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Definitions | Issues | Case Studies | Ethical Responses | Christian Responses | Resources | Books | Links | Multimedia | In the News | Quizzes | Exam questions
Definitions | Issues | Case Studies | Ethical Responses | Christian Responses | Resources | Books | Links | Multimedia | In the News | Quizzes | Exam questions
Definitions | Issues | Case Studies | Ethical Responses | Christian Responses | Resources | Books | Links | Multimedia | In the News | Quizzes | Exam questions
Definitions | Issues | Case Studies | Ethical Responses | Christian Responses | Resources | Books | Links | Multimedia | In the News | Quizzes | Exam questions
Definitions | Issues | Case Studies | Ethical Responses | Christian Responses | Resources | Books | Links | Multimedia | In the News | Quizzes | Exam questions
Definitions | Issues | Case Studies | Ethical Responses | Christian Responses | Resources | Books | Links | Multimedia | In the News | Quizzes | Exam questions
Definitions | Issues | Case Studies | Ethical Responses | Christian Responses | Resources | Books | Links | Multimedia | In the News | Quizzes | Exam questions
Definitions | Issues | Case Studies | Ethical Responses | Christian Responses | Resources | Books | Links | Multimedia | In the News | Quizzes | Exam questions

What do we mean by 'the environment'?

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The natural environment

The way someone defines terms in ethics tells us a lot about their position. For example, calling animals 'non-human animals' reminds us that we too are animals - we are part of the natural environment. Others believe we own and are in charge of the environment, it is a commodity which is of value to us, but only a commodity.

In terms of environmental ethics, the environment is all elements of the natural world. This includes primates, other mammals, all land animals, birds, fish, insects, trees, ecosystems, lakes, sand-dunes etc. One complex area of debate concerns which elements of the natural world are morally relevant.

There are also some useful distinctions made in terms of how we respond to the environment. Marshall had three categories.

  • Some people are only interested in conserving the environment because to do so will benefit humans. These people are conservationists.
  • Some people believe that 'rights' should be extended to elements of the natural world (libertarian extension) These may be different in detail from human rights, but would work on the same lines. A primate, for example, has the right not to be unnecessarily harmed, it may be held. It is not clear how far these 'rights' should extend. Could a tree have the right not to be cut down to be used for packing boxes?
  • A final category of people, ecological extensionists, aware of the criticisms aimed at any talk of animal rights, would agree that individual animals may not have 'rights', but that you could give value to an ecosystem. This includes people who believe that all things are interconnected, and that it is essential to maintain biodiversity.

 

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