Environmental Philosophy - Essay Example

Title: Environmental Philosophy Name Tutor Course Institution Date Environmental Philosophy Introduction Environmental philosophy as a discipline helps in the understanding of the relationship between nature and society. Human beings are given a chance to understand their role in the ecosystem and environment at large through the philosophies. Some of the philosophies for example deep ecology and intrinsic value points out that human beings are part of the ecosystem and that they should realize the value and rights of the other species like plants and animals. Environmental philosophy is made up of environmental ethics, eco feminism, environmental aesthetics and environmental theology. (Jamieson, 2001) This essay will discuss the environmental philosophies and how they influence the relationship between human beings and other organism in the ecosystem. Deforestation and air pollution have also been discussed with regard to the environmental philosophies. Human beings as species have evolved and changed their living conditions over the years. The discovery of science and technology has really influenced the living of humans and their relation to nature. In the early ages for example, human beings used to do farming with their bare hands, they were mainly hunters and gatherers. There were no farm tools to help in cultivation then as the years went by, the Agrarian revolution set in and human beings discovered farm tools. This made tilting of land easier and they changed from being hunters and gatherers to farmers. With this came the cutting down of trees so that the forest land can be used for farming (Hernandez, 2008). When industrialization kicked in under the influence of science and technology, production and consumption increased which led to the increase use and need of resources. This ultimately led to intense use of energy and human population growth which directly brought environmental impacts like air pollution, water pollution and soil pollution (Katz, 2003). The relationship between technology, consumption, population growth and resource depilation became very critical. And in all these steps of growth and development of the living standards of human beings, human beings used plants and animals as resources which enabled their existence. When there is increase in population, the rate of consumption goes up which increases the need for resources and this increases pollution which in turn leads to increase in the death rate increases. If all this factors are managed and controlled well, the population and quality of life will be sustained. Instrumentalism and Deforestation Instrumentalism as an environmental philosophical tool is the methodological view in epistemology and philosophy of science. It indicates that the truth of an idea is determined by its success in decision making and that its value is determined by its function in human experience. Therefore deforestation will be supported by instrumentalism. Deforestation is the cutting down of trees so that the land can be used for other activities like farming or industrialization. Instrumentalism gives human beings unrestrained exploitation and gives them the right to use resources when need be (Spilsbury, 2011). It opposes the principles of deep ecology which embraces all aspects of the environment and encourages human beings to take care and learn to co-exist with other organisms within the environment without harming or destroying those (Fox, 1995). Deforestation can be supported by instrumentalism as long as it is done to benefit humans. It allows humans to use other natural resources like trees and so in the study of instrumentalism, deforestation is not a wrong thing. Instrumentalism can also be referred to as experimentalism and was started by John Dewey. Taylor (1990) points out that Dewey states what is important in an idea or a thing, is its value as a tool or instrument of action. He says that the truth of an idea lies in its functionality or usefulness. He further points out that, ideas are born as instruments for transformation hence the term instrumentalism. Instrumentalism or experimentalism allows human beings to use other natural resources for example trees, animals, water bodies to their advantage. It offers them with knowledge that nature is robust and other species are the subordinates of human beings and so the other species can be sacrificed as long as it will help in the safe existence of humans. This does not concur with deep ecology which believes that all species have a right to existence and that the life of one species directly influences the existence of the other organism/species and humans in general. (Taylor, 1990) Deep Ecology and Air pollution According to Barry (1999), deep ecology is an ecological and environmental philosophy that advocates and encourages the worth of living beings and their existence. The philosophy was coined by Arne Naess in the year 1973 who was a philosopher from Norway. Naess firmly stated that “the right of all forms of life to live is a universal right which cannot be quantified. No single species of living being has more of this particular right to live and unfold than any other species”. Air pollution does not give that right to any organism and unfortunately it is caused by the works of human beings. Deep ecology believes that nature is a balance of inter-relationships and therefore will not encourage air pollution. Air pollution goes against the principles of deep ecology which encourages the harmonious existence of organisms. Air pollution destroys and affects every organism in the ecosystem. It affects organs such as the lungs in humans, animals. Air pollution causes harm to both the environment and health (Gurjar, Molina & Ojha, 2010). Deep ecology states that the existence of organisms in general directly depends and relies on the existence of others within the ecosystem (Sessions, 1995). Human beings or social interference or destruction of nature-any form of nature is a threat to all other organisms, humans included and the environment in general. Deep ecology is guided by a number of principles but the main one is the belief that the environment should be respected and should be seen as having legal rights that protects their living and existence (Attfield, 1983). Deep ecology wants human beings to identify with nature and sustain nature. If this is to be achieved then human beings need to transform their consciousness and beliefs about nature. Human beings