Which ethical viewpoint is most helpful when addressing the issue of Deforestation.

Priyesh Kara

Deforestation

The Burning of the Amazon.

(Logging – Farmland)

Various Approaches

Deep and Shallow Ecology – Arne Naess

Secular -

- Lovelock (Gaia Hypothesis)

Christian views – Dominion and Stewardship

Virtue Ethics

Kantian

Utilitarian – Preference , Quantitative , Bentham , Mill,Modern (Cost Benefit Analysis method).

The Christian ApproachesDominion

• Dominion approach is seen to be largely anthropocentric.

• Singer ( Practical Ethics) ‘Human beings are the only morally important things in this world.

• and is a sign of Gods benevolence.• The natural world exists for humans benefit so it is ok to cut down the forest so long as it benefits humanity.

• You are of more value that many sparrows’ (Matthew10:29)

• St Francis of Assisi- God communicates through the natural world through (bird trees etc.)

• natural world is inherently good and is a sign of Gods benevolence.

• The forests purpose is to inspire our respect and love for gods creation.

• Singer – Dominion is the cause of environmental problems.

Stewardship

Humans – here to take care and preserve the earthCreation is made by god and is therefore the forest must be conserved because of its intrinsic value.Humans are the caretakers of the world – should respect Gods creation.

The fall was the point at which we became bad stewards for ‘they have transgressed laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.’ (Isaiah 14:4-5)

She (nature) has made all animals for the sake of the man (Aristotle , Politics)

Christian ethics is rooted in the relationship with God therefore a Christians relationship with God depends on how he uses creation and contributes to bringing the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Romans 5:12-21)

We should limit the amount of deforestation for it is against the principle of respecting the intrinsic value of Gods creation.

Utilitarianism

Quantitate – Weighs up whether the moral course of action is the maximization of higher pleasures for present generations.

Bentham -Cutting down the forest may benefit the farmers giving them more farmland Although it maximizes the pain of environmentalist

Modern Utilitarian's-Cost benefit analysis is the forest worth more in the long run if it is conserved or more as land for farming or for the growing beef consumption of the world or the logging trade.

Kantian Ethics

Rational nature alone has absolute and conditional value.May seem that a theory of this kind would allow the exploitation of the natural world ; if only rational nature counts as an end in itself then everything else may be used as a means to an end.

Denies that domestic animals are treated as tools , there are moral limits on their use cannot be overworked or killed when old.People who exploit or abuse aspects of the natural world such as the rainforest for their own gain are likely to do the the same other people.

A person cannot be have good will unless he shows concern for the welfare of non rational beings ( rainforest plants and animals) and values the natural world for its own sake.

Categorical Imperative Form 1- Forbids much of the exploitation of the natural world as it would be illogical for everyone to act in this way.Would be using the rainforest as a means to an end (human benefit and growth)

James Lovelock (1919 –2009) Eco holism and The Gaia Hypothesis

Emphasizes the interference of all ecosystems , sees the environment as a whole entity.Humans are part of a living self regulating being (Daisy World) – Gaia (Greek god of the earth.)

The planet regulates itself in favor of life therefore Lovelock may say that in the case of deforestation , no matter how adverse the effects the planet will eventually regulate itself and return

Looked at fossils , even in extreme weather changes life always in some formed survived. Habitats in forests will come back at some point.

Arne Naess Deep Ecology

Deep Ecology – Concerned with richness, diversity ,and intrinsic value.

Rejects supernatural claims about GodNatural world has a spiritual basis

All things in nature have a spiritual reality which is to be respected

Human beings are one part of a mutually dependent structure.

Aldo Leopold- humans should not be selfish and should focus on their relationship with the land , animals and plants.

Social conscience if humans should extend to the soil

Arne NaessShallow Ecology

Shallow – Should stop pollution , depletion of natural resources and the usefulness of the earth for humans.

• Environment is for human flourishing therefore deforestation is ok so long as it allows humanity to progress ex .more room for farming and cattle grazing.

• Environment provides happiness and benefits humanity (Amazon-’The Lungs of the Earth)

• Animals and plants have instrumental value only

Peter -Singer is seen as a benefit utilitarian argues that animals have intrinsic value something is only valuable is we perceive it to be so.

Conclusion

There are a variety of views that one may use when a addressing the issue of deforestation such as the largely anthropocentric view of dominion of the earth stating You are of more value that many sparrows’ (Matthew 10:29) ranging to Naess’ deep ecological movement deemed my some to be misanthropic allowing for some to deem Naess deep ecological view as a largely unhelpful ethical stance. Others may favor that of Lovelocks self regulating earth which he encompassed in his Gaia hypothesis therefore helping some to see a future for the earth in that the rainforest will eventually regenerate itself , although some may see this view as a ‘scapegoat’ method in that it allows for humans to antrpocentricise their existence safe in the knowledge that at some point in the future everything will be ok again.

Conclusion Pt2.Other alternative views however include that of

the Utilitarian and the Kantian ethicist approaches. Kants may help one to rethink about deforestation in that the forest cannot be exploited and used as means in itself therefore violating one of the other forms of his categorical imperative. However the preference utilitarian approach may see one view of deforestation as benefiting humanity in giving space for farmland although on the other hand violating the forest in the eyes of ecologists looking to preserve the earth for future generations.

It therefore leaves one with the decision of weighing up if the progression and pleasure of humanity is worth more than the intrinsic value of Gods creation.