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Explore the intersection of nature and morality, delving into speciesism, sentientism, and wholism. Address ethical issues such as exploitation, animal rights, and attitudes toward nature. Consider arguments for and against exploitation, and advocate for a moderate position. Explore pressing environmental concerns through a public service announcement (PSA) highlighting the importance of taking action to protect endangered aspects of nature.
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Treatment of Nature Arguments
Key Terms • Speciesism • Prejudice for one’s own species and against other species • Sentientism • Theory that only those beings with mental states should be the subject of moral concern • Wholism • Conception of nature that sees humans and nature together as forming a moral community
Nature and Morality • Human beings have discovered in recent years that natural resources are subject to diminishment, destruction and loss • Is nature valuable in itself? • Should humans be concerned individually and morally?
Environmental Ethical Issues • Must take action to conserve and replenish what we take from nature for our own uses • Cannot continue its exploitation • Animal rights • With modern innovation, we should no longer be destroying animals for food and parts • Could be more humane raising domestics • Controversial use of animals for experimentation • Concerns over endangered species
Attitudes Toward Nature • Developed over a long period • Platonic dualism • Human beings separate and superior • Judeo-Christian teachings • Human beings have a soul whereas the rest of nature does not • Human beings have dominion over nature, must multiply
Attitudes Toward Nature • Advancement of science and technology has made nature more subservient • Industrialization has increased the use of natural resources and pollution • Population increase has meant need for land has grown as well
Arguments For Exploitation • Dominion-over-Nature • Religious – Western religions condone this in the Bible • Natural order and evolution shows human beings to be the most evolved species • Civilization more important than nature – highest evolutionary and religious order • Only humans are deserving of moral rights
Arguments Against Exploitation • Monistic wholism says that human beings and nature are parts of a whole not separated • Religious arguments have been misinterpreted • Human beings may be replaced eventually • Reasoning should not separate humans, but bring them closer to nature • Nature contains human needs and thus should be valued
Moderate Position • Nature is important and significant but not necessarily as important as humans • May be used for human ends if done with care • Generally agrees with wholism, but not totally against the good of humans • Thoughts?
PSA • Choose a specific issue you feel is not being covered in the endangerment of the environment • Using research completed in class, construct a small PSA poster that reflects the following: • What is in danger • What you want people to know • What is the impact of not acting • At least one measureable statistic, cited • Images (do your best) • What can be done to prevent further exploitation • Name on it, completed for homework or turned in today