Values behind biodiversity and moral duties in relation to the sustainability of such values develop

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Values behind biodiversity and moral duties in
relation to the sustainability of such values-
development of a conceptual model, case study of
salmon farming versus environmental interests,
and possible value grounds for ethical
environmental accountingHamburg2008Arne
Sveinson Haugen Centre for technology,
innovation and culture (TIK) andBiological
InstituteUniversity of Oslo
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Three questionsCultural landscapes versus
salmon farming impactsOn what ethical grounds
might it be fair that the negative impacts of
agriculture on original or primary terrestrial
ecosystems, which has resulted in the formation
of cultural landscapes, are accepted, while at
the same time salmon farming and its negative
impacts on aquatic ecosystems are not? Wild
salmon versus the minnow species On what ethical
grounds might it be fair that a government
committee, like the Norwegian Wild Salmon
Committee, is appointed in an effort to secure
the wild salmons future existence, while at the
same time the minnow is perceived as a threat
that should be combated? Animal welfare versus
salmon game fishing On what ethical grounds
might it be fair to be concerned with the animal
welfare of domesticated animals, such as farmed
salmon, while at the same time salmon game
fishing is accepted?
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Ethical grounds or positionsBased on moral
stakeholder status.
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Conceptual modelPresent a conceptual model that
might help clarifying which environmental
entities might have moral stakeholder status.
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Inner worth table

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Inner worth table

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Inner worth table

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Inner worth table

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Inner worth table

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Inner worth table

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Inner worth table

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Inner worth table

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Inner worth table

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Inner worth table

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Answer to question 1Cultural landscapes versus
salmon farming impacts For this question I
regard it as fair within the context of the
traditional inter-human ethics that the negative
impacts of agriculture on original or primary
terrestrial ecosystems, which has resulted in the
formation of cultural landscapes, are accepted.
At the same time I regard it as fair that salmon
farming and its negative impacts on aquatic
ecosystems are not accepted. In the context of
the proper nature-environmental ethical
positions, however, this would not be fair.
Maintenance of cultural landscapes would then be
just as questionable ethically as salmon farming.
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Answer to question 2Wild salmon versus the
minnow species For this question I regard it as
fair within the context of the traditional
inter-human ethics that the Norwegian Wild Salmon
Committee was appointed in an effort to secure
the wild salmons future existence. At the same
time I regard it as fair that the minnow is
perceived as a threat that should be combated.
Again, as for the first question, this would
not be fair in the context of the proper
nature-environmental ethical positions.
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Answer to question 3Animal welfare versus
salmon game fishing Within the context of the
traditional inter-human ethics I regard it as
fair to be concerned with the animal welfare of
domesticated animals, such as farmed salmon,
while at the same time salmon game fishing is
accepted. This would certainly not be fair if
hedonistic nature-environmental ethics should be
applied.
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Concluding remarkA question then is if there in
any practical situations will exist hedonistic or
proper nature-environmental ethics, or if it at
the end boild down to care for the environmental
conditions that are necessary to secure and
satisfy the lives and well-being of humans.
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Side comments- About ecological literacy
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Ecological literacyInspired by Baird Callicott
who says that - Universal ecological literacy
would trigger sympathy and fellow-feeling for
fellow members of the biotic community, and
feelings of loyalty and patriotic regard for
the community as a whole. - Some approaches to
environmental ethics are rooted in altruistic
feelings like benevolence, sympathy and
loyalty.
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Ecological literacyEthics might be based both
on a knowledge part and a feeling part. -
Knowledge about, contact with and observations of
nature - Love respect and care for nature
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Ecological literacy in philosophical theoriesMy
observation- Practical applications of the
philosophical theories in the field of the
environment seem more or less to rely on some
kinds of moral attitudes based on ecological
literacy. - This is either addressed explicitly
or- it appears as something that the
theories may depend upon.I give some examples
in the following.
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Philosophical theoriesExamples to illustrate how
ecological literacy might be involvedStrong
anthropocentric- Immanuel KantBiocentric- Tom
Regan- Paul TaylorEcocentric- Aldo Leopold -
Holms Rolston- Laura Westra Weak
anthropocentric - Bryan Norton
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Kant and ecological literacy- Kant holds that
the more we come in contact with animals and
observe their behaviour, the more we love them.
- We should be kind to animals since that will
develop good character in us and help us
treat our fellow human beings with greater
consideration.
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Regan and ecological literacy- Regan is
reluctant about saying specifically which beings
might have inherent value. He leaves it to
others to work out an environmental ethics.- I
therefore suspect that Regans ethics is
dependent on different persons particular
care for and knowledge about ecological entities,
which involves ecological literacy.
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Taylor and ecological literacy- Taylor
emphasises that adopting a moral attitude of
respect for nature is both rational and
intelligible, and that biological knowledge is an
essential means to fulfil this. - Linked to
this is his trust in the moral judgements of
people who he refers to as rational and
factually enlightened. - He says further that
scientifically informed and rational thinkers
with a developed capacity of reality awareness
can find his ethics acceptable as a way of
conceiving of the natural world and our place in
it.
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Leopold and ecological literacy- It is in
connection with Leopolds land ethic Callicott
says that universal ecological literacy would
trigger sympathy and fellow feeling for other
members of the biotic community, as well as
feelings of loyalty and patriotic regard for
the community as a whole. - This links with
the care part of ecological literacy.
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Rolston and ecological literacy- Rolston
believe it is the importance of be aware of and
taking into consideration the interconnection
between individual organisms and ecosystems. It
is necessary to be aware of the importance of
ecosystems as support systems to secure the
flourishing of individual ecological entities. He
refers to this as the systemic value of
ecosystems. - Rolston seems to be close to
Taylors scientifically related ecological
literacy, and thus to focus on the knowledge
part.
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Westra and ecological literacy- Westra mentions
the need for an understanding of all natural
processes and laws as one of the moral
implications of her principle of ecological
integrity. - I see one weak and one strong
version of Westras ethics, dependent on the
extent of ecological literacy involved.- I also
say that her ethics might be seen as an
anthropocentric ethics added with a great
extent of ecological literacy.
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Norton and ecological literacy- Norton
envisages a pragmatic view, which is based on
careful deliberation and is compatible with a
rationally adopted world view. - He say that
nonhuman ecological entities are valued for
enriching the human experience.
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Conclusions- The two quite opposite
philosophical positions Westras holistic
ecocentric ethics and Nortons pragmatic
anthropocentric ethics can both be interpreted
in a practical context as representing a kind of
environmentally strong anthropocentric ethics
where ecological literacy plays a significant
role. Synthesising these two observation with
the rest, my main conclusion is - Whatever the
theoretical philosophical starting point of an
environmental ethics might be, whether
anthropocentric, biocentric or ecocentric, it
seems that the differences in practical ethics
will be less the more ecological literacy plays a
role.
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This means- that the more people come in
contact with, observe and learn about nature, and
thereby come to love, respect and care for it,
the less importance the different philosophical
theories might have for the application of
practical ethics.
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But!- This does not mean that I do not believe
in the usefulness or fruitfulness of
philosophical theories, such as those within the
biocentric and the ecocentric ethics.- We need
to be challenged all the time with regard to how
we value nature and ecological entities.