Haven Larrabee-Davis

Environmental Ethics 4:00

16 October 2015
EE First Essays
Environmental ethics, to me, has no concrete definition. Different people have
different methods and ways to love, admire, and care about the environment. Some
people go camping and hiking, plant trees and plants, or recycle. The possibilities of
honoring our environment are endless. For me, I love to be in the environment. With
nature, the animals, and the plants. Putting myself with the environment is my way of
appreciating and honoring. Taking pictures, and taking in the smells, sounds, and
feels.
Stewardship is the careful management of something, particularly the kind
that works. To have stewardship means to act as the surrogate, or substitute, to
others especially through managing property, an estate, financial affairs, etc. In
Christianity, stewardship follows from the belief that human beings are created from
the same God that created the entire universe and everything in it. And to look after
the earth, and Gods dominion, is the responsibility of the Christian steward. Spiritual
stewardship is acknowledging God as the creator and owner of all things. Christians
see themselves as the caretakers of his work and gifts. To show their gratitude for
his work is expressed through prayer, worship, offering and action. Its a way of life,
and a way of thanking God for all the blessings hs has given us.
Justice and care are very important. We have to look at our own morals of
justice and care. The fundamentals of justice and care are something we all have to
take into consideration and make part of our lives. Many already have care and
justice in their morals, and continue to work on making them bigger and better.
Justice is behavior or treatment that we see fair and righteous. Care is safekeeping,

providing, or supplying what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance and
protection of something or someone.
Utilitarianism and pragmatism are very important to environmental ethics.
Utilitarianism is useful because it means that if an action is right and useful, it will be
sought through for the benefit of the majority. Pragmatism is useful as well because it
approaches the truth of meaning of theories or beliefs in terms of success towards
practical application. Both utilitarianism and pragmatism contribute to environmental
ethics by helping the greater good numbers grow and grow. Some societies have
progressed morally in much of the way as they have attained progress through
science.
There are so many words and phrases and actions that can describe what it
means to have ethics for the environment and what it means to not have very many,
if any at all. Anthropocentrism, biocentrism, consequentialism, sentientism, and
ecocentrism are just a couple words that refers to, or goes against environmental
ethics. Anthropocentrism is the belief that human beings are the center or most
important species on this planet. In a sense that they are considered to have value
or moral status higher, or more valuable than of any other organism.
Anthropocentrism basically puts human beings above our environment and animals
all around us, which is what keeps us alive in the first place. But, biocentrism is a
belief of the opposite manner. It is the belief that the needs and rights of humans are
not more important than other living things. Biocentrism calls for a rethinking of the
relationship and bonds between humans and nature. It contrasts with the definition of
anthropocentrism. Consequentialism is the doctrine that an action is to be judged
solely by its consequences. People will not look at the action that was made, but just

the outcome and effects that the action has caused. Sentientism is the theory that
only beings with mental states should be the subject or moral concern. When
someone is sentient, they are perceptive, and they have a conscious mind about
them, others, and the world around them; as well as being observant. And
ecocentrism is a point of view that recognizes the ecosphere, instead of the
biosphere, as central importance. It attempts to reestablish the imbalance that
anthropocentrism created. Its a perspective that places an intrinsic value on all living
organisms and their natural habitat. Anthropocentrism and biocentrism have opposite
meanings of each other. Sentientism and ecocentrism have similar meanings, but
not exact. And consequentialism is something a little different than the other words,
but still plays into action with them all.
All these different meanings are important for us, and making ourselves better
for ourselves, and the world around us. Anthropocentrism isnt necessarily a
meaning we should act on and bring out for everyone to do, because it would only
cause harm. Instead, we should change it, and follow more in the lead of
biocentrism, of changing that nature, animals and plants are just as important, if not
more important, than human beings. Ecocentrism also follows in lead with
biocentrism. It means to reverse the damage that anthropocentrism has created, and
is continuing to create. Even consequentialism would be important in some
situations. Sometimes, someone may partake in a bad action, but the outcome can
be good or even beneficial. Or the other way around, they may think the action they
performed was great, but some effects could be bad or even hazardous. Sentientism
is something we could follow, or change. It says that only ones with a mental state is
important. When in reality, trees and plants, who have no moral state of mind, is very
important to our survival.

At this time in history some of these meanings are more important than
others, and some even need to be forgotten. Anthropocentrism is one that we really
need to release a grip on because of how its making people think and act towards
the environment around us. One I find very important, and one that we should take
into consideration more than the others is biocentrism. The fact that human beings
are not more important than other living things. We need to target our focus on the
environment. The animals, plants, everything. Because no one and nothing else can
save and protect it other than us. The environment needs us, but all we are doing is
destroying it.
The threats that the environment and species are facing are endless.
To name a few, there is deforestation, construction, global warming, poaching, and
poisoning. To name every possible threat is endless. Basically, we are the biggest,
and only threat. We cause the deforestation, construction, and even global warming.
We make everything kick into action faster and deadlier than if we werent here.
Humans bring threats that the environment and species shouldnt even be facing.
We are destroying the very planet that has given us life. And by doing so, we are
going against any and all ethics and morals.
One cause and effect we are producing is water and air pollution. What
would, and should, normally be clean air and water we have polluted it to a level that
it is unsafe and getting worse. With smoking, carbon dioxide from cars and buildings,
and burning fossil fuels. It all releases to one place: our air. We breathe in everything
we put out, as well as the animals and plants that depend on the air as well. The
water is no better than our air. Granted most of the water on this planet is salt-water
and isnt drinkable in the first place. But we are still polluting the oceans, which is

home to thousands of living organisms. Almost half of water pollution is caused by

sewage and wastewater. Each year, the world generates around 5-to billion tons of
industrial waste. And where does it all go? Its pumped right into rivers, oceans, and
other waterways without being treated. And oil spills go directly into the oceans,
killing hundreds and hundreds of animal and plant species. And all this pollution is
also harming us humans. We, too, are losing clean air and water all around the
world. Thousands losing access to fresh and clean water for a simple drink.
Global climate change is happening right now. And not in a way that should
be happening. We are already starting to see an intense increase in Earths average
temperature, reducing in ice and snow cover, a raising of the sea level, and even an
increase threat to human health. Right now, we are on a path to completely destroy
our planet. The world will become incredibly hot in temperature and have a huge
decrease in precipitation worldwide.
As we lose species all across the planet it affects us and the other species.
Extinction will cause the food cycle to lose ends that keep it functioning. Predators
are dying, which means the prey are overpopulating. They are eating all the
vegetation and keep populating at an alarming rate. And herbivores are dying, and
the predators will have too many numbers and not enough food to go around for all
of them. In both scenarios, they will all die out because there isnt enough balance to
keep the numbers steady and healthy.
The threat for our survival as a species is immense and real. We are the
threat to ourselves. We are destroying our living space, our breathable air, and our
drinkable water. Without any of it, we cannot survive and we will all die. The
environment is doing this to us, we are doing it to the environment. And if dont stop
and protect nature, it will be too late and here will be nothing we can do about it,

except for slowly watching our numbers decrease until we become extinct in a world
that we are making extinct.