Environmental Ethics Essay

729 Words3 Pages
Environmental ethics and philosophy examine and discuss a variety of perspectives, theories and ideas in respect to the natural world and humanity. Environmental theories and perspectives are confronted with challenges of distinguishing importance between humanity and the environment; who should be more concerned about? There are a variety of environmental philosophies that exude well-established ideologies, all concerning humanity and the environment. Individuals like “Ricky” who designate and or consider themselves as “devoted environmentalists” follow environmental philosophies, which emphasize the concerns pertaining to the natural world rather then civilization: “Earth comes first.” There are two environmental philosophies, which prioritize their theories around the theme of environmental conservation. The environmental philosophies that would pertain to “Ricky’s” opinions are preservation and wildlife management. The philosophy of preservation was introduced in the 1830’s. This theory defends the aesthetic and spiritual value of wilderness. They are skeptical of technology, capitalism, and government pro-development policies. The theory of preservation believes in the conservation of wilderness for its own purpose, and takes minimal consideration to human welfare and security. Preservationalists perceive humans to not be the principal focus of the environment, and therefore must minimize their impacts and protect larger areas from resource extraction and exploitation. The philosophy of wildlife management was proposed in the 1890’s and believes that the scientific management of ecosystems can ensure stable populations of wildlife. This approach perceives wildlife as a connected community rather then individual units. Overall, these philosophies are mainly concerned with the conservation of the natural world; the well being of humanity is seen as the problem
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