HL.c Environmental ethicsIB Environmental Systems and Societies HL: Subtopic test

1. 1
   A tract of tropical forest is valued in different ways. A pharmaceutical company values it because its plants may yield new medicines. A local community values it as a sacred place and as a source of fruit and fuelwood. A conservationist says the forest deserves protection even if it were of no use to people at all.

   (a)

   The pharmaceutical company's valuation of the forest is an example of:

   [1 mark]

   • AIntrinsic value
   • BMoral standing
   • CInstrumental value
   • DEnvironmental constitutionalism

   (b)

   The conservationist's view that the forest deserves protection even if it were useless to people is an example of attaching:

   [1 mark]

   • AInstrumental value
   • BIntrinsic value
   • CEconomic value
   • DUse value

   (c)

   Explain why the local community's valuation shows that instrumental and intrinsic values are not exclusive.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 1: 4 marks

2. 2
   A town council debates whether to close a polluting factory that employs 500 people. Councillor Ana says the council should choose whatever produces the greatest overall well-being for the most people. A resident, Mr Baker, says the factory must close because "natural environments are always good and anything artificial is bad".

   (a)

   Councillor Ana's approach to the decision is an example of which type of ethics?

   [1 mark]

   • AVirtue ethics
   • BRights-based ethics
   • CIntrinsic ethics
   • DConsequentialist (utilitarian) ethics

   (b)

   Mr Baker's reasoning is an example of:

   [1 mark]

   • AThe appeal to nature fallacy
   • BConsequentialism
   • CGreenwashing
   • DVirtue ethics

   (c)

   Explain why Mr Baker's reasoning is contentious.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 2: 4 marks

3. 3
   A survey of 600 residents asked about reintroducing wolves to a region. Of these, 320 supported the proposal and 280 opposed it. Among the supporters, 40% gave reasons based on the wolves' right to exist, 45% gave reasons based on benefits to people such as ecosystem health and tourism, and 15% gave other reasons. Among opponents, most gave the risk to livestock as their main reason.

   (a)

   Calculate the number of supporters who gave reasons based on the wolves' right to exist, and express this as a percentage of all 600 respondents.

   [3 marks]

   (b)

   Explain, using the data, how conflicting ethical values can arise from different beliefs about the relationship between humans and nature, and refer to moral standing.

   [4 marks]

   Total for question 3: 7 marks

4. 4
   In 2016 members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and many supporters, protested against the Dakota Access Pipeline, which crosses the Missouri River just upstream of their reservation. The tribe said that the pipeline threatened its drinking water and sacred sites. Environmental groups joined the protest because they opposed expanding fossil fuel infrastructure. The company and its supporters pointed to jobs and energy supply.

   (a)

   Explain how consequentialist, rights-based and virtue ethics could each be applied to the decision about the pipeline.

   [6 marks]

   (b)

   Evaluate the extent to which environmental movements and social justice movements share common goals, using this case and one other example or argument.

   [6 marks]

   Total for question 4: 12 marks

End of questions