Environmental Philosophy

Environmental Philosophy or environmental ethics is the discipline in

philosophy that studies the moral relationship of human beings with the environment
and its non-human content.

Environmental Philosopher tackles issues such as:

-humanity’s role in the natural world
-interaction between nature and human activities
-humanity’s response to environmental challenges

Naniniwala ang mga philosophers na may espesyal na relasyon ang mga

tao sa kalikasan or nature, hindi tulad ng ibang organisms na parte ng ecosystem
at may mga ginaganampanang role sa environment, ang mga tao ay may
kakayahang baguhin ang environment na naaayon sa kanillang mga
pangangailangan.

The early history of humankind shows that wherever humans came together to form
communities, the landscape and the environment changed. Forest gave way to
farmlands, mountains were mined for minerals and metals, and rivers and lakes were
transformed to yield more resources to mankind.

Ibig sabihin, sa tuwing nagbubuo ang mga tao ng isang komunidad,

nababago ang kalikasan at nag aadjust para sa mga tao, nagiging mapagbigay
ang kalikasan para pagkunan ng pangangailangan ng mga tao.

Disorder can give rise to several problems and challenges for humankind. This
is most evident after any natural disaster such as earthquakes, volcanic eruption and
severe typhoons which result great damage to property, injuries, and even loss of lives.
Normal activities are disrupted in cities and communities.

As a rational being, the person is not only capable of transforming the world but
also understanding the laws which govern nature. It can be said that the world is a text
which the person can read and understand in order to live a better life.

As a person has the ability to access nature:

*He or she may opt to treat the environment as an object, as a source of raw materials
to be used in any way he or she pleases.
*A person may also view the environment as something that envelopes and surrounds
him or her, and thus have a special or unique relationship with it.
* As the raw environment can be compared into a blank canvas, A person has the ability
to cultivate it, bringing it closer to their intended ends. This means that a person can
help the environment became greater that what it originally is if they take the task.
 3 Major Views regarding the Relationship between the Humanity and the
Environment

1. Anthropocentrism- focuses on the significant role of the humankind in the world and
considers nature as the means by which humans are able to meet their needs and
survive.

2. Biocentrism- believes that humans are not the only significant species on the planet,
and that all organisms have inherent value and should be protected.

3. Ecocentrism- places great value on the ecosystems and biological communities.

This view believes that humankind is a part of a greater biological system or community
and that we have a significant role as stewards or guardians of nature. Some
philosophical views on this environment are “Deep Ecology” and “Gaia Hypothesis”,
which emphasizes the important role of the interaction between the living and non living
components of the environment.

Environmental Aesthetics
A philosophical view that believes maintaining order in the environment will bring
out the natural beauty of the surrounding and contribute to the well being of the people
and other organisms living in it.