There are many different philosophies when it comes to how we should protect the environment. Is it acceptable for humans to use natural resources to meet their own needs? Should we take the needs of other animals into account, and if so, when? Biocentric preservation is one philosophy that tries to answer the question of […]
Tag: preservation
Current Issues in Environmental Ethics
While many of us are aware of the many environmental problems we face, from climate change to endangered species, we often overlook the ethical issues that these problems raise. Environmental ethics is a field of study focused on what is moral when it comes to the human relationship with nature, and helps us understand how […]
Animal Rights and Environmental Ethics: Do Animals Have the Right to Moral Treatment?
We often see environmental activism geared towards protecting animals. While saving the whales and protecting endangered elephants certainly feel like the right things to do, many of us haven’t stopped to consider why this feels right. Do we have a moral obligation to protect animals? In environmental ethics, animal rights is the belief that animals […]
John Muir’s Environmental Philosophy
John Muir was a naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, botanist, zoologist, glaciologist, and a strong preservationist in the United States. Muir believed that nature must be protected from the destructive hands of people. He fought for the preservation of nature, which led to the establishment of the national parks we enjoy today. This is why he […]
Aldo Leopold and Environmental Ethics
An Overview of Aldo Leopold’s Contributions to Environmental Ethics Aldo Leopold was an author, philosopher, and ecologist famous for his contributions to the field of environmental ethics. He was also a founder of the science of wildlife management, and was a leader in the early environmentalist movement. In this article, we’ll review Aldo Leopold’s philosophies […]
Utilitarian Environmental Ethics: Characterization, Controversies, and Consequences
Environmental ethics is a branch of philosophy that tries to help us understand what is right when it comes to our relationship to the environment. Different environmental philosophies (sometimes known as eco-philosophies, or “ecosophies”) espouse varying beliefs on where humans stand in relation to nature, and what is moral when it comes to our treatment […]
The Importance and History of Wildlife Management
The diversity and importance of animal species across the world cannot be overstated. Playing a vital role in nature’s food chain, animals are an intrinsic link to the health and well being of global ecosystems. Furthermore, human society is highly dependent on the use of animal life. Our infrastructure is based on numerous natural resources, […]
The Importance and History of Forest Conservation
The pivotal role forests play in the global ecosystem cannot be overstated. Forests provide everything from powerful natural resources to massive environmental biosystems hosting thousands of vibrant species. Additionally, forests are producers of oxygen and are massive CO2 sinks, acting as foundational blocks to life itself. Without them, life as it is would not exist, […]
History of Air Pollution and Protection
Air pollution has existed as a health and environmental concern for centuries. Ignited by industrial revolutions across the globe and the use of unclean energy sources (coal, gas, diesel), air contamination has grown as a longstanding problem with numerous negative consequences. Various complications arise from air pollution. Air pollution creates a myriad of health and […]
The Difference Between Conservation, Preservation and Restoration
Conservation, preservation and restoration are all concepts related to protecting the natural world. While they are often used interchangeably, each term has a specific meaning and emphasis.