Kantian Ethics and Environmental Ethics

Generally seen as an anthropocentric theory.
1. Rational nature alone has absolute and conditional value.
Kant
1. Believes humans are distinguished from other life by our capacity to reason.
2. Categorical imperative can be applied to the environment in different ways.
  1. 'Act only on that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become universal law.'
    1. We can make environmental laws if we agree that everyone should follow it.
      1. Clearly pollution or exploiting the environment would be illogical and immoral becasuse not everyone could do it.
  2. Nature mustn't be treated as a means to an end but an end in itself.
3. Rejects the idea that domestic animals are simply for our benefit and says there are moral limits and rules on how we should use them.
  1. Killing animals for food is justifiable but killing them for sport is not.
    1. He argued that animals exist to be used but with that privilege comes a duty of care.
4. Believed treating animals or the natural world badly would make us into cruel and callous people.
  1. We would then in turn treat each other badly.
  2. Cruelty towards animals would not be wrong in its own right but due to consequences on humans, it should be considered intrinsically wrong.
    1. A person cannot have good will unless he shows concern for the welfare of non-rational beings and the natural world for its own sake.
5. We have a duty to ourselves to survive and thus exploiting and destroying the environment is immoral - it would damage the chances of humanity surviving.
6. Links aesthetic beauty of the environment to moral goodness.
  1. To destroy beauty is illogical and immoral since it is something that rational people when meeting to decide moral laws, would consider a vital part of human existence.
Ronald Hepburn
1. Kant's statement 'act so as to treat humanity never only as a means but always also as an end' links to the proper human response to the natural environment.
  1. We should view the environment with 'wonder'
    1. Kant, according to Hepburn held an awe for the natural world.
  2. We should not exploit the natural environment for the needs of humans.
Paul Taylor
1. Takes the view that respect for nature is a universal law for all rational beings.
  1. However, he wouldn't afford plants and animals moral rights but believed they should have legal rights so they're protected.
  2. The concept of 'inherent worth' means nature does have value in and of itself.
Criticisms
1. It is logically possible to universalise lack of care for the environment.
2. An anthropocentric approach, all things seem to exist for humanity.
  1. Creates a certain arrogance on humans part
3. Kant's theory seems more theoretical than practical.

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Kantian Ethics and Environmental Ethics

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