Introduction to Ethics and Environmental Ethics

Introduction to Ethics and Introduction to Ethics and Environmental EthicsEnvironmental Ethics

Some Classic Characteristics of EthicsSome Classic Characteristics of Ethics

1.1. Central concern is the well-being of people.Central concern is the well-being of people.

2.2. Consider not just yourself, but also all others who stand Consider not just yourself, but also all others who stand to be affected.to be affected.

3.3. Moral evaluations and judgments should be impartial.Moral evaluations and judgments should be impartial.

4.4. Moral evaluations and judgments should be Moral evaluations and judgments should be universalizable.universalizable.

5.5. Moral evaluations and judgments are inescapable.Moral evaluations and judgments are inescapable.

6.6. Moral considerations typically override other Moral considerations typically override other considerations.considerations.

Approaches to EthicsApproaches to Ethics

1.1. Metaethics and Conceptual AnalysisMetaethics and Conceptual Analysis

2.2. Descriptive EthicsDescriptive Ethics

3.3. Normative EthicsNormative Ethics

4.4. Practical EthicsPractical Ethics

Some Neighbors of EthicsSome Neighbors of Ethics

ReligionReligion

LawLaw

PoliticsPolitics

EconomicsEconomics

Other Social FactorsOther Social Factors

Some Challenges to EthicsSome Challenges to Ethics

Ethical Nihilism: ethics do not exist.Ethical Nihilism: ethics do not exist.

Cultural Ethical Relativism: ethics are Cultural Ethical Relativism: ethics are relative to particular cultures.relative to particular cultures.

Individual Ethical Relativism: ethics are Individual Ethical Relativism: ethics are relative to particular individuals.relative to particular individuals.

Traditional Ethical Theories: The Big PictureTraditional Ethical Theories: The Big Picture

Moral PrinciplesMoral Principles

Principle of NonmaleficencePrinciple of Nonmaleficence

Principle of BeneficencePrinciple of Beneficence

Principle of UtilityPrinciple of Utility

Principle of Respect for AutonomyPrinciple of Respect for Autonomy

Principle of JusticePrinciple of Justice

““Introducing Justice”Introducing Justice”Harry BrighouseHarry Brighouse

Justice can help us navigate between Justice can help us navigate between conflicting values.conflicting values.

Justice can help steer social science and Justice can help steer social science and policy.policy.

Justice has practical significance.Justice has practical significance.

JusticeJustice

Classic Formulation of Formal Justice: Classic Formulation of Formal Justice: “Equals must be treated equally, and “Equals must be treated equally, and unequals must be treated unequally.”unequals must be treated unequally.”

So what counts as relevant conditions for So what counts as relevant conditions for equal or unequal treatment?equal or unequal treatment?

Material Conditions of JusticeMaterial Conditions of Justice

Equal and unequal treatment concerns howEqual and unequal treatment concerns howburdens and benefits are distributed. This couldburdens and benefits are distributed. This couldbe based on some of the following:be based on some of the following:

1. Need1. Need 6. $6. $2. Effort2. Effort 7. Race and Ethnicity7. Race and Ethnicity3. Contribution3. Contribution 8. Gender8. Gender4. Merit4. Merit 9. Economic Class 9. Economic Class 5. Full Equality5. Full Equality 10. Country of 10. Country of

OriginOrigin

Distributive JusticeDistributive Justice

This concerns what material conditions are This concerns what material conditions are used to determine how burdens and used to determine how burdens and benefits are distributed.benefits are distributed.

Distributive Justice = Equity.Distributive Justice = Equity.

Most past and contemporary theories of Most past and contemporary theories of justice focus almost exclusively on justice focus almost exclusively on distributive justice.distributive justice.

““Environmental Ethics”Environmental Ethics”

Robert ElliotRobert Elliot

How can we justify a particular How can we justify a particular environmental ethic?environmental ethic?

1. Anthropocentrism1. Anthropocentrism

a. Use traditional moral theoriesa. Use traditional moral theories

b. Create some new ethical theory or b. Create some new ethical theory or approach approach

2. Moral Extensionism2. Moral Extensionism

3. Novel Features Approach3. Novel Features Approach

How can we flesh out a particular How can we flesh out a particular environmental ethic?environmental ethic?

1. Anthropocentrism:1. Anthropocentrism:

a. Stronga. Strong

B. WeakB. Weak

C. Economics-BasedC. Economics-Based

D. Future Generations D. Future Generations

2. Zoocentrism (variants include 2. Zoocentrism (variants include psychocentrism and sentientism)psychocentrism and sentientism)

3. Biocentrism3. Biocentrism

More Ways to Flesh Out More Ways to Flesh Out an Environmental Ethican Environmental Ethic

4. Ecocentrism4. Ecocentrism

5. Universal Moral Consideration5. Universal Moral Consideration

And the three “radical ecologies”And the three “radical ecologies”

6. Social Ecology6. Social Ecology7. Deep Ecology7. Deep Ecology8. Ecological Feminism or Ecofeminism8. Ecological Feminism or Ecofeminism

Environmental Ethics are based on Environmental Ethics are based on values.values.

But what are values?But what are values?