Transcript Notes on Jamieson, chapter 3

PHILOSOPHY 102 (STOLZE)
Notes on Dale Jamieson, Ethics
and the Environment, chapter 3
Two Major Fields of Ethics
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Meta-ethics “concerns the meaning and status of moral language.”
Normative Ethics (theorical and applied/practical) “is concerned with
what sorts of things are good, which acts are right, and what the
relations are between the right and the good . . . [and] the evaluation
of particular things and good and bad, and of various acts, practices,
or institutions as right or wrong” (p. 46).
The “Last Man” Thought Experiment
“Suppose that Fred is the last sentient creature on the planet and he
knows that, for whatever reason, sentient life will never again appear
on this planet. Just before exiting the scene, Fred destroys all of the
planet’s geology and biology. What he destroys is of great beauty and
majesty, but he defends his action by saying that it doesn’t matter,
since it will never again be appreciated or valued by anyone. Do we
accept Fred’s justification, or do we think that what he did was
wrong?” (p. 74)
The “Last Generation” Thought Experiment
“Most thoughtful people are extremely concerned about climate change. Some stop eating meat, or flying
abroad on vacation, in order to reduce their carbon footprint. But the people who will be most severely
harmed by climate change have not yet been conceived. If there were to be no future generations, there
would be much less for us to feel guilty about.
So why don’t we make ourselves the last generation on earth? If we would all agree to have ourselves
sterilized then no sacrifices would be required — we could party our way into extinction!
Of course, it would be impossible to get agreement on universal sterilization, but just imagine that we
could. Then is there anything wrong with this scenario? …[W]e could still defend it, because it makes us
better off — for one thing, we can get rid of all that guilt about what we are doing to future generations —
and it doesn’t make anyone worse off, because there won’t be anyone else to be worse off.
Is a world with people in it better than one without? Put aside what we do to other species — that’s a
different issue. Let’s assume that the choice is between a world like ours and one with no sentient beings
in it at all. And assume, too — here we have to get fictitious, as philosophers often do — that if we choose
to bring about the world with no sentient beings at all, everyone will agree to do that. No one’s rights will
be violated — at least, not the rights of any existing people. Can non-existent people have a right to come
into existence?”
(Excerpted from Peter Singer, “Should This Be the Last Generation?” The New York Times, June 6,
2010.)
Hyperion Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)
Hyperion is the name of a Coast
Redwood tree in Northern California
that was confirmed to measure 379.1
feet, which ranks it as the world's
tallest known living tree. Hyperion
was discovered September 8, 2006
by naturalists Chris Atkins and
Michael Taylor. The tree was found
in a remote area of the Redwood
National Park, south of Crescent
City. The exact location of the tree
has not been revealed to the public
for fear that human traffic would
upset the surrounding ecosystem.
The “Immortal Tree”
Although this isn’t the oldest or tallest
redwood tree, it is over 950 years old
and is currently around 250 feet tall. It
has survived a 1964 flood of the area, a
1908 attempt at logging, and a direct
lightning strike that broke off the top 45
feet (now in cross-section). The tree
derives its name from its age and from
having survived these threats. Markers
are visible on the tree, denoting the
heights where the loggers' axes and the
floodwaters struck the tree. The tree is
located along the Avenue of the Giants
along State Route 254, north of
Garberville, California
A Cross-section of the Immortal Tree
Ronald Reagan on Redwoods
Ronald Reagan, while running for governor of California, spoke before
the Western Wood Products Association in San Francisco on March
12, 1966 and said the following:
“I think . . . that we've got to recognize that where the preservation of a
natural resource like the redwoods is concerned, that there is a
common sense limit. I mean, if you've looked at a hundred thousand
acres or so of trees—you know, a tree is a tree, how many more do
you need to look at?”
(The campaign of Pat Brown, his opponent, changed his comments
into “If you’ve seen one redwood, you’ve seen them all.” However,
Reagan still won the election later that year.)
Factual and Moral Language
(1)
Hyperion is 379.1 feet tall and 950 years old.
(2)
Hyperion is morally valuable.
Moral Realism
Moral language “states facts about the world” (p. 48). A moral realist
“is a naturalist who believes that there is some natural fact in virtue of
which something is good” (p. 51). Ex: Hedonism.
Moral Subjectivism
Moral language “expresses the attitudes of speakers rather than
stating facts about the world” (p. 57).
Three Types of Moral Subjectivism
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Simple Subjectivism
Emotivism
Prescriptivism
Simple Subjectivism
(2)*
I like Hyperion.
Emotivism
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(2)** Hurray for Hyperion!
Prescriptivism
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(2)*** Long may Hyperion last!
Moral Dispositionalism or the “Sensible Center”
(2)**** The properties of Hyperion are such that they evoke a
sense of wonder and moral respect.
Intrinsic Value
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It is contrasted with instrumental value.
It is the ticket that admits something to the moral community.
It is a kind of value belonging inherently to the thing itself.
It is independent of valuers.