Deck 25: Environmental Worldviews, Ethics, and Sustainability

Question 1

The American theologian, Thomas Berry (1914-2009), called the industrial-consumer society, built on the human-centered, planetary management environmental worldview, the "supreme pathology of all history." He said, "We can break the mountains apart; we can drain the rivers and flood the valleys. We can turn the most luxuriant forests into throwaway paper products. We can tear apart the great grass cover of the western plains, and pour toxic chemicals into the soil and pesticides onto the fields, until the soil is dead and blows away in the wind. We can pollute the air with acids, the rivers with sewage, the seas with oil. We can invent computers capable of processing 10 million calculations per second. And why To increase the volume and speed with which we move natural resources through the consumer economy to the junk pile or the waste heap. If, in these activities, the topography of the planet is damaged, if the environment is made inhospitable for a multitude of living species, then so be it. We are, supposedly, creating a technological wonderworld. But our supposed progress is bringing us to a wasteworld instead of a wonderworld." Explain why you agree or disagree with this assessment. If you disagree, answer at least five of Berry's charges with your own arguments as to why you think he is wrong. If you agree, cite evidence as to why.

Answer 1

The comment given by Thomas Berry should definitely be accepted. This is because of the main reason that man can create anything through modern engineering and technology, but not nature. The million Dollar project, Biosphere, serves as a perfect example for this. The life sustaining principles of nature can never be created by man.
When man cannot recreate nature, he neither has any right to destroy nature. People should understand that nature does not depend on them for survival. Only living organisms are dependent on nature for their survival. By harming nature through all the activities, man is indirectly creating harm to all living species, including himself.
Today's world is suffering with numerous environmental problems. So, steps have to be taken to reduce or control such problems. Such problems should be solved in a way that they never reoccur again. Nature has to be loved and respected and environmental ethics should be followed by all people.
It is important to note that by promoting environmental sustainability, man is protecting his own species as well as other living organisms. It is in the hands of people to prevent the world from becoming a 'wasteworld'.

Question 2

Some analysts argue that the problems with Biosphere 2 ( Core Case Study ) resulted mostly from inadequate design, and that a better team of scientists and engineers could make it work. Explain why you agree or disagree with this view.

Answer 2

Biosphere was a million Dollars project designed in. It consisted of glass as well as steel domes, which had the ability to support life. It was designed in such a way that it could sustain life by itself.
The unit contained man-made ecosystems like forests, grasslands, lakes, rivers, streams, deserts, salt water marsh as well as coral reefs. Apart from this, Biosphere served as a habitat for different species of plants, animals and insects. Sunlight and built-in generators provided the required energy. Water evaporated from lakes, ponds, rivers, etc and condensed as rainfall. The rain water ultimately reached the ocean.
The biospherians had to survive by themselves by preparing their own food, breathing oxygen released by plants and drinking pure, fresh water. However, in spite of all the facilities, Biosphere was a failed project.
Even if better team of scientists and engineers had worked in designing Biosphere, this would be a failure project. This is because; human beings did not create earth. So, the basics behind creation of life-supporting systems are an unknown secret. Natural resources and ecosystems maintain the ecological balance by themselves and allow various species to survive. This includes humans also.
So, the argument that a better design would have made Biosphere project successful can never be accepted.

Question 3

What is the key concept for this section List six ethical guidelines for developing more sustainable and compassionate societies. Describe the lifestyle of voluntary simplicity now being adopted by some affluent people. What is Gandhi's principle of enoughness List five steps that some psychologists have advised people to take to help them withdraw from an addiction to buying.

