Philosophical Problems for Environmentalism

Elliott Sober
 A professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was
noted for his works regarding the Philosophy of Biology and
General Philosophy of Science.
 Earned a Ph.D.in Philosophy at Harvard University.
 The president of both the Central Division of the American
Philosophical Association and the Philosophy of Science
Association.
 President of International Union of History and Philosophy of
Science for 3 years (from 2012-2015).

INTRODUCTION
A number of philosophers have recognized that the environmental
movement, whatever its practical political effectiveness, faces considerable
theoretical difficulties in justification. It has been recognized that traditional
moral theories do not provide natural underpinnings for policy objectives
and this has led some to skepticism about the claims of environmentalists,
and others to the view that a revolutionary reassessment of ethical norms is
needed.

The problem for environmentalism stems from the idea that species
and ecosystems ought to be preserved for reasons additional to their
known value as resources for human use. The feeling is that even when we
cannot say what nutritional, medicinal, or recreational benefit the
preservation provides, there still is a value in preservation. It is the search
for this feeling that constitutes the main conceptual problem for
environmentalism.
 The Ignorance Argument
“Although we might not now know what use a particular endangered
species might be to us, allowing it to go extinct forever closes off the
possibility of discovering and exploiting future use.”
-Key Points-

1. Ignorance of value is turned into a reason for action.

2. Something is true until it was proven false or vice versa.
3. Out of nothing, nothing comes.
4. It questions the Ignorance.
5. Every single action has a consequence.

The Slippery Slope Argument

An ideas or plan of action that would results in something
undesirable, inappropriate, or tragic.
-Key Points-

1. Slippery slopes are often described as things that once you step into,
there’s no going back.
2. Often misunderstood as a line that should not be crossed.
3. Something is something, no matter how much it affects Something.

Appeals to What is Natural

 Preserve what is Natural.
 Always strive for the benefits of all species without being bias to one
another.
 We’re one of the many living beings in this planet, we’re one of them
not standing above them.
 “If we are part of nature, then everything we do is part of nature, and
is natural in that primary sense”

Appeals to Needs and Interests

  Identifying the needs and wants of something gives them and ethical
status.
 If everything has needs, the advice to take needs into consideration
in Ethical Deliberation is empty.
 One should always take into account all the relevant needs.
 The concept of “wants” is too complicated to be applied in all objects
that exist.

The Demarcation Problem

The most fundamental theoretical problem confronting an environmentalist
who wishes to claim that species and ecosystems have autonomous value.
o Every ethical theory must provide principles that describe which
objects matter for their own sakes and which do not.
o An ethical theory must say why the properties named, rather than
others, are one that count.
- Hedonistic Utilitarianism (wants, or interest).
- Kantian ethical theory (rational reflection and autonomy).
- Use of the distinction between “natural” and “artificial”.

Mountain Made of Rock Created by natural

processes

Highway Made of Rock Humanly constructed

Issue of context

“Environmentalist concerns and aesthetic value”

 Environmentalists often stress the importance of preserving
endangered species were preserved by putting a number of
specimens in a zoo or in a humanly constructed preserve. What is
taken to be important is preserving the species in its natural habitat.
 Value in rarity.
 What is valuable in the aesthetic case is always the relation of a
valuer to a valued object.
 Natural objects are more valuable than works of art (Humanly
constructed). But, if the environmental values are aesthetic, no
demarcation need be discovered.