WELCOME TO

ANOTHER EPISODE
OF LEARNING
The
Environmental
Philosophy
 OBJECTIVES

At the end of this lesson you are expected to:

1. Define what is environmental philosophy is;

2. Identify things that are not in their proper place and the
different aesthetic ways to organize it; and
3. To show appreciation on the importance of human person in
the environment.
 What are the major
observable changes in the
Environment?
Have you realized something?
Are you part of the cause?
Remember that no matter our
action will be, it can affect our
environment as well.
Human Person in the
Environment
Human Person

A human person is a living being that

contains a real and existing to direct its own
development toward fulfilment through
perfect, unconditional, and infinite truth,
love, goodness, beauty, and unity, and will
do so if all the proper conditions are met.
(Spitzer 1999)
Environment

It is the sum total of all surroundings of a

living organism, including natural forces
and other living things, which provide
conditions for development and growth as
well as of danger and damage. (Endriga
2017)
 This means that as human person, we
interact not only with our fellow human
beings, but also with other living and non-
living elements in our environment.
 Environmental Philosophy or
Environmental Ethics

Environmental philosophy or
environmental ethics as defined by
Abella (2016), is the discipline that
studies the moral relationship of
human beings with the
environment and its non-human
contents.
The three main paradigms

1.Deep Ecology
2.Social Ecology
3.Ecofeminism
 DEEP ECOLOGY

Is a contemporary ecological
philosophy. Proponents were
disillusioned with existing modes of
depletion of natural resources and
the heavy pollution they cause. It
emerged as a reaction to this
shallow ecological point of view
 SOCIAL ECOLOGY
Is an offshoot of the movement against
domination of existing hierarchical
structures in society that pre-empt the
development of the full nature of an
individual.
 SOCIAL ECOLOGY

What are the objectives of social ecology?

Social ecology seeks a more moral economy,
one in which there is a bonding and
connecting relationship between humans
and nature.
 SOCIAL ECOLOGY
What are the characteristics of social ecology?
- Seeks to connect humans with nature
- Emerges as a response to the environmental
effects of industrialization
- Seeks to understand how our behavior affects
the environment to modify the interaction
between humans and nature.
 ECOFEMINISM