Answer 3

The key concept is that sustainable living requires literacy, living more simply, and becoming environmentally active.
Here are six ways in which environmental ethicists feel we can develop more compassionate and sustainable societies: (1) Consider the effects that a particular action will have on the environment, both now and in the future; (2) Repair environmental damage and protect the earth's resources; (3) Use resources sparingly and efficiently; (4) Protect biodiversity; (5) As a minimum, do no environmental damage. Seek to leave the earth in better shape than it was; and (6) Live more simply, using what you need but not overconsuming.
Many affluent individuals are choosing to live a life of voluntary simplicity. They realize that real joy in life comes from being with friends and family and from doing activities that are enjoyable, not from the conspicuous consumption of material goods.
These individuals are making a smaller ecological footprint by buying fewer unnecessary things, by purchasing items with a smaller environmental impact, and by being environmentally friendly in the design of their homes and in the vehicles they drive. They view their chosen lifestyle as one of greater satisfaction because they are acting as role models to others and are garnering greater personal joy and fulfillment.
Gandhi's principle of enoughness states that if we take more than what we need, to fulfill greed rather than need, then we are robbing from others or from future generations. The earth has enough to support us if we do not destroy the environment.
Psychologists advise that individuals can stop their addictive spending/buying habits by avoiding the urge to buy something just because others have it. They encourage habitual spenders to avoid watching advertisements, which are designed to build a need where none existed before. They know that many people shop as a form of recreation and therefore are more tempted to make impulse purchases; thus, they encourage people to find other recreational activities.
Additional suggestions for overconsuming are to buy only what you can afford. A way of doing this is by using cash rather than credit cards for needed purchases. And, finally, psychologists suggest that people share ownership of items, such as occasionally-used equipment or tools, and that they borrow or buy used items that they might need.

Question 4

Increase your environmental knowledge and awareness by tracing the water you drink from precipitation to tap; finding out what type of soil is beneath your feet; naming five plants and five birds that live in the natural environment around you; finding out what species in your area are threatened with extinction; learning where your garbage goes; and learning where the wastes you flush down the toilet go. Write a report summarizing your findings. Of your findings, which two were the most surprising to you and why Compare your answer to this question with those of your classmates.

Question 5

Some analysts believe that trying to gain environmental wisdom by becoming familiar with some part of the natural world and forming an emotional bond with its life-forms and processes is unscientific, mystical nonsense based on a romanticized view of nature. They believe that having a better scientific understanding of how the earth works and inventing or improving technologies to solve environmental problems are the best ways to achieve sustainability. Do you agree or disagree Explain.

Question 6

Working with classmates, conduct an ecological footprint analysis of your campus. Work with a partner, or in small groups, to research and investigate an aspect of your school such as recycling or composting; water use; food service practices; energy use; building management and energy conservation; transportation for both on- and off-campus trips; or grounds maintenance. Depending on your school and its location, you may want to add more areas to the investigation. You can also decide to study the campus as a whole, or to break it down into smaller research areas, such as dorms, administrative buildings, classroom buildings, grounds, and other areas.
After deciding on your group's research area, conduct your analysis. As part of your analysis, develop a list of questions that will help to determine the ecological impact related to your chosen topic. For example, with regard to water use, you might ask how much water is used, what is the estimated amount that is wasted through leaking pipes and faucets, and what is the average monthly water bill for the school, among other questions. Use such questions as a basis for your research.

Question 7

List eight ways in which people can choose to live more lightly on the earth. List two mental traps that can lead to denial, indifference, and inaction concerning environmental problems. Describe how the town of Greensburg, Kansas, went from being nearly ruined to getting on a path toward sustainability.

Question 8

Within the GREENR database, use the World Map feature, and under "Browse," select Sustainability. Click on the pins for the United States, Japan, China, India, and one other country of your choice and research what each of them is doing to try to become more sustainable. Which of these sustainability programs are working well Which ones are not working well Write a report comparing these programs.

Question 9

Revisit the Core Case study in Chapter 1 (p. 4) titled "A Vision of a More Sustainable World in 2065." Now that you are near the end of this textbook and course, do you feel that we have a reasonable chance of making such a transition Explain. Is your view more hopeful or less hopeful than it was when you began this course Compare your answers with those of your classmates.

