Ray Lanier wrote:
> What is the meaning of life within the radically different environment
> within which we find ourselves?  What does that mean for the way we view
> ourselves in the world including non-human?  What does that mean for the
> moral fundamentals of humans in the environment?
>
> I should say that it seems to me that we need to replace the word
> "environment" with something like "ecosystems" to denote the total system
> interrelationships of which humans are but one entity.

The idea that humans should be responsible and have duties to protect
environmental quality is for the most part a pragmatic concern. It simply
makes sense to keep drinking water sources clean for example, and conserve
wild game stocks.

There is another form of ethics that is applicable to environmental ethics,
and it is one that is not pragmatic. In the first case where duties &
responsibilities form the content of ethical conduct re the environment, the
emphasis is clearly on problem solving.

The other form of environmental ethics is neither theoretical nor pragmatic.
The terms 'environment' and 'ecosystem's are almost interchangeable. It is
common to use the term 'political' and 'social' ecology to denote the full
array of interelationship's between persons, and citizens; however the term
life has another relationship meaning sense. Life is what animates, or
creates, in a 'world'. Life is the ultimate expression of all that is good.
Life is the visible and audible in any moment. Life is the great hypostasis
in any metaphysical system. All is possible with life. Life is also what is
felt as 'immediate', as joy or sorrow.

Therefore there is nothing pragmatic in regarding Life as the Supreme value
since there is no problem to solve where there is life. Most importantly the
phenomenon of Life is consciousness.

No ethics of responsibility (or care) for the environment is possible
without this primary or basic love of Life. For example, the NADSP (nazi's)
had some very good environmental policies such as massive reforestation,
etc., but they as a political party were engaged in the systematic
extermination of their own citizens, as well as foreigners.

So what good is the pragmatic response to tending forests when people are
being murdered en masse?

chao,

john foster