Robin Attfield, Environmental Ethics
Attfield is a professional philosopher who has written on many topics. What traits in his writing style or mode of reasoning do you notice as characteristic of his approach?
Chapter 1: Origins
What has the present age come to be called? (2, earth influenced by human activity) What are some implications of this label?
What ancient philosophers had discussed nature, and what had been their attitudes toward it? At what point did attitudes begin to change?
According to Attfield, what were some effects of the Vietnam war (1961-75) on the environment? (4)
What is meant by “environmental ethics”? (4-5) How does this differ from an anthropocentric view?
According to John Passmore, had there been antecedents to the view that humans need only take their own needs into account? (6)
What claims were advanced by the Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess in his 1973 essay on deep ecology? What are some of the principles of the deep ecology movement? (7) What kinds of exploitation would it prohibit?
What justifications did the environmental philosopher Holmes Rolston give for the notion that we “ought” to protect the environment? (9) Why is it important for an environmental ethics to understand “value” as more than a means to an end (that is, intrinsic)? (9-10)
Even with an anthropocentrist approach, may one be an environmental ethicist? (10)
From an ethical standpoint, is it necessary to take future interests into account? (11) What is meant by the concept of intrinsic value? (12)
What are the philosophical arguments for preserving species and ecosystems (as opposed to plentiful organism)? (12)
Chapter 2: Some Key Concepts
What is meant by “nature” and “natural”? With what is the word “natural” contrasted? Why is thinking of nature as something to subdue a mistaken view? (14) What third meaning of “nature” does he adduce? (14-15) What do others sometimes mean when they use the term? (15)
What argument does John Stuart Mill give against the view that a “natural” life is one which imitates the processes of nature? (15)
What did the ancient Stoics believe when they advocated that one should follow nature? (17) What according to Attfield are some limitations of this view?
What are some meanings of “environment,” and which of these does Attfield intend to use? (18)
What problem does he think is already being addressed? (19)
What does it mean to say that something has moral standing? (20) What qualifies a being to have moral standing? (21) How is this different from moral significance? (22)
What is “biocentrism”? (22) How is this different from “ecocentrism”? (23) Which of these have we emphasized most in this course?
What are different kinds of value? How are do instrumental value, intrinsic value, and derivative value differ? (24-25) What are some forms of intrinsic value?
What is meant by “sentientism”? To what three alternate views is this opposed? (26-27) Which of these does he suggest inspires many environmentalists? (27)
Chapter 8, “The Ethics of Climate Change”
What does Attfield consider the most serious imminent environmental problem? (106) What are “extremely likely” to be its causes? (107) What is the “precautionary principle,” and in what contexts should it be applied? (108)
What cities does he cite as being in special danger? (108) Have you read anything in recent news about environmental threats to these cities?
What specific forms of harm would be contrary to ethical principles? (108-109) How does he think population should be stabilized? (109-110)
What ideas have been advanced to promote a fair distribution of greenhouse gas emissions? What is meant by “contraction and convergence”? (110) What bounds on temperature rise is considered especially dangerous by many scientists, and what is “humanity’s carbon budget”? (111)
What alternate form of distribution has been proposed? (112) Is this likely to be put into effect? What might be the result of a system of auctions of carbon-use entitlements? (113)
What is Attfield’s view of the positive features of the Paris Climate Accords, and what were their limitations? (113-14) What recent event does he consider especially ominous? (114)
What are some proferred suggestions for reducing greenhouse gases and other emissions? Which forms of energy production have negative consequences? What are some perils of climate engineering? (118-19)
On what grounds can anthropocentrists, social ecologists, biocentrists, and others agree regarding the need to retard climate change? (119)
How should greenhouse gas emissions from farm animals and wild animals be included in any “contraction and convergence scheme,” according to Attfield? Might there be any dangers in this approach? Any advantages? According to Attfield, how can wealthier natures compensate other for leaving their forests in place? (120) Are there recent cases in which this has happened?
In conclusion, what inclusive view of the ethical case for sustainable development does the author make? (121)