Question 10

Describe the Biosphere 2 project ( Core Case Study ) and summarize the major lessons learned from this project.

Question 11

List six major shifts that scientists say will be necessary to bring about a sustainability revolution. Describe Lester R. Brown's contributions to helping us make the transition to a more economically and environmentally sustainable world. Explain how exponential growth could apply to our shifting onto a path toward more sustainable societies.

Question 12

Do you believe that we have an ethical responsibility to leave the earth's natural systems in as good, or better, a condition as they are now Explain. List three aspects of your lifestyle that hinder the implementation of this ideal and three aspects that promote this ideal.

Question 13

What are this chapter's three big ideas

Question 14

Working with classmates, conduct an ecological footprint analysis of your campus. Work with a partner, or in small groups, to research and investigate an aspect of your school such as recycling or composting; water use; food service practices; energy use; building management and energy conservation; transportation for both on- and off-campus trips; or grounds maintenance. Depending on your school and its location, you may want to add more areas to the investigation. You can also decide to study the campus as a whole, or to break it down into smaller research areas, such as dorms, administrative buildings, classroom buildings, grounds, and other areas.
Analyze your results and share them with the class to determine what can be done to shrink the ecological footprint of your school within the area you have chosen.

Question 15

Explain the connections between Biosphere 2, the transition to more environmentally sustainable societies, and the scientific and social science principles of sustainability (see Figure 1-2, p. 6, Figure 1-5, p. 9, or back cover).

Question 16

What is the key concept for this section What is an environmental worldview What are environmental ethics What is the planetary management worldview List three variations of this worldview. What is the stewardship worldview What are four major types of public lands in the United States Summarize the controversy over how we should manage these lands.

Question 17

This chapter summarized several different environmental worldviews. Go through these worldviews and find the beliefs you agree with and then describe your own environmental worldview. Which of your beliefs, if any, were added or modified as a result of taking this course Compare your answer with those of your classmates.

Question 18

Working with classmates, conduct an ecological footprint analysis of your campus. Work with a partner, or in small groups, to research and investigate an aspect of your school such as recycling or composting; water use; food service practices; energy use; building management and energy conservation; transportation for both on- and off-campus trips; or grounds maintenance. Depending on your school and its location, you may want to add more areas to the investigation. You can also decide to study the campus as a whole, or to break it down into smaller research areas, such as dorms, administrative buildings, classroom buildings, grounds, and other areas.
Arrange a meeting with school officials to share your action plan with them.

Question 19

Summarize the debate over whether we can effectively manage the earth. Summarize the various beliefs about how far we should extend our concern for various forms of life (Figure 25-6). What is the environmental wisdom worldview Explain the thinking within this worldview related to saving the earth.

Question 20

Explain why you agree or disagree with the following statements: (a) everyone has the right to have as many children as they want; (b) all people have a right to use as many resources as they want; (c) individuals should have the right to do whatever they want with land they own, regardless of whether such actions harm the environment, their neighbors, or the local community; (d) other species exist to be used by humans; (e) all forms of life have a right to exist; (f) we have ethical obligations to maintain a livable world for future generations of humans and other species. Are your answers consistent with the beliefs that make up your environmental worldview, which you described in question 3

Question 21

What is the key concept for this section List three ideas that form the foundation of environmental literacy. What are five questions that an environmentally literate person should be able to answer How do some scientists and other thinkers urge us to apply biomimicry Give two examples of how this has been done.

Question 22

Explain why you agree or disagree with (a) each of the four principles that biologists and some economists have suggested for using public lands in the United States (p. 687), and (b) each of the five suggestions made by developers and resource extractors for managing and using these public lands (p. 688).

Question 23

Explain how we can learn from direct experiences with nature. What is a sense of place and why is it important Explain why Aldo Leopold is highly regarded and give some examples of the beliefs that made up his land ethic.