Deck 13: Extending Ethics

Question 1

Leopold compares Odysseus' killing of the slave girls with __________.

A) Our lack of a land ethics, for just as Odysseus viewed the slave girls as property, we view land as property
B) The killing of animals raised in factory farming
C) The consumption of animals raised in factory farming
D) The inhumane treatment of animals in factory farming

Answer 1

A

Question 2

How does Naess characterize "deep" ecology?

A) A view which rejects man as the center of the universe thesis
B) A view which calls for the equality of all living things
C) A view which promotes diversity and symbiosis
D) All of the above

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Taylor's "biocentric outlook" places nonhuman animals on par with human beings.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

What is the central thesis of the biocentric view, according to Taylor?

A) Humans are members of the Earth's community of life, as are all non-human members
B) The Earth's ecosystem is viewed as a complex web of interconnected elements
C) Each organism is viewed as a teleological center of life, pursuing its own good in its own way
D) All of the above

Question 5

Naess takes issue with the term "shallow ecology" in that it insinuates that those who do not jump on the environmentalist bandwagon are "shallow".

Question 6

Naess advocates shallow ecology.

Question 7

What does Taylor say about the supposed superiority of humans?

A) Human animals are superior to non-human animals because we possess skills that they lack: the capacity to reason, etc.
B) Human animals are superior to non-human animals because only humans possess moral agency.
C) Human beings have intrinsic moral worth, whereas non-human animals are valuable only as a means to an end-or end.
D) None of the above

Question 8

Taylor argues that plants and animals have inherent worth.

Question 9

What does Naess refer to as "shallow" ecology?

A) A view which is primarily designed to fight pollution.
B) A view that deals specifically with resource depletion
C) A view whose primary objective is the health and affluence of people in developed countries.
D) All of the above

Question 10

Leopold's primary argument is that there has been a moral evolution insofar as human beings have gradually expanded their moral consideration to people different from themselves. Do you see a reason why the expansion should not extend beyond human beings? Is so, what is it? How do you think Leopold might respond to your objection?

Question 11

What does Leopold identify as the core flaw in a conservation system based wholly on economics?

A) The fact that conservation is not always in business' best interest
B) The fact that most members of the land-community have no economic value
C) The fact that ownership is transient, changing hands from one generation to the next.
D) All of the above

Question 12

Leopold writes that the "extension of ethics, so far studied only by philosophers, is actually a process of __________."

A) Transference
B) Association
C) Adaptation
D) Ecological evolution

Question 13

Naess distinguishes between what he calls "shallow" ecology and "deep" ecology.

Question 14

Taylor contrasts "human-centered" and "life-centered" systems of environmental ethics. Describe the differences between these two systems as he describes them and the justifications for each. Which is based on the best reasons? Why?

Question 15

Restate in your own words the two ways that Leopold thinks people view the natural world. Is this division too simple, or are there other possible positions? Explain. Which position, A or B, do you find more reasonable? Why?

Question 16

Taylor denies that human beings are superior to nonhuman animals.

Question 17

Leopold calls for the development of a "land ethic"-an ethic dealing with man's relation to land.

Question 18

Leopold writes, "All ethics so far evolved rest upon a single premise." What is this premise?

A) That one can be held accountable only for actions that are voluntary
B) That is implies ought
C) That man is created in the image of God.
D) That man is a member of a community

Question 19

The "biocentric outlook on nature" has four main components, according to Taylor. What are they? Do you agree with any or all parts of this outlook? Which parts and why?

Question 20

Taylor argues that human superiority in relation to the rest of nature cannot be affirmed. Do you think that his argument succeeds or fails? Why? What is at stake, and what is the value of claiming the superiority of human beings?

Question 21

Recall the Critical Thinking box that calls attention to the hotel in Dubai where a "refrigerated beach" is created. The authors of this book suggest that there is a difference between accommodating ourselves to a problem and solving it. Discuss this difference. Perhaps it is often difficult to see the distinction. Discuss ways we are responding to environmental problems in this light. Can you identify accommodations and solutions be made?

