HL.c Ethics

Knowledge Statements

HL.c.1 Ethics is the branch of philosophy that focuses on moral principles and what behaviours are right and wrong.

HL.c.2 Environmental ethics is a branch of ethical philosophy that addresses environmental issues.

HL.c.3 A variety of ethical frameworks and conflicting ethical values emerge from differing fundamental beliefs concerning the relationship between humans and nature.

HL.c.4 Instrumental value is the usefulness an entity has for humans.

HL.c.5 Intrinsic value is the value one may attach to something simply for what it is.

HL.c.6 The concepts of instrumental and intrinsic value are not exclusive.

HL.c.7 An entity has “moral standing” if it is to be morally considered with regard to how we ought to act towards it.

HL.c.8 There are three major approaches of traditional ethics: virtue ethics, consequentialist (for example, utilitarian) ethics and rights-based (deontological) ethics.

HL.c.9 Virtue ethics focuses on the character of the person doing the action. It assumes that good people will do good actions and bad people will do bad actions.

HL.c.10 Consequentialist ethics is the view that the consequences of an action determine the morality of the action.

HL.c.11 Rights-based ethical systems focus on the actions and whether they conflict with the rights of others. There is debate about what these rights might be.

HL.c.12 Some people hold the view that whatever is natural is correct or good. This position is contentious and is described as the “appeal to nature” fallacy.

HL.c.13 Environmental movements and social justice movements have developed from separate histories but are increasingly seeking common goals of equitable and just societies.

To what extent do humans have a moral responsibility towards the environment?

How does environmental ethics influence approaches to achieving a sustainable future?

Part 1: The Framework of Environmental Ethics

Environmental Ethics taught us to value the nature. It is questioning around these central phylosophical questions:

What are our responsibilities to?
- wild species
- ecosystems
- present and future generations of humans
What does it mean to be "sustainable"?
Why do many believe that achieving sustainability is an ethical imperative for science and society in this century?

Environmental Ethics Framework

Part 2: Moral Standing and Ethical Value

The argument is: Intergenerational Responsibility

sustainable development must not take from future generations and now as we move beyond the concept of sustainability to regenerative futures we talk about providing more for future generations than will currently happen.
Many consider it a matter of obligation that we should take care of our future generations.
This is a part of many indigenous cultures.
Climate justice would argue that future generations will not benefit from the excessive consumption occurring now and will have to deal with the negative effects of climate change.
It is also largely the result of economic activity and decisions in the Global North and the Global South is disproportionately impacted by climate change.

Moral Standing

"If you try to save one thing, another might get harmed.."

Moral standing is the question of what should be granted the right to have consideration of ethics and then consequently how we ought to treat it.
At the one extreme is the view that only humans have moral standing; at the other, that all entities, biotic and abiotic, in nature, should have the right to moral standing.
In many people's opinions, moral standing does not equal moral rights which they tend to apply more narrowly.This continuum describes different aspects of Anthropocentrism to Ecocentrism and Biocentrism.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area's management is a complex issue involving the reconciliation of conservation goals with the rights and traditions of the indigenous Maasai people. The ethical dilemma revolves around how to protect biodiversity without infringing on the Maasai's rights to maintain their traditional ways of life.

Moral standing often outcomes tensions

Ethical Value

Things can have value as an end as well as a means.
We may not know the value of things which are valuable and we value things that cannot be valued financially such as a view a sunset or a sound.
Some things may also have symbolic value, such as a handshake.
Ecocentrics often will emphasise intrinsic value which is the value that something possesses simply for existing, for being what it is. This can include biotic and abiotic objects, organisms and systems. It is also connected to its moral standing.
Anthropocentrics often will emphasise the instrumental value of something. This is its usefulness for humans. It is the means to our end. Ecosystem goods and services have instrumental value as they measure the value to humans. The derivation of knowledge of creative inspiration is an instrumental value.

Of course, the concepts of intrinsic and instrumental value are not mutually exclusive. A tree can have intrinsic value for existing but it may have instrumental value for someone from the inspiration it provides for an artistic endeavour or the shade it provides in the sun.

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) also includes relational value as the importance of people-nature interactions and interactions among people (including generations) through nature

Part 3: Ethical Approach and Appeal to Nature Fallacy

Approaches to Ethics

Is herbal medicine better and synthesised medicine?

Some argues that herbal is better simply because it is natural.
Fallacy is a deceptive, misleading or false notion belief

Part 4: Environmental and Social Justice Movements

Environmental movements and social justice movements have developed from separate histories but are increasingly seeking common goals of equitable and just societies.

Decolonisation: A crucial prerequisite to environmental justice in Africa - Greenpeace InternationalAll across Africa, a colonial approach of extraction and exploitation continues to plague and paralyse economies. It pushes ecosystems to the edge and puts pan-Africanism on a back burner

The Time Is Now to Build a Common Vision and Purpose for Decolonizing Conservation | Blog | Nature | PBSThousands of Indigenous Peoples, academics, civil society networks, international organizations, and governments are gathering at the UN Permanent Forum

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