should learn that violence to nature is violence to themselves and other organism that exist in the environment. Human beings should have a reverence and love for nature; this will prevent them from destroying or damaging nature (Sessions, 1995). Manageralism and Deforestation Manageralism is the ideological principle in which the economic, social and political order of advanced industrialized societies is actually based on. Manageralism recognizes that managers are the central figures of the new order. Manageralism proposes that the society is made of organizations, associations and corporations but not individuals. It states that social decisions have implications of the interactions of the managers of the social units and not the will of the people, needs of workers or the demands of the consumers (Katz, 1997). With regard to the environment, manageralism relates to the power or influence that human beings have in taking care of the other species in the environment for example animals, plants. Manageralism allows deforestation but encourages planting of more trees to replace those that have been cut. It dictates that human beings should not cut down trees without sufficient reason and not to replace them. Human beings should understand that those trees are important not only to them but to other creatures also like wild animals, birds, insects (Spilsbury, 2011). Deforestation can be caused by logging, mining, cattle ranching and oil extraction. While practicing deforestation, human beings should know its risks and consequences like soil erosion and displacing of wild animals and birds because the forests are their habitat. Manageralism encourages wildlife conservation and encourages the growing of trees. It states that resources and the environment in general are there for us to use but this should be done with caution (Light, 2003a). It must be managed to maximize yields and avoid harming others. It also states that resources have different and multiple uses and so it should be handled and used with a lot of care and caution. Nature is complex, diverse and every organism within the environment has importance and should not be handled with intent and destruction. Intrinsic value and Air pollution Intrinsic value is a contradicting value and is the opposite of the instrumental value. It tries to determine and demonstrate that all of nature and its organisms have value-the end value. Air has an end value and its pollution will therefore destroy the intrinsic value of other organisms. Air pollution takes place when the air is contaminated with fumes, gases, dust and odour. When these things are inhaled by human beings or animals, it damages their well being. Air pollution also affects plants and materials. Pollutants are substances which cause air pollution or any other kind of pollution. Pollutants that directly pollute the air are called primary pollutants while secondary pollutants are as a result of chemical combustion (Vallero, 2007). Intrinsic value shows that there is value in every natural resource and so air pollution is harmful to all resources and it should be minimized at all costs. There are two types of intrinsic value, subjective and objective intrinsic value. Species and ecosystem have subjective intrinsic value (Blackstone, 1984). Intrinsic value dictates that other living things like plants and animals also have intrinsic rights for existence. It states that nature has value and that it is independent from human being’s needs. It also points out that human beings should be aware of the fact that they exist through natural systems like preservation of the wilderness-animals and plants. (Harvey, 2005). Conclusion In conclusion, environmental issues like pollution, deforestation should be discouraged. Human beings should find ways of having a peaceful co-existence between them and nature. Ecological laws should be put forward which influences human’s morality. Humans need to accept and embrace population control and low impact technology, reject materialism and consumerism. They should make production conform to social needs, encourage non-aggressive individualism. Green values will help human beings to discover the value of other species in the ecosystem. Human beings should realize that they are part of nature and that they should protect and respect nature regardless of its value to them. Human beings should find other ways of solving problems for example through synthesis, they should make technology their servant and not master as it is. Issues that encourage environmentalism like recycling should be globally encouraged. In production, use of minimal materials should also be encouraged. Human beings should know that everyone is responsible for the environment and decisions should be made individually to keep the environment safe. Conventional values towards the environment should be replaced by the green values and the earth will be made a better place for all the species. List of References Attfield, R, 1983, The Ethics of Environmental Concern, Oxford: Basil Blackwell Barry, J, 1999. Rethinking Green Politics, London: Sage Blackstone, W, (ed) 1984, Philosophy and Environmental Crisis, Athens: University of Georgia Press Fox, W, 1995. Toward a Transpersonal Ecology: Developing New Foundations for Environmentalism, Albany, NY: SUNY Press Gurjar, R, B, Molina, L, T & Ojha, C, S, P, 2010, Impacts of Air Pollution: Health and Environmental. Florida: CRC Press Harvey, G, 2005, Animism: Respecting the Living World. New York: Columbia University Press Hernandez, C, G, O, 2008, Causes and Consequences of Deforestation and Land-cover Change in Rural Communities of Western Mexico, New York: ProQuest Jamieson, D, 2001. A Companion to Environmental Philosophy, Oxford, UK: Blackwell Katz, E, 1997, Nature as Subject, New York: Rowman & Littlefield Katz, E, 2003, The Big Lie: Human Restoration of Nature. In Environmental Ethics, eds. A. Light and H. Rolston III. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Light, A, 2003a, The Case for a Practical Pluralism. In Environmental Ethics, eds. A. Light and H. Rolston III. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Sessions, G, (ed) 1995, Deep Ecology for the Twenty-first Century, Canada: Shambhala Spilsbury, R, 2011, Deforestation- Development or destruction? New York: The Rosen Publishing Group Taylor, B, 1990, John Dewey and Environmental Thought. Environmental Ethics 12: 175–184. Vallero, D, A, 2007, Fundamentals of Air Pollution. New York: Academic Press Read More