Question 22

Naess's second principle is "biospherical egalitarianism-in principle." Is the equal value of all life a reasonable value? A moral value? Why or why not? Does the qualification "in principle" make the principle easier to accept? Why or why not?

Question 23

Shiva argues that development has, for the most people in the poor world, brought environmental degradation and poverty. What evidence and arguments does she marshal in support of this view? Do you find it persuasive? Explain why or why not?

Question 24

Are you persuaded by the overall argument given by McKibben, as to the problem we face, how we've changed Earth into Eaarth, and what the solutions must be? Why or why not?

Question 25

According to Shiva, exactly what is the "dominant paradigm"? Do you find this generalization persuasive? Why or why not? Are there more complicated motives and factors involved that she doesn't address? If so, what are they?

Question 26

McKibben claims that virtually all of the major physical features of our planet seem to be changing rapidly. Which of the following does he cite as an example?

A) The melting of the Artic ice cap
B) The thinning of the great glacier above Greenland
C) The increasing acidity of the oceans
D) All of the above

Question 27

Why, on Shiva's view, is the conflation of subsistence living with poverty especially troublesome?

A) It breeds Western-style consumerism in third-world countries
B) It supports a cultural bias known as ethnocentrism whereby people from affluent countries fail to acknowledge the heritage of those in the developing world
C) It provides false legitimacy to 'poverty-removal" projects which instead removing poverty removes sustainability
D) All of the above

Question 28

What aspect of this reading is most new or most startling to you? Why?

Question 29

Naess lists even principles of deep ecology. Restate each of these principles in your own words. Which of them are and are not moral imperatives? Why? Which are feasible? Why? Which are infeasible? Why?

Question 30

Shiva also argues that the impoverishment affects women, children, and the environment more harshly than it does men. Again, summarize her arguments and evidence. Do you find them compelling? Why or why not? If she is correct, how should international policies change to address this issue?

Question 31

McKibben argues that we have so fundamentally changed the face of the Earth, that Earth merits a new name-this he calls "Eaarth."

Question 32

Hawken argues that the movement for corporate social responsibility, although noble, cannot succeed in addressing environmental degradation, since the problem is primary one of overconsumption.

Question 33

Where, according to Shiva, did the development model go wrong?

A) The development model focused exclusively on a model of progress derived from Western industrialized economies
B) The development model failed to account for environmental destruction and its insuring poverty
C) The development paradigm failed to account for self-provisioning economies
D) All of the above

Question 34

McKibben calls for a "world government" to manage our descent into the abyss of global warming.

Question 35

McKibben argues that there is nothing we can do to prevent or mediate the effects of global warming.

Question 36

Can you recount the changes and actions McKibben recommends? Are they sufficient, too much, or too little? Explain your answer.

Question 37

Which of the following best describes McKibben's view?

A) If we don't change our conduct, our grandchildren will suffer
B) It is too late and nothing significant enough can be done to stop global warming
C) We have already done irreparable damage to the planet; however, it's not too late to mediate the effects of global warming
D) The damage we have done is irreparable; and there is nothing we can do now

Question 38

Shiva distinguishes between genuine poverty and culturally perceived poverty.

Question 39

Shiva argues that--contrary to popular belief--globalization and economic development have not raised the standard of living for the vast majority of those living in the developing world, but rather have led to environmental degradation and poverty.

Question 40

Shiva argues that subsistence economies that satisfy basic needs through self-provisions are not genuinely poor. What examples does she give of this "culturally perceived" false poverty?

A) People are perceived as poor if they eat home-grown millet rather than commercially produced and distributed processed foods
B) People are seen as poor if they live in houses which they built themselves our of local products such as bamboo rather than imported products such as concrete
C) People are seen as poor if they were home-made garments of natural fiber rather than synthetic fibers
D) All of the above

Question 41

Hawken finds it deeply problematic that an average adult can recognize one thousand brand names and logos but fewer than ten local plants.

