Epistemic Virtue And The Ecological Crisis Summary

Likewise and the topic of this paper Solomon provides a thorough discussion of the problems of the present global economy. In his essay Solomon provides three mind-wrenching questions that questions and supports his methods of economic reform. The first question of “is it possible to engage in the pursuit of wealth without succumbing to greed and selfishness?” brings the topic of morality when it comes to wealth (108). Sallie McFague brings an argument stating that human beings are people filled with emotions of self-interest and will do whatever it takes to become wealthy. In the grand scheme of things this innate self-interest that is within people makes it extremely tough for countries to follow certain Jewish laws that he provided. McFague’s solution of moving towards an ecological economic system makes it tough on countries as well because it will force them to forget about their self-interest and learn to understand that they are dependent upon each other. McFague states, “ecological economics claims we

It is a general consensus that from an economic perspective that businesses are expected to benefit shareholders and contribute to society through value maximization. Milton Freidman, however, takes this a step further by asserting that this is the basis of moral behavior for businesses and that they act immorally when they diminish profit by trying to assume other “social responsibilities” instead of letting greater population do that on their own. Although this philosophy would ideally maximize both profit and the amount of money that people could contribute to the social cause of their choice, it does not work as efficiently in a society where there a large portion of society is not in a place to focus on social issues. When this situation is viewed from the perspective of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, it is evident that until substantial gains are made in the quality of life in the general population, Freidman’s position will not result in social responsibility. Andrew Carnegie unknowingly takes the hierarchy of needs into account when he counters Freidman’s position in the Gospel of Wealth. In his work, Carnegie argues that the proper way to maximize the efficiency of social causes is for elite businessmen make the choices that many others are

Dr. Barry Swartz discusses a topic he explores in his book “The Paradox of Choice” written with Kenneth Sharpe. Dr. Swartz examines practical wisdom and the practices currently utilized to mock practical wisdom by bankers, teachers, and doctors. Dr. Swartz is a psychologist who studies the connections between the psychological and the economic communities. Dr. Swartz heads the argument by stating that many people have a general distrust for the specialists who are meant to be working for them such as bankers, doctors, and teachers. He states that this is due to the fact that though most of the population wants to be virtuous they are rarely given the option to demonstrate virtuous behavior.

The environment can be described as all those elements, both the living and the non-living that surrounds us. The environment can also refer to the condition within which individuals, animals and plants lives. Mankind has a role to play in the environment, which mainly concerns taking care of the environment as well as improving it. Since, we as human beings are different from animals as we have a gift consciousness, we have an obligation of being improvers of the environment through ensuring that we observe environmental consciousness and that we avoid all those practices that negatively affects the environment and cause ecological crisis and problems. This essay will use the article “Towards a Buddhist Environmental Ethics” by Rita M Gross to help in the answering of the question “What is our appropriate role in relation the environment?” The essay will additionally look into the concept of ‘deep ecology’ by Bill Devall and George Sessions to get a deeper understanding of the ecology and our relationship with it, a concept that will help us to be in a better position to answer our appropriate role concerning the environment.

In the introduction of Andrew Light and Holmes Rolston’s book , Environmental Ethics: An Anthology, the authors explain the basic concepts of ethics: more specifically environmental ethics, and how they apply to everyday life. The main concepts discussed include moral agents, moral patients, anthropocentrism, weak or broad anthropocentrism, indirectly morally considerable, and directly morally considerable. These concepts are the foundations to the environmental ethics that Light and Rolston wrote about; however, in regards to the short story written by J. Lanham titled: “Hope and Feathers: A crisis in birder identification,” the two terms most predominately relating to the text are moral patients and moral agents. Lanham, in this text, describes the epitome of what it means to be a good moral agent, as interpreted by Light and Rolston, where others failed.

