>
>I disagree with this steven. I DO believe that humans have obligations to
>nature becase we are of a higher nature.
Bryan, please define "higher nature."
We have obligations for the very
>reason that we are aware that obligations exist.
We're moral agents, not (by and large) moral patients...if I have the lingo
right?
Hmmm, it's hard to defend
>that, but I'll try. We understand that each (major) decision that we make
>is going to affect not only ourselves but the world around us. We must take
>into account all things before making a decision. Now, this doesn't seem
>practical for each and every decision, but if we can first construct a
>framework FOR decision making, based on first considering all things (I
>would say for all LIVING things), then we can make all other decisions by
>referring to this framework. I think that we should consider all living
>things as equal to ourselves, with us being 'first among equals' as it were.
>I believe that we have the obligation of being stewards of the earth,
>because we are stewards of the earth, whether we believe it or not. The
>decisions that we make will affect the earth and all living things on it.
>This cannot be said for any other 'species'. I'm not sure where to go with
>this from here, but i trust further discussion will bring out all the
>important points...
>
See Rolston, Holmes (1989) Environmental Ethics: Duties to and Values in
the Natural World, Temple University Press, Philidelphia, PA...for an
explanation of "bifurcated ecocentrism"...French also wrote an articled
(published in JEE (year?) on "Against Biospherical Egalitarianism"
---------------------------------------------------------
Corey Watts (PGDipSc Student)
Centre for Conservation Biology
The University of Queensland
St Lucia, Qld, AUSTRALIA 4068.
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Telephone: +61 7 3365 2475
Facsimile: +61 7 3365 1655
CCB Website: http://www.ccb.uq.edu.au/website
"Wings and feathers on the crying, mysterious Ages...
...all that is right, all that is good."
D.H. Lawrence, "The Wild Common."
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