ENVIRONMENTAL

BIOLOGY , ETHICS
AND PRINCIPLES
WHAT IS
ENVIRONMENT?
ENVIRONMENT

COMPONENTS : BIOTIC
ABIOTIC

TYPES : GEOGRAPHICAL OR
NATURAL
MAN-MADE : inner;
outer
Components of Environment

Biotic Abiotic

Producers/ Physical
Autotrophs factors

Trophic
Consumers Chemical
Structure 1, 2, 3, .. factors

Decomposers
MAN MADE ENVIRONMENT
Abiotic Components
Environmental
Resources
Conditions

Not directly
Directly consumed consumed but
or utilized by affect growth and
organisms survival of
organisms

Examples: Mineral Examples:

elements like N, P, Temperature,
K, CO2 salinity, pH
Biotic Components

 Producers
 Consumers
 Decomposers
 Ecology – science
dealing with the
interrelationships of living
organisms to their
environment.

Comes from Greek word

-“oikos” meaning home,
coined by Ernst Haeckel
-”logos” means study
 Environment refers to the surrounding of the ecosystem
 Ecosystem is the unit of environment consisting of biotic
and abiotic components
 Environmental Biology pertains to the sociological,
technological and ecological studies of environment
 Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary academic
field that integrates physical, biological and information
sciences to the study of the environment, and the solution
of environmental problems.
 Ecosystem Components

BIOTIC ABIOTIC

Climatic Physiographic
Producers Decomposers •Light -Topography
• Plants • Bacteria • Temperature -Soil
Consumers • Fungi • Moisture
•Herbivore • Wind
s
• Fire
•Carnivor
es
Types of Interaction

1. Biotic affecting biotic

e.g. pollination
2. Biotic affecting abiotic
e.g. decomposition
3. Abiotic affecting biotic
e.g. hibernation
4. Abiotic affecting abiotic
e.g. soil erosion
 WHAT IS ETHICS?
 Ethos
-custom, habit, character or disposition

- a characteristic way of life

- “should or ought to”
Ethics is a relatively complete
and systematically arranged
body of data which relate to the
morality of human conduct.

Ethics presents truths that are

acted upon which directly imply
and indicate directions for
human conduct.
• Ethics is the scientific inquiry into the principles
of morality.

• Ethics is the science of human acts with

reference to right
and wrong.

• Ethics is the study of the rectitude of human

conduct.

• Ethics is the science that lays down the

principles of
right living.

• According to Socrates, ethics is the

VALUE
INTRINSIC VALUE: The worth
objects have in their own right,
independent of their value to
any other end.

INSTRUMENTAL VALUE : The worth

objects have in fulfilling
other ends.
Ethical Positions

 Anthropocentrism: Human centered morality

 Only humans have intrinsic value and moral standing.
 The rest of the natural world has instrumental value (use
to humans).
 We can best protect nature by looking out for human
needs.
 E.g. Saving the rainforests will provide O2 and
medicines for humans.
 Genesis: God commands humans to "fill the earth and subdue it;
and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of
the air and over every living thing...”

 After the great flood God says to Noah: the animals will dread
and fear you, and I will give you dominion over "everything
that creeps on the ground, and over all the fish of the sea.“
 Ethical Positions
 Biocentrism: Life-centered morality

 All and only living beings, specifically individual organisms (not species
or ecosystems) have intrinsic value and moral standing.

 Humans are not superior to other life forms nor privileged, and must
respect the inherent worth of every organism

 Humans should minimize harm and interference with nature: eat

vegetarian since less land needs to be cultivated.
 Ethical Positions
 Ecocentrism: ecosystem centered morality
- Non-living things, species, and natural processes have moral
standing or intrinsic value and are deserving of respect.
- Individuals must be concerned about the whole community of
life/nature,.
- Humans should strive to preserve ecological balance and stability.
Principles of Ecology
• “Everything is connected to everything else,”

• “Everything in Nature Changes”

• “Everything in Nature has to go

Somewhere”.

• “Ours is a finite Earth”,

Principles of Ecology
• Law of Limits and Population Dynamics

• Diversity and Stability

“All Forms of Life are Important

• “Everything in Nature has to go

Somewhere”

• Balance of Nature and Stewardship

“Nature Knows Best
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND GOVERNANCE

RELEVANT PRINCIPLES
1.Polluter-Pays
Principle
“If anyone intentionally
spoils the water of
another…let him not
only pay for damages,
but purify the stream or
cistern which contains
the water.”
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND GOVERNANCE

RELEVANT PRINCIPLES
2. Intergenerational Equity

- based on sustainable development

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND GOVERNANCE

RELEVANT PRINCIPLES
3. Writ of Mandamus and Writ of Kalikasan

Article II Section 16 of the 1987

Constitution“The
State shall
protect and advance the
right of the people to a
balanced and healthful
ecology in accord with
the rhythm and harmony
of nature.”
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND GOVERNANCE

RELEVANT PRINCIPLES
Writ of Mandamus and Writ of Kalikasan

“intergenerational responsibility
Oposa vs. Factoran
“the rhythm and harmony of nature”
undoubtedly required the “management,
renewal and conservation” of natural capital,
and imposed on each generation a
responsibility to preserve nature for succeeding
generations.
 ENVIRONMENTAL
ATTITUDES
DEVELOPMENT ETHICS

• based on individualism or egocentrism

• human race is considered as master of nature
• Earth and its resources exist for humans benefit and pleasure
• this view is further reinforced by “work ethic” which dictates that
humans should continuously effect change and that resources
utilized represent “ progress and prosperity”
• “ if it can be done, it should be done”
 ENVIRONMENTAL
ATTITUDES
PRESERVATION ETHICS

• considers nature special in itself

• nature has intrinsic value and deserves protection
• reasons : have religious belief regarding nature
aesthetic or recreational reason
• with reverence for life and respect the right of all creatures to
no matter what the social and economic costs
ENVIRONMENTAL
ATTITUDES
CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT ETHICS

• based on concept of sustainable

development
• balance of resource use
• balance between total development and
absolute preservation
Environmental Behavior
TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS

• Garrett Hardin in 1968, describes how

shared environmental resources are
overused and eventually depleted
• Hardin : “If I do not use this resource,
someone else will” or
“ a small amount used or pollute is
not enough to matter, anyway it’s a
renewable source”
 Environmental Behavior
MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
• Proposed by Abraham Maslow in 1943
• Explain why poverty causes environmental
problems
• Needs in lower hierarchy must be met first
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory
which puts forward that people are
motivated by five basic categories of needs:
physiological, safety, love, esteem, and self-
actualization.
Environmental Behavior
PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE
• society should exert efforts to avoid environmental damage
• “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”
• “ better safe than sorry”
 Student Activity
1.Select two ecological principles and
explain by giving examples ( 10 points)
2. Cite one (1) ethical position and one
(1) environmental attitude or behavior
which you can apply as a student of
environmental biology and ecology .
Explain your answer ( 10 points)
Upload your answer at SB