As global warming intensifies, glaciers melt and forests reduced，more and more people begin to be concerned about environment problem. Environment is the fundamental of our existence，so we need protect environment. Paul H. Rubin in his article “Environmentalism as religion” says “But there is another sense in which environmentalism is becoming more and more like a religion: It provides its adherents with an identity”(399). He thinks environmentalism like a religion, and environmentalism and religion have many same characteristic. I agree Rubin’s opinion. Like religion, environmentalism has difference tribe, environmentalist like a missionary, environmentalism and religion both have food taboos and they also

As the 19th century English poet, Robert Browning, puts it, “Better have failed in the high aim, As I/Than vulgarly in the low aim succeed”. In other words, Browning believes that it is more important to fight for achievements that do not only better oneself, but effect change on a deeper level are more honorable, in contrast to the quest for personal gratification. The secular pursuit of wealth or ‘success’ does not always result in one’s life changing for the better. The job promotion you have been eyeing does not come with the promise

DDT is an insecticide that is known to be particularly effective in controlling the spread of malaria-bearing mosquitos. However, the use of DDT is also controversial because of its negative effects on the environment and the potential risks to human health, which were brought to attention in Rachel Carson’s hugely influential Silent Spring (1962). DDT has been banned in the United States for over thirty years, largely due to the response Silent Spring incited in the public (Bailey, 2004). Malaria remains an issue that is especially prevalent in developing countries; it is also these countries that often rely on foreign aid, and that aid occasionally comes with the condition that the use of DDT be banned.

Not Business As Usual is a documentary that explores the beginnings of “conscious capitalism” and its unintentional price of success. The film offers an alternative view of businesses by tracking the movement of a few entrepreneurs that aspire to include social and environmental considerations in addition to seeking profit in their businesses. A free market for goods and services, capitalism is substantial. It drives innovation, progress, and prosperity. However, should “profit” be the only metric to measure success?

Kovel is picturing the stereotype of the ‘businessman’, who puts their career over being emotionally caring and caring about the environment. Yet someone’s career path, like business, does not define their beliefs, thus, they can still care about the environment, regardless of their employer. It also depends on what their job is, as I view Kovel’s term of “the market place” (Kovel, quoted in Williston, p. 250), to be the economy, and how one would make their income. Movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio, who has a net worth of $425 million, would be considered successful based off economic value. (The Richest, n.d.). DiCaprio seems to be at the top of his field, as according to the website, Rankers (n.d.), DiCaprio is number ten on their list of best actors in the history of film. According to Kovel then, DiCaprio’s personality should be cold, hard and calculating and not care about the environment. Insead, DiCaprio has raised millions of dollars, through his foundation to protect biodiversity, conserving ocean and to reduce climate change. Therefore, Kovel’s description is false about DiCaprio, as well as many other environmental celebrities like Brad Pitt, Mark Ruffalo and James Cameron (Rankers,

The main purpose of the conservation ethic is maintaining the health of the environment. Preservation ethic was created to protect the environment. John Muir was associated with promoting preservation ethic. John Muir argued that the environment needs protection. The environment provides us oxygen, and with humans cutting down the trees using them for personal use affects the environment.

The “non-conformity” message is exemplified by the contrast of the sharp, well-dressed businessman, with the bubble blowing in the cup. The average day of a businessman, or simply an office worker is general, is quite lackluster and repetitive. Sitting in a cubicle typing quarterly reports and being forced

Environmental worldviews are how people think the world works, where they fit, and how they think ethically and morally. These views can be human centred, earth-centered or a combination of the two(Tucker and Grim, 1994).

Paul Taylor approaches “respect for nature” as a moral attitude, meaning that if an individual is unable to comprehend the “meaning and conditions of applicability” of the attitude, they are also unable to have the attitude as a part of their “moral outlook” (Taylor 103). “Respect for nature” is defined by two essential concepts, the good of a being, and the concept of inherent worth.

Ethics is the study of what is right and wrong in human conduct. Environmental ethics studies the effects of human’s moral relationships on the environment and everything within it (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2008). The ethical principles that govern those relations determine human duties, obligations, and responsibilities with regard to the Earth’s natural environment and all of the animals and plants that inhabit it (Taylor, 1989). The purpose of this paper is to reveal environmental issues that are threatening the existence of life on Earth, and discus our social obligations to refrain from further damaging our environment, health and life for future generations. I will discus the need for appropriate actions and the ethical