Human Person in the Environment

• Humans are part of the world, and we greatly influence our environment just as it influences us
• Environmental Philosophy/ Environmental Ethics


  A discipline in philosophy that studies the moral relationship of human beings with the environment and its non-human contents
• Philosophers believed that the human person has the ability to change the environment to suit his purposes
• THREE MAJOR VIEWS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMANITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

  • Anthropocentrism
  • Biocentrism
  • Ecocentrism
• Anthropocentrism


  Focuses on the significant role of human kind in the world and considers nature as the means by which humans are able to meet their needs and survive
• Examples of Anthropocentrism

  • Overmining
  • Overfishing
  • Developing mountains to build housing/settlements or establishments
• Biocentrism


  Believes not only humans are the significant species on the planet, and that all organisms have inherent value and should be protected
• Examples of Biocentrism

  • Embracing vegetarianism
  • Being anti-deforestation
  • Opposing the fur trade and opposing animal testing
  • Campaign to ban hunting endangered species for trophies, consume, or for money
• Ecocentrism


  • Places great value on ecosystem and Biological communities
  • Believes that humankind is part of a greater biological system or community and that we have a significant role as stewards or guardians of nature
• Examples of Ecocentrism

  • Not littering
  • Conserving energy and water
  • Preferring public transportation
  • Preferring environmentally friendly products
  • Protecting animal rights
  • Participating in environmental management activities
• Environmental Aesthetics


  A philosophical view that believes maintaining order in the environment will bring out the natural beauty of the surroundings and contribute to the well-being of the people and other organisms living in it
• Sustainable Development


  Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future generation
• 3 Important Principles of Sustainability

  • Environmental Integrity
  • Economic Efficiency
  • Equity
• Environmental Integrity


  • Refers to maintaining the state of the environment
  • Human activities should not disrupt the ecosystem and human communities located in the area
• Economic Efficiency


  • Refers to prudence in decision-making regarding the use of resources to ensure that there is minimum to zero waste
  • Prudence - ability to regulate one's actions and behavior
  • Frugality - being thrifty with the use of one's sources
• Economic Efficiency

  • Use of tumblers instead of disposable cups or plastic bottled water
  • Using of eco friendly products like bamboo straw and utensils rather than plastics
  • Use of eco bags rather than plastic bags
• Equity


  Demands that we use our natural resources in such a manner that these are conserved so that the next generation will be able to use them
• Deep Ecology


  An environmental philosophy that promotes the inherent worth of all living beings regardless of their instrumental utility to human needs, and the restructuring of modern human societies in accordance with such ideas
• Deep Ecology


  • Energy movement through food webs
  • Symbiotic relationships among other species
  • Resource competition that limits the survival of certain species
  • Tree planting
  • Conserving
• Social Ecology


  • An approach to society that embraces a ecological, reconstructive, and communitarian view on society
  • Believes that ecological problems can be traced to social problems
  • Societies that are structured around hierarchies as well as economic classes use their authority to dominate natural resources and exploit the environment for profit and self-interest
• Social Ecology


  • The rise of the informal settlers of the country leads to overpopulation and improper waste disposal
• Ecofeminism


  • Assumes that male-centered view of nature is the root cause of ecological problems
  • Believes that both women and nature are dominated by patriarchy
  • Considers that the earth is sacred, and it serves humanity and reproduces valuable life like a woman, so women have more attachment to nature than men
• Prudence


  • The intellectual virtue that guides the choice of means to achieve good ends
  • Also known as practical wisdom, it is the good habit of deliberation about which specific means are best with regard to things that are either good or bad for a person
  • Considered as an ecological virtue since it can help us become wiser, more responsible in terms of using our natural resources and most importantly become more appreciative of nature's essential value
• Prudence


  • Avoidance of burning plastics that may cause the release of toxic chemicals that pollute our air and may harm our health and the environment
• Frugality


  • The careful supervision of one's resources
  • The cautious management of material resources, especially money
  • A frugal person always invests time to think carefully just to save a lot of money
  • Environmentally friendly as it minimizes overall environmental impact
• Examples of Frugality


  • Repairing things rather than replacing it
  • Reducing waste by opting reusable products plastic bottles
  • Using public transportations
• ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY


  It means that any human activities oreconomic advances should not unduly disrupt the environment and human communities located in the area.
• ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY


  A discipline in philosophy that studies the moral relationship of human beings with the environment and its non-human contents.
• ANTHROPOCENTRISM


  This type of view believes that humans are the most important species on the planet and they are free to transform nature and use its resources.
• ECOFEMINISM


  A theory in radical ecological Philosophy that assumes male-centered view of nature is the root cause of ecological problems.
• PRUDENCE


  The quality of being careful or mindful of your actions. It is also known as practical wisdom or "pagiging-maingat."
• ECOCENTRISM


  A type of view that places great value on ecosystem and biological communities.
• Economic Efficiency


  Finishing your meal without leftovers shows what principle of sustainability?
• Biocentrism


  A type of view that supports anti-deforestation, opposing the fur trade and animal testing.
• Sustainable Development


  Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future generation.
•  A businessman grabbed and bought a vast land from the farmers and decided to convert it into a subdivision. During the construction, farmers left without jobs and hundreds of trees were uprooted and streams were covered in cement. What principle of sustainability was violated?

  Environmental Integrity
• True or false?

  Environmental Aesthetics is a philosophical view that all life forms have an equal right to exist, and human needs and desires have no priority over those of other organisms. 

  FALSE
•  A factory in a province irresponsibly withdraw their wastes in the river and hire mostly women because of cheap labor. What theory in radical ecological philosophy explains this ecological problem? 

  Ecofeminism