The Ethics For Respect For Nature - 1477 Words

In Paul Taylor’s essay, â€Å"The Ethics for Respect for Nature,† he argues that†¦ In this paper I will first describe Taylor’s concept of â€Å"respect for nature.† I will then explain the part this attitude plays in rationally grounding a biocentric outlook on environmental ethics. Lastly, I will present Rosalind Hursthouse’s criticism of Taylor’s view, and state how Taylor might respond to this criticism. Paul Taylor approaches â€Å"respect for nature† as a moral attitude, meaning that if an individual is unable to comprehend the â€Å"meaning and conditions of applicability† of the attitude, they are also unable to have the attitude as a part of their â€Å"moral outlook† (Taylor 103). â€Å"Respect for nature† is defined by two essential concepts, the good of a being, and the concept of inherent worth. The good of a being is applicable to â€Å"every organism, species population, and community of lifeâ €  (Taylor 103). An entity has a good of its own if, â€Å"without reference to any other entity, it can be benefited or harmed† (Taylor 103). Simply stated, what is advantageous for an entity in the sense of â€Å"enhancing or preserving its life and well-being† is good for it (Taylor 103). What is disadvantageous for an entity in the sense of being â€Å"detrimental to its life and well-being† is not good for it (Taylor 103). The good of an â€Å"individual nonhuman organism† is realized to the extent that it is â€Å"strong and healthy† (Taylor 103). An entity is said to be â€Å"strong and healthy† to Taylor if it â€Å"possessesShow MoreRelatedRespect Of Nature : A Theory Of Environmental Ethics Essay1511 Words   |  7 Pagesfield of environmental ethics. In 1996, Taylor published the book Respect for Nature: A Theory of Environmental Ethics, in which he argues for the theory of Biocentrism. Biocentrism, in Taylor’s words, is an attitude of respect for nature, whereby one attempts to make an effort to live one s life in a way that respects the welfare and inherent worth of all living creatures. This egalitarian theory is a biologically-informed, philosophical worldview about humans, nature, and the place of humanRead MoreImpact Of Age And Wealth On Respect And Greed1525 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is the impact of Age and Wealth on Respect and Greed? – Impact of Norm and Value Some may describe age as a number however, age is a term that is generally a representation of the amount of experiences a person has had throughout their lives and an older person is therefore termed as older because of the number of experiences they have had. Same is the case with wealth. People may have different definitions of wealth like a person who has achieved what he/she aimed to may be termed as wealthRead MoreHow the Core of Nursing Helps to Prevent Abuse in Age Care637 Words   |  3 Pagesmany numerous abuses by physicians and nurses alike. Is it right? Is it justifiable? Of course, the answer is no. The nursing profession has a code of ethics, just like other professions that spell out what professional behavior is acceptable in the profession. The code of ethics puts accountability on nurses to show compassion, dignity, and respect to patients and others alike. As patients go through the aging process, they lose abilities for activities of daily living and sometimes dementia setsRead MoreThe Land Ethic By Aldo Leopold1055 Words   |  5 Pagesthe chapter â€Å"The Land Ethic†, Leopold invokes a rethinking of our relationships to our world and is based on the principle that ethics are â€Å"a process in ecological evolution† (238). Leopold describes the stages of ethic evolving and explains that the rules for socializing were originally defined for human beings. These rules are expanded upon in the next stage of â€Å"Ethical Sequence† (237-238), describing how humans interact toward their community. The third stage is the ethics between humans and theRead MoreBiography Of Leopold s A Sand County Almanac Essay1571 Words   |  7 PagesPart A When one reads Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac, it is difficult to not immediately find yourself lost in Leopold’s enchantment with the nature that surrounds him. Leopold describes, month by month, the activities of the animals and nature around him in such a way that one is able to truly appreciate the often missed miracles that are happening all around us. One can easily deduct that the theme of A Sand County Almanac is very boldly proclaimed as Leopold’s writings tell us to pauseRead MoreChristian Environmental Ethics1517 Words   |  7 Pagesand contemporary figures, it can be said that Christian ethical teachings have a significant influence on the lives of its adherents. A prime example of the effects of these teachings is the nature and practice of Christian environmental ethics. The Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy defines environmental ethics as the discipline in philosophy that studies the moral relationship of human beings to, and also the v alue and moral status of, the environment and its nonhuman contents. Although each denominationRead More History of the Origins of Environmental Ethics Essay1045 Words   |  5 PagesHistory of the Origins of Environmental Ethics The inspiration for environmental ethics was the first Earth Day in 1970 when environmentalists started urging philosophers who were involved with environmental groups to do something about environmental ethics. An intellectual climate had developed in the last few years of the 1960s in large part because of the publication of two papers in Science: Lynn Whites The Historical Roots of our Ecologic Crisis (March 1967) and Garett Hardins The TragedyRead MoreHuman Centered And Life Centered Systems Of Environmental Ethics1393 Words   |  6 Pagesof nature also. A significant development in Biocentrism has been Paul W. Taylor’s text, The Ethics of Respect for Nature (1, 1986) within which he brings to relevance four related ideas to be main pillars for the theory. These are labeled as â€Å"I. Human-Centered and Life-Centered Systems of Environmental Ethics† â€Å"II. The Good of A Being and The Concept of Inherent Worth† â€Å"III. The Attitude of Respect For Na ture† and the last being â€Å"IV. The Justifiability of The Attitude of Respect for Nature†. ItRead MoreHunting : The Truth About Hunting Essay1372 Words   |  6 Pagespeople think of the bahamas, or a five star hotel when a vacation is mentioned, however that is not true for all. For those who enjoy the outdoors and nature, a nice hunting trip speak more to them. Hunting has been seen in our culture for centuries as a way of reconnecting with nature, and in todays world with the lack of predators it is used to keep nature in balance, as well as keeping in touch with our ancestral traditions. Hunting is a part of our culture and has been all throughout history. â€Å"OurRead MoreEthical Ethics And Normative Ethics1078 Words   |  5 Pagestwo questions are examples of why mete-ethics and normative ethics exist. To be able to create an environmental ethic, one must have a sense of moral conclusion. Whether these morals are categorized through self-interest or obligation, meta ethics and normative ethics try to decipher these notions. To derive a normative ethic, meta-ethics needs to explain the language of morality, and how do humans come to a consensus of specific actions and thoughts. Ethics, by short definition, is how we (humans)