Transcript Treatment of Nature - BTHS World History

Key Terms
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Speciesism
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Sentientism
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Prejudice for one’s own
species and against other
species
Theory that only those
beings with mental states
should be the subject of
moral concern
Wholism
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Conception of nature that
sees humans and nature
together as forming a moral
community
Nature and Morality
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Human beings have
discovered in recent years
that natural resources are
subject to diminishment,
destruction and loss
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Is nature valuable in itself?
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Should humans be
concerned individually and
morally?
Environmental Ethical
Issues
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Must take action to conserve and
replenish what we take from
nature for our own uses
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Cannot continue its exploitation
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Animal rights
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With modern innovation, we
should no longer be destroying
animals for food and parts
Could be more humane raising
domestics
Controversial use of animals for
experimentation
Concerns over endangered
species
Attitudes Toward Nature

Developed over a long
period
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Platonic dualism
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Human beings separate
and superior
Judeo-Christian teachings
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Human beings have a soul
whereas the rest of nature
does not
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Human beings have
dominion over nature,
must multiply
Attitudes Toward Nature

Advancement of science
and technology has made
nature more subservient

Industrialization has
increased the use of natural
resources and pollution

Population increase has
meant need for land has
grown as well
Arguments For Exploitation

Dominion-over-Nature
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Religious – Western
religions condone this in the
Bible

Natural order and evolution
shows human beings to be
the most evolved species

Civilization more important
than nature – highest
evolutionary and religious
order

Only humans are deserving
of moral rights
Arguments Against
Exploitation

Monistic wholism says that
human beings and nature are
parts of a whole not
separated
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Religious arguments have
been misinterpreted
Human beings may be
replaced eventually
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Reasoning should not
separate humans, but bring
them closer to nature
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Nature contains human
needs and thus should be
valued
Moderate Position

Nature is important and
significant but not
necessarily as important as
humans

May be used for human
ends if done with care
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Generally agrees with
wholism, but not totally
against the good of humans
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Thoughts?
PSA
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Choose a specific issue you feel is not being covered in the
endangerment of the environment

Using research completed in class, construct a small PSA
poster that reflects the following:
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What is in danger
What you want people to know
What is the impact of not acting
At least one measureable statistic, cited
Images (do your best)
What can be done to prevent further exploitation
Name on it, completed for homework or turned in today