HL.c Environmental ethicsIB Environmental Systems and Societies HL: Revision notes

Ethics is the branch of philosophy that focuses on moral principles and what behaviours are right and wrong. Environmental ethics addresses environmental issues.

A variety of ethical frameworks and conflicting ethical values arise from different fundamental beliefs about the relationship between humans and nature.

Instrumental value is the usefulness an entity has for humans. Intrinsic value is the value one attaches to something simply for what it is. The two are not exclusive: a forest can be valued both for its resources and for its own sake.

An entity has moral standing if it is to be morally considered in how we ought to act towards it.

• Virtue ethics: focuses on the character of the person acting; good people do good actions.
• Consequentialist ethics (e.g. utilitarian): the consequences of an action determine whether it is moral.
• Rights-based (deontological) ethics: focuses on actions and whether they conflict with the rights of others; there is debate about what these rights are.

Some people hold that whatever is natural is correct or good. This position is contentious and is called the appeal to nature fallacy: natural things can be harmful (toxins, disease) and artificial things beneficial (vaccines, renewable energy).

Environmental movements and social justice movements developed from separate histories but are increasingly seeking common goals of equitable and just societies. Examples include indigenous communities defending water and sacred sites alongside environmental groups.