Quick Facts about Environmental Philosophy

Four Mainstreams of Environmental Philosophy:

A) Environmental Ethics

B) Environmentalism

C) Environmental Aesthetics (Nature of beauty, arts and taste)

D) Environmental Theology (religious believe towards environmental protection and conversation)

(A) ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

Ethics – related to human conduct/behavior, science of morality Theory of morality, value system and human?s treatment to the environment

There are THREE main theories of Environmental Ethics

a)      Theory of Values (with four sub-classes of Anthropocentrism, Biocentrism, Ecocentrism and Technocentrism)

b)      Theory of Duties

c)      Theory of Virtues

Theory of Values

a)      Anthropocentrism

Principle existence and concern about the human being as the central fact of the universe. Intrinsic values: (Subjective values – created by man and objective values – already existed) and human factors

b)      Biocentrism (4 Principles)

a. Humankind as the part of the entire living community on Earth

b. Earth is a complex natural ecosystem, interrelated with living community and influence each other

c. All living creature own a purpose living and need manner like humankind

d. Humankind should avoid regarding as superior to the others. Need to respect all living creatures

c)      Ecocentrism

Equilibrium on ecosystem as the core value that bind human and non-human together. Humankind is the component of the entire global ecosystem (Ecological Law). Inclined with Individualism (Universal Intrinsic Value)

d)     Technocentrism

Ability to develop technology in solving environmental issues. Seldom practiced because it is not value-based and not duty-based on environmental ethics

Theory of Duties

Deontology – looking for obligations/responsibility, should be perform by all humankind

Categorical Imperative and Hypothetical Imperative. Now it is known as Sustainable Development, where Richard Routley, first to use the term in ?Is there A Need in A New: An Environmental Ethics?

Theory of Virtues

Develop environmentally friendly character. Human development of virtuous person who behave good character to the environment

Six Main Schools of Thoughts (Environmental Ethics)

        i.            Gaia

      ii.            Romanticism

    iii.            Eco-feminism

    iv.            Eco-socialism

      v.            Deep Ecology

    vi.            Animal Rights

I)                   Gaia

By Lovelock, 1960 Primal Greek Goddess personifying the Earth From ?Gaia: A new look at life on Earth? and Life on Earth as a single organism

II)                Romanticism

During Industrial Revolution Movement stressed strong emoticons as a source of aesthetic experience Horror and terror emotions when confronting undesirable nature

III)             Eco-feminism

Social and political movements? existence between both environmentalism and feminism Male oppression, degradation of nature by masculine attitudes and methods

IV)             Eco-socialism

Green Socialist or Socialist Ecology Capitalist system is the cause of social exclusion, poverty and degradation of environment through imperialism and globalization

V)                Deep Ecology

Also known as Ecosophy Human kind is a part of integral of its environment Place greater value on life of human and non-human species alike

VI)             Animal Rights

By Peter Singer Animal liberation/freedom Basic interest of animal should afford the same as the basic interest of human Animal should be viewed as the member of moral communities Animal should not be treat as research subject, food, entertainment and clothing

(B) ENVIRONMENTALISM

Broad philosophy and social movement concerns about environmental conservations During Industrial Revolution, modern industrial pollutions

Before, till 1950, Conservation term is used (Back-to-Nature, by Morris and Carpenter

Chipko movement - Gandhi, tree huggers, peaceful resistance to deforestation in India Back-to-the –Land movement, anti-Vietnamese war Gaia Hypothesis, Life on Earth as a single organismThe Deep Green Ideology) - Ecology, Health and Human Rights

In present era, new approaches of  Environmentalism include of:

1)      Green Politics (Environmental Organisation) also known as Green Party

Place high importance of environmental goals and achieving it by participatory democracy that comprises of four Pillars of Green Principles, Ecological Wisdom, Social Justice, Grassroots Democracy and Non-violence

2)      Sustainable Development

In the early mid-1950?s, a new concept of development that emphasis the integration of environment conservations and ecological growth Preserve natural resources that fulfill the current development goals and not preventing the needs of future generating basic needs Developments that meet the needs of present and not compromising the future generations owns needs (as what it is defined in Brundtland?s Report – Our Common Future 1987)

Generally, there are Six Principles of Sustainable Development:

a.       Merging economic growth and environmental conservation

b.      Conservation of biodiversity and ecological equilibrium

c.       Individual and society?s responsibilities

d.      Enhancement of quality of human life

e.       Establishing social justice

f.       Optimisation of natural resources

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