Transcript Ecophilosophy - University of Wisconsin–Madison

Ecophilosophy
A study in philosophy and the
environment
Ecophilosophy
 Definition:
 Eco-means home or place
 Sohia-means wisdom
 General definition for ecophilosophy is a
pursuit for an ecologically wise and
harmonious living
Ecophilosophy
 Three positions on environmental ethics
 The green application of standard ethics
 Adaptation or extension of standard ethics to
accommodate environmental causes. An
example of this is the adaptation of
utilitarianism to animal liberation
 New, non-standard ethics which supersedes
established ethics.
Ecophilosophy
 Beliefs, principles, standards
 Nature is not something outside of humans
 It is an interdependent community of which
humans constitute a part
 All living beings have a moral value not just
humans
 An expanding of the concept of moral
community not only to humans and animals
but to plants also
Ecophilosophy
 Beliefs, principles, standards
 Value ethics extends beyond living
organisms to the ecosystems (rivers,
wetlands, soil, mts.)
 Actions are only valuable if we bring some
good (stability, integrity, beauty) to the
ecosystem
 “Let us return to nature”
Ecophilosophy
 Criticisms of modern thinking towards the
environment




Overpopulation
Contraception is a human right
Lack of thought for future generations
Lack of support to end poverty in developing
countries
 More promotion of democracy needed
 Destruction of biodiversity
Ecophilosophy
 Issues of concern
 Attitude that morality is helping friends not
enemies
 Putting human interests always above those
of nature is surely no longer defensible
Ecophilosophy
 Scientific discoveries supporting
Ecophilosophy
 There is no physical center in astronomy
 Humans appeared very late in evolution and
technically were accidents
 Ecology demonstrates nature never respects
a model or plan placed on it by man
 Geology shows continents are moving