Question 42

Hawken lists eight objectives necessary to a sustainable commerce. Restate them in your own words. Do you find his model of sustainability appealing and persuasive? Why or why not? Do you think that all these objectives should be pursued? Explain your answer.

Question 43

Hawken says, "The cornucopia of resources that are being extracted, mined, and harvested is so poorly distributed that 20 percent of the earth's people are chronically hungry or starving, while the top 20 percent of the population, largely in the north, control and consume __________ percent of the world's wealth."

A) 50
B) 60
C) 70
D) 80

Question 44

Oliver's poem is written from a Christian perspective.

Question 45

Hiebert notes that the concept of human dominion is often discussed with little attention to the historical context which gave rise to it.

Question 46

Hiebert argues that human dominion implies human domination and superiority.

Question 47

What does Hawken identify as the primary cause of environmental degradation?

A) Greed
B) Overpopulation
C) Overconsumption
D) All of the above

Question 48

Hawken might be seen to offer a "Twelve Step Sobriety Program" of human endeavors on earth. Do you agree that we need to "sober up" from our unsustainable ways of living? Or do you think that we might be closer to sustainability than Hawken thinks? How might our current way of living also provide solutions to the problem of environmental sustainability?

Question 49

Hiebert argues that the biblical texts about creation in Genesis 1 and 2 mandate a strong environmental ethic as part of the "human vocation." Critics of this view argue instead that "dominion" inevitably means domination. How might Hiebert respond to such criticism? What would you say to them if asked to explain these texts?

Question 50

Hawken argues that overpopulation is the primary cause of environmental degradation.

Question 51

The central concern in Oliver's poem is to show that _________.

A) We should repent for our sins against nature
B) We all have a place in nature
C) God reserved flight for the birds
D) All of the above

Question 52

Hawken thinks that a certain kind of capitalism can be sustainable and thus ecologically responsible. Do you agree or do you think with several authors in Chapters 10 and 11, that capitalism is, in general, unsustainable? Explain your answer with specific references to those earlier chapters.

Question 53

According to Hiebert, the image that has determined most Christian thought about the human vocation is the image of __________.

A) Creation
B) Dominion
C) Original sin
D) Rapture

Question 54

On balance, do you think that religious texts and teachings provide useful tools for addressing environmental problems and concerns? Why or why not? Is it good to approach nature convinced of the "sacredness" of "creation"? Or does such an attitude confuse or distort what should be a more pragmatic inquiry? Explain and support your answer with specific examples.

Question 55

Oliver claims that we should walk on our knees for 100 miles through the desert, repenting for the harms we have done to the environment.

Question 56

Hiebert's main concern is to contrast two views of the vocation of man within the Christian tradition: man as priest and man as farmer.

Question 57

What type of bird does Oliver mention in her poem?

A) Ducks
B) Doves
C) Geese
D) Vultures

Question 58

Hawken presents twelve "design strategies" for a sustainable future. Choose for of these strategies, restate them, and assess their feasibility and utility.

Question 59

Oliver says that whoever you are, the world offers itself to your imagination.

Question 60

Can you think of other scriptural text, such as the Qur'an, that might be seen to support a robust environmental ethics? Which specific passages and imperatives do you have in mind? Are there other possible interpretations?

Question 61

How do you interpret Oliver's view of nature here? Would she agree with Taylor (Reading 101) about value existing in nature rather than being imposed on it? Why or why not? Do you think that we can see such things as love or patience in nature without merely imposing our own values on nature in this way?

Question 62

Ethically, what do you think can be gained, if anything, by coming to some recognition of your place "in the family of things"?

Question 63

What do you think Oliver means when she writes that "the world offers itself to your imagination" and that we should be "harsh and exciting," announcing our place "in the family of things"? How do we do this, morally speaking? What do you think she means by "the family of things"? What do you think is your place in the "family of things"?