Holistic philosophical theory arguing that natural entities like the ecosystems (with all their elements and processes) have intrinsic value. In doing so it extends ethics to the whole biosphere.
Published in Chapter:
Environmental Ethics: When Human Beings and Nature Are Not Two
Josep M. Basart (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain)
Copyright: © 2021
|Pages: 19
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-4117-3.ch002
Abstract
This chapter introduces some core issues in environmental ethics (EE) from a multidisciplinary perspective. This approach's primary purpose is to make explicit the richness and complexity of the subject, where arguments coming from natural sciences, politics, philosophy, economics, or psychology often intertwine. Moreover, although it is risky, the diversity of views tries to engage interested readers from different fields and non-specialists. After the introduction, the chapter focuses on the characteristics of the different views on non-anthropocentric EE. Next, five of the main ethical frameworks are presented. This is followed by some specific points of view, which are capital in the subject (intergenerational ethics, precautionary principle, deep ecology, environmental justice, indigenous peoples, and feminism). An exploration of consumption and population follows. Finally, some key points on sustainability and human development precede the conclusion of the chapter.