Tvergastein)
80
What is Ecosophy-T?
- to seek the maximal flourishing of every other self to which it is connected?
- includes self realization as being part of the thing you are trying to protect
- opposite of egocentrism
- self realization is the overcoming of a separate ego; increasing maturity and compatibility with others
81
What are the 7 points of Deep Ecology?
1) reject "Man in the Environment" approach in favor of the relational, total field image
2) Biological egalitarianism - all ecosystem organisms have an equal right to protection and life-space requirements; humans should not be favored
3) Diversity and symbiosis: encourages new modes of life and diversity of form
4) Anti-class: no organism, except through evolution, should hold sway over another
5) Fight against pollution and resource depletion
6) Complexity vs. Complication
7) Emphasis on local political autonomy and decentrilization
82
What are the 8 principles?
1) both human and non-human life have intrinsic and inherent value which are independent of their usefulness to humans
- ecocentristic life, not biocentric
83
What is the 2nd of the 8 principles?
Richness and diversity of life have value in themselves
84
What is the 3rd of the 8 principles?
Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except for vital needs
- life implies over time an increase in richness and diversity, primitive species have value in themselves, not just as a means
- vital needs is deliberately vague, up to your judgement
85
What is the 4th of the 8 principles?
The flourishing of human and non-human life requires a substantial decrease in human population
- cannot happen over night, interim strategies are needed, but that does not excuse complacency
- end goal being to reduce the excessive interference of countries on the non-human world
- the daily consequence is a loss in the richness and diversity of the non-human world. Great extinction of species will occur.
86
What is the 5th of the 8 principles?
human interference with non-human world is excessive and the situation rapidly worsens
- not that no mode of changing ecosystems is allowed
- the nature nd extent of interference; asks developing countries not to replicate rich countries actions
- preserve and extend free nature, focusing on the ecological functions of the areas
87
What is the 6th of the 8 principles?
Future economic, technological and ideological policies must be deeply different from the present
- economic growth is incompatible with principles 1-5
- while deep ecology promotes local governance, implementation of deep changes requires global action
- cultural diversity today requires advanced/technology
88
What is the 7th of the 8 principles?
The needed ideological change is mainly that of appreciating the quality of life rather than economic growth
89
What is the 8th of the 8 principles?
Those who subscribe to the foregoing points have an obligation to implement the changes
- Quality of life is purposefully vague
- It was purposeful to allow for the reordering of priorities based on the individual supporter of the deep ecology movement
90
What is the difference between deep and shallow ecology?
- shallow ecology presents electric vehicles, but there are growing concerns about the critical minerals required
(might not be enough lithium to supply batteries to reduce our emissions)
- Deep ecology asks: white vital needs to electric cars fill (How can resource use serve the quality of life rather than the economic standard of living of consumerism)
91
What is ecofascism?
violent nativists used in environmentalism to justify violent nativists actions in Christchurch, NZ and El Paso, TX
92
What is Ecoterrorism?
Animal liberation front, tree spiking
- deep ecology does not excuse or promote islamophobia, racism, or murder in any form. The obligation of action in no way prescribes or implies violence
93
What are ecotage and monkey wrenching?
specifically non-violent forms of protest: Greenpeace and Naess himself
94
Difference between Deep and integral ecology?
- can be nearly synonymous or at odds
- Integral ecology recognizes humans as having a duty to the environment as stewards (placing humanity above nature)
95
How to practice deep ecology?
- simple, elegant means
- quality of living, not standard of living
- life-style based on deep ecological principles
- buy products from ones own bioregion
- reduce energy consumption
- live simply that others may simply live
- right livelihood means not destructive of life
- participation in bioregional actions
96
Environmental Ethics
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