APES - CHAPTER 2 OBJECTIVES ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS AND ECONOMICS

Culture, Worldview and the Environment 1. Define: culture ensemble of knowledge, beliefs, values and learned ways of life shared by a group of people worldview reflects persons or groups beliefs about the meaning, operation and essence of the world List factors which may influence an individuals worldview. a) religion c) political ideology b) shared experiences d) economic factors

2.

Environmental Ethics 3. Define: ethics branch of philosophy that involves the study of good/ bad, right/ wrong = normative or prescriptive tells us how we should behave relativism belief that ethics do and should vary with social context universalism belief that there are objective notions of right and wrong that hold across cultures and situations ethical standards criteria that help differentiate right from wrong environmental ethics application of ethical standards to relationships between humans and nonhuman entities

4.

Review Fig 2.3, which illustrates the evolution of ethics and rights. expanding domain of ethical concern - due to increasing economic prosperity and scientific knowledge

5.

Define/contrast the following ethical perspectives: a) anthropocentrism human-centered view of our relationship w/environment -rights of non-human entities are ignored b) biocentrism ascribes values to actions, entities and properties on the basis of their effects on all living things or on the integrity of biotic realm all life has ethical standing c) ecocentrism judges actions in terms of their benefits or harm to integrity of whole ecological systems (biotic, abiotic components and relationships) = holistic perspective

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Describe the following categories of ethical viewpoints. a) preservation ethic we should protect natural environments In a pristine, unaltered state (John Muir) b) conservation ethic humans should put natural resources to use, but we also have a responsibility to manage them wisely (Gifford Pinchot) Both preservation and conservation were reactions to: development ethic humans are and should be masters of nature -promotes economic development without regard to negative consequences c) land ethic humans should view themselves and the land as members of the same community d) deep ecology rests on principles of self-realization and biocentric equality humans are inseparable from their environment e) ecofeminism patriarchal structure of society is a root cause of both social and environmental problems -worldview most associated with women is more compatible with nature f) environmental justice fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin with respect to development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, policies

Economics: Approaches & Environmental Implications 8. Define: economics study of how people use scarce resources to provide goods and services in the face of demand for them oikos household ecology, economics Economy social system that converts resources into goods goods material commodities manufactured for and bought by individuals and businesses services work done for others as a form of business

9.

Describe the following types of economies: a) subsistence economy people meet most or all of their daily needs directly from nature and do not purchase or trade for most of lifes necessities Eg. b) capitalist market economy buyers and sellers interact to determine which goods and services to produce, how much to produce and how these should be produced and distributed Eg. c) centrally planned (state socialist) economy government determines how to allocate resources (top-down control) Eg.

10.

List reasons for government intervention in market economies. a) to eliminate unfair advantages held by single buyers or sellers b) to provide services defense, medical care, education c) to provide safety nets d) to mange the commons e) to mitigate pollution

11.

Contrast the views of conventional and environmental/ecological economists (see Fig 2.11). conventional economists ignore environment in policy decisions environmental economists - accept that human economies depend on environment

12.

Define ecosystem services . - essential services provided by the environment - some ensure survival, others enhance quality of life Eg.

13.

Describe the following types of economics: a) classical economics (Adam Smith) -invisible hand individuals acting in their own self-interest can benefit society if the following are present: 1) rule of law 2) private property rights 3) competitive markets b) neoclassical economics -incorporates psychological factors - conflict between buyers (want lower prices) and sellers (want higher prices) compromise price being reached and the right quantity of goods being sold supply-demand curve supply amount of a product offered for sale at a given price demand amount of a product people will buy at a given price if free to do so

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Define or describe: cost-benefit analysis it total benefits exceed costs, action should be pursued, if costs exceed benefits, action not pursued - may be controversial because environmental costs may be overlooked because they are hard to quantify supply-demand curve (Fig 2.12)

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Review the following fundamental assumptions of neoclassical economics which have implications for the environment, determine their validity and define the italicized terms. a) Resources are infinite or substitutable. -Can we find substitutes for all depleted nonrenewable resources? b) Long-term effects should be discounted. -Should we ignore long-term effects such as global warming?

c) Costs and benefits are internal. - Should we ignore the societal (non-buyer, seller) costs of an action? internal costs costs experienced by the buyer and seller alone, which do not affect other members of society externalities costs or benefits of a transaction that involve people other than the buyer or seller a) positive benefit enjoyed by someone not involved in a transaction b) negative ( external cost) cost borne by someone not involved in a transaction Eg. health problems, property damage, env. degradation, stress, anxiety, declining real estate values c) Growth is good. -What will be effect on environment and resources?

16.

Contrast the views of Cornucopians, ecological economists and environmental economists concerning the sustainability of economic growth. Cornucopians (traditional economists) believe in growth paradigm = increased growth possible despite warnings, due to technological advances environmental economists take middle ground - Believe that we keep economy growing by modifying neoclassical economics to address environmental challenges ecological economists advocate sustainability in economics and see natural systems as good models - may advocate steady-state economies

17.

Define steady-state economy (John Stuart Mill) - economies that do not grow or shrink, but are stable - debate whether such an economy can sustain a rising quality of life

18.

Define/contrast: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) total monetary value of final goods and services produced in the country each year Problems: a) does not account for nonmarket values Eg. b) not an expression of desirable economic activity Eg.

Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) (Redefining Progress) - - alternative to GDP = conventional economic activity + positive nonmonetary contributions negative social, environmental, economic factors 19. Define: nonmarket value values not usually included in the price of a good or service Eg. contingent valuation uses surveys to determine how much people are willing to pay to protect a resource or restore it after damage has been done - may be unreliable because it measures expressed not revealed preferences new valuation measures may be developed

20.

Describe and give an example of the following nonmarket values: a) use value value of direct use Eg. b) option value value of future use Eg. c) aesthetic value beauty Eg. d) cultural value sustain our culture Eg. e) scientific value use in scientific research Eg.

f) educational value teach us about ourselves or the world Eg. f) existence value value of presence on earth, even if not directly experienced Eg.

21.

Define market failure. - when markets do not reflect the full costs and benefits of actions - occurs when markets do not take into account the environments positive effects on economies (ie ecosystem services) or do not reflect the negative effects of economic activity on the environment or people (external costs)

22.

Describe ways in which governments can counteract market failure. a) laws, regulations b) green taxes penalize environmentally harmful activities c) economic incentives

23.

Describe ways in which market forces can be used to counteract market failure. a) ecolabeling consumers are told which brands use environmentally friendly processes Eg. b) permittrading - creation of markets in permits for environmentally harmful services Eg.