Is a reaction against male

domination and the corresponding
oppression of women, there is
superiority and subordination. On
ecofeminism men are assumed to be
superior to women and nature,
which result domination and
exploitation.
Environmental Aesthetics
Beautiful surroundings are better to see, compare to
a place that is full of garbage. As to Abella (2016),
environmental aesthetics are a philosophical view
that believes maintaining order in the environment
will bring out the natural beauty of the
surroundings and contribute to the well-being of the
people and other organisms living in it.
Despite how good the concept of environmental
aesthetics and ethics, we are living in a place
where human persons thrive best which later
results in disorders that rise to several
problems and challenges for humankind.
According to Abella (2016), it can be said that the
world is a text which the person can read and
understand to live a better life. He may treat it as:
o A source of raw materials to be used in any way
he pleases
o As something that envelops and surrounds him,
and thus has a unique relationship with it
In the simplest thought, this means that persons
can help the environment become greater than what
it originally is. (Abella, Introduction to the
Philosophy of the Human Person 2016)
Summary
1. The human person is a living being that can
transform things in a way that can suit them.
2. Environment is the totality of what surrounds
us.
3. Environment philosophy is a branch of
philosophy that is concerned with the natural
environment and humanity’s place in it. It deals
with issues concerning humanity’s role in the
world, the interaction between the nature and
humans, and human response to environmental
challenges.
4. Deep Ecology refers to the controlling attitude of
humankind is extended to nature, when in fact, humanity is
part of nature.
5. Destroying nature is a reflection wherein few people
overpower others while exploiting the environment for profit
or self-interest can be seen on social ecology. 6. Ecofeminism
relates to whatever is “superior” is entitled to whatever is
“inferior.
7. Aesthetic nature refers to an organize nature. No harm and
no damages, which human person must be responsible.
This quotation from Mohith Agad,
“Environment is no one’s property
to destroy; it’s everyone’s
responsibility to protect.”
Environmental
Ethics and
Protection
At the end of this lesson you are expected to:
1. Define what is environmental ethics and ways
to uphold environmentalism and care for
nature;
2. Identify ecological crisis and its relation to
human behavior and social problems; and
3. Show appreciation and support on
environmental preservation and
development.
As individuals, we play a major role in our
environment. This new normal is one of the
hardest situations we have been experiencing so
far. Do you think we can still do something to
protect our environment? Or do you think that
we failed to give something in return to the
environment? We failed to be caretakers of our
precious environment? Are you not afraid to lose
it? What can you do as human being?
If we fail to do our part in protecting the
environment, we might experience different
catastrophe. Here are the following
different environmental problems:
1. Air pollution refers to the contamination
of the air in the atmosphere, (Veetil
2012).
2. Water Pollution is caused by oil spill,
acid rain and other hazardous chemicals
that mixed with water, (SEPA 2012).
3. Acid rain occurs when the harmful gases like
nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are released
into the atmosphere through burning of fossil
fuels and combustion of vehicle engines. (US-
EPA 2017).
4. Climate change refers to an increase in the
average global temperatures. (climate.nasa.gov
2020)
5. Deforestation is one of the environmental
problems which refer to the cutting of trees for
agricultural, industrial, housing or urban use.
(philonotes.com n.d)
6. Depletion of natural resources is the
reduction of natural resources. (philonotes.com
n.d)
7. Depletion of our Ozone Layer exhaustion
of the ozone layer due to
Hydrochlofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), (US-EPA 2017).
8. Waste pollution is due to overpopulation,
lack of education on waste management and
technological advancement. (philonotes.com
n.d)
9. Acidification and Increase in
Sea/Ocean Temperature, the rapid
increase in sea level and ocean temperature.
(philonotes.com n.d)
10. Overpopulation, the problem of
overpopulation may give way to the rise of
other environment problems, such as
pollution, depletion of natural resources,
shortages of clean water, fuel and food.
(philonotes.com n.d)
How do you feel to be part of the solution?
How can the humanity help to restore the
damages on our environment? It true that
we can harm our environment but it is
very much true that we can protect it as
well. We, as humans, we failed but
accepting and doing our responsibility
towards our nature, surely, we can win as
humans.
Environmentalism is one of the important
developments during the twentieth century.
This perspective advocates to deal with the
growing environmental problems.
Philosophy has a significant role in the
development of environmental awareness
and action.
Upholding Environmentalism
and Care for Nature
Understanding that there is a necessity to
address different environmental challenges
in or environment, philosophers act
deliberately to address environmental
problems. According to Abella (2016),
environmentalist views have given rise to
varied perspectives regarding the best
means for humanity to act and uphold its
mission as stewards of nature.
The major concept that helps in
upholding environmentalism
and care for nature is
sustainability or sustainable
development.
Sustainability relies on the three
important principles:
1. Environmental integrity- means maintaining the
state of the environment, this means that human
activities should not unduly disrupt the ecosystems
and human communities located in the area. (Abella
2016)
2. Economic efficiency- refers to prudence in
decision-making regarding the use of resources to
ensure that there is minimum to zero waste. (Abella
2016)
3. Equity- this demands that we use our natural
resources in such a manner that these are conserved so
that the next generations will be able to use them.
(Abella 2016)
To guide us in our own personal use of
resources the values of prudence and
frugality can be used:
Prudence- is the ability to regulate one’s
actions and behavior. (Abella 2016)
Frugality- is being thrifty with the use of
one’s resources. (Abella 2016)
4. Environmentalism is a point of view that promotes
action to address our growing environmental problems.
5. Sustainability or sustainable development is a
concept that advocates the wise and efficient use of
natural resources. Sustainability relies on the three
important principles: environmental integrity, economic
efficiency, and equity.
6. The values of prudence and frugality can guide us in
our own personal use of resources. Prudence is the
ability to regulate one’s actions and behavior and
frugality is being thrifty with the use of one’s resources.