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24
Sustainable Ethics: The
Foundation of a Sustainable
Society
Chapter Outline
The Frontier Mentality Revisited
Sustainable Ethics: Making the Transition
Leopold’s Land Ethic: Planting the Seed
A New View to Meet Today’s Challenges: Sustainable Ethics