ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
GEO4-2323
UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT
, Introduction Environmental ethics
Ecomodernism = believe there is no real environmental problem; popular among right-wing politicians.
Objectivity – Partiality (bias)
is (descriptive) – ought (normative/prescriptive)
o Objective, but not impartial. Good to be biased sometimes
Philosophy on science reflects on objectivity and ethics reflects on partiality
Important to make ethics explicit
o Problems with journalism: balanced view doesn’t work if unbalanced sides get equal attention ->
confuses the audience
Is/ought distinction & Arguments against moral relativism
1987: sustainability gets linked with development -> of human potential
o Worldwide platform to discuss sustainability issues
1992: environmental conference in Rio
o Bill McKibben; end of nature -> classic (1989)
o Math of global warming (2013)
Conferences will not result in sustainable development. There is NO susd
Equation of stupid: C > I
o C= carrying capacity & I = impact of humans on carrying capacity
o = population – footprint / technology
1972: Club of Rome report: the limits of growth
Since 1850 exponential growth (population, emissions)
Club of Rome:
Average footprint is rising because of development in poorer countries
o Avg footprint Dutch citizen: 3.7 planets
Technofix: technology will save everything
Callicott Desperate optimism
o Still strive for the best
J. Diamond Collapse
George Monbiot Heat
Marc Lyras Six degrees
Christmas tree of knowledge structure + motive
Ecological theory = arguments for being good
o Rational answer to why something is good or bad
Artificial language: everyone on the same level + easy to learn (Esperanto)
o Moral Esperanto = to reach consensus, speak in a way everyone understands
o Rational + secular arguments no reference to religion
Never consensus when religion is involved
First ethical Theory
Two types of ethical theories
o Autonomous; giving rational arguments
o Heteronomous; pointing to someone else
Religious: divine command theory, secular
o Real life most people are heteronomous
WHAT KIND OF ETHICAL DOES CURRY HAVE?
Stewardship: God gave the planet to humanity and we should take care of it
Dominion: God has put humans on the Earth to dominate the Earth
Consequentialism
o Consequences of this action are better than the alternative
o Most famous one: Utilitarianism
Pleasure is good, pain is bad
How to remove this?
Hedonistic calculus; Jeremy Bentham
Peter Singer: trying to solve minorities getting in trouble
Overview normative ethical theories & Expanding moral circle
Deontology Deon = duty By Kant
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
GEO4-2323
UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT
, Introduction Environmental ethics
Ecomodernism = believe there is no real environmental problem; popular among right-wing politicians.
Objectivity – Partiality (bias)
is (descriptive) – ought (normative/prescriptive)
o Objective, but not impartial. Good to be biased sometimes
Philosophy on science reflects on objectivity and ethics reflects on partiality
Important to make ethics explicit
o Problems with journalism: balanced view doesn’t work if unbalanced sides get equal attention ->
confuses the audience
Is/ought distinction & Arguments against moral relativism
1987: sustainability gets linked with development -> of human potential
o Worldwide platform to discuss sustainability issues
1992: environmental conference in Rio
o Bill McKibben; end of nature -> classic (1989)
o Math of global warming (2013)
Conferences will not result in sustainable development. There is NO susd
Equation of stupid: C > I
o C= carrying capacity & I = impact of humans on carrying capacity
o = population – footprint / technology
1972: Club of Rome report: the limits of growth
Since 1850 exponential growth (population, emissions)
Club of Rome:
Average footprint is rising because of development in poorer countries
o Avg footprint Dutch citizen: 3.7 planets
Technofix: technology will save everything
Callicott Desperate optimism
o Still strive for the best
J. Diamond Collapse
George Monbiot Heat
Marc Lyras Six degrees
Christmas tree of knowledge structure + motive
Ecological theory = arguments for being good
o Rational answer to why something is good or bad
Artificial language: everyone on the same level + easy to learn (Esperanto)
o Moral Esperanto = to reach consensus, speak in a way everyone understands
o Rational + secular arguments no reference to religion
Never consensus when religion is involved
First ethical Theory
Two types of ethical theories
o Autonomous; giving rational arguments
o Heteronomous; pointing to someone else
Religious: divine command theory, secular
o Real life most people are heteronomous
WHAT KIND OF ETHICAL DOES CURRY HAVE?
Stewardship: God gave the planet to humanity and we should take care of it
Dominion: God has put humans on the Earth to dominate the Earth
Consequentialism
o Consequences of this action are better than the alternative
o Most famous one: Utilitarianism
Pleasure is good, pain is bad
How to remove this?
Hedonistic calculus; Jeremy Bentham
Peter Singer: trying to solve minorities getting in trouble
Overview normative ethical theories & Expanding moral circle
Deontology Deon = duty By Kant