It indicates that the truth of an idea is determined by its success in decision making and that its value is determined by its function in human experience. Therefore deforestation will be supported by instrumentalism. Deforestation is the cutting down of trees so that the land can be used for other activities like farming or industrialization. Instrumentalism gives human beings unrestrained exploitation and gives them the right to use resources when need be (Spilsbury, 2011). It opposes the principles of deep ecology which embraces all aspects of the environment and encourages human beings to take care and learn to co-exist with other organisms within the environment without harming or destroying those (Fox, 1995).

Deforestation can be supported by instrumentalism as long as it is done to benefit humans. It allows humans to use other natural resources like trees and so in the study of instrumentalism, deforestation is not a wrong thing. Instrumentalism can also be referred to as experimentalism and was started by John Dewey. Taylor (1990) points out that Dewey states what is important in an idea or a thing, is its value as a tool or instrument of action. He says that the truth of an idea lies in its functionality or usefulness.

He further points out that, ideas are born as instruments for transformation hence the term instrumentalism. Instrumentalism or experimentalism allows human beings to use other natural resources for example trees, animals, water bodies to their advantage. It offers them with knowledge that nature is robust and other species are the subordinates of human beings and so the other species can be sacrificed as long as it will help in the safe existence of humans. This does not concur with deep ecology which believes that all species have a right to existence and that the life of one species directly influences the existence of the other organism/species and humans in general.

(Taylor, 1990) Deep Ecology and Air pollution According to Barry (1999), deep ecology is an ecological and environmental philosophy that advocates and encourages the worth of living beings and their existence. The philosophy was coined by Arne Naess in the year 1973 who was a philosopher from Norway. Naess firmly stated that “the right of all forms of life to live is a universal right which cannot be quantified. No single species of living being has more of this particular right to live and unfold than any other species”.

Air pollution does not give that right to any organism and unfortunately it is caused by the works of human beings. Deep ecology believes that nature is a balance of inter-relationships and therefore will not encourage air pollution. Air pollution goes against the principles of deep ecology which encourages the harmonious existence of organisms. Air pollution destroys and affects every organism in the ecosystem. It affects organs such as the lungs in humans, animals. Air pollution causes harm to both the environment and health (Gurjar, Molina & Ojha, 2010).

Deep ecology states that the existence of organisms in general directly depends and relies on the existence of others within the ecosystem (Sessions, 1995). Human beings or social interference or destruction of nature-any form of nature is a threat to all other organisms, humans included and the environment in general. Deep ecology is guided by a number of principles but the main one is the belief that the environment should be respected and should be seen as having legal rights that protects their living and existence (Attfield, 1983).

Deep ecology wants human beings to identify with nature and sustain nature. If this is to be achieved then human beings need to transform their consciousness and beliefs about nature. Human beings should learn that violence to nature is violence to themselves and other organism that exist in the environment. Human beings should have a reverence and love for nature; this will prevent them from destroying or damaging nature (Sessions, 1995).

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