Environmental Ethics

The rule of no realm is mine, neither of Gondor nor any other, great or small. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my task, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come; for I also am a steward.

Gandalf, in The Return of the King, by J.R.R. Tolkien

New Yorker 1992

Send supplies to the U.S. Post Office in Burns, Oregon

1 Environmental Ethics By the end of class today…

•Topics for today • Better understand your worldview and your – Environmental ethics and worldviews environmental ethic – Case study about clashing worldviews: • Recognize how differences in worldviews can The battle of lead to conflicts about environmental issues • Consider how to communicate with people who don’t share your worldview • Understand how environmental ethics in the US have changed over time.

Worldviews and the environment Ethics and the environment

• Anthropocentric (human-centered) • Development: Resource development – Organisms and natural resources have instrumental value improves nature • Biocentric (life-centered) • Preservation: Nature is worth preserving – Organisms have intrinsic value and inherent rights due to its intrinsic value (Peter Singer, ethics of Animal Liberation) • Ecocentric (environment-centered) • Conservation: Nature should be managed – The environment has inherent rights (Aldo Leopold) for multiple uses indefinitely – Humans are members of the environment How does one decide how much to develop • Stewardship (other-centered) and how much to preserve? – Humans are considered caretakers of nature

2 100-y Anniversary of the Other views on the environment Battle of Hetch Hetchy • Evolution of American views of wilderness Colonial → Development → Environmental • By 1900, 90% of US forests had been cut • The US environmental ethic 100-y ago Development: “Taming” and developing wilderness=good

The battle of Hetch Hetchy

• Two sides of a classic environmental controversy Inventor, explorer, in 1913 naturalist, author • Should the Hetch Hetchy valley within be dammed and flooded? Founder of the •Key figures: “Father of National Parks” – John Muir: Founder of the Sierra Club – Gifford Pinchot: Chief of the US Forest Service “Preservationist” – James Phelan: Mayor of

3 Gifford Pinchot James Phelan

• First chief of US forest • Mayor of San Francisco service • Proposed damming • “Father of National Hetch Hetchy valley in 1890 Forests” • Argued for dam in 1906 • Governor of after the “Great San Pennsylvania Francisco Earthquake” • “Conservationist” • Later US senator • “Developer”

Similar issues at stake today

• Restore Hetch Hetchy! http://www.hetchhetchy.org • Elwah River in Washington State

• Film Notes: Muir, Pinchot Phelan: What do their statements suggest about their ethics, priorities, & responsibilities?

4 Similar issues at stake today

• Restore Hetch Hetchy! http://www.hetchhetchy.org • Elwah River in Washington State • Rep Rob Bishop (chair of House Natural resources committee) leads an effort to return Federal lands to the states.

Other environmental-ethical questions Hetch Hetchy • Why should we protect endangered species? “I am fully persuaded that “Damn Hetch Hetchy! • Do wealthy people have a responsibility to …the injury …by As well dam for water- help others in need? substituting a lake for the tanks the people’s present swampy floor of cathedrals and churches, • Should carbon emissions be taxed? the [HH] Valley …is for no holier temple has altogether unimportant ever been consecrated by • Should the government more closely compared with the benefits the heart of man.” regulate “fracking” for natural gas? to be derived from its use • Is it ethical to “cull” deer to protect an as a reservoir.” ecosystem? -Gifford Pinchot -John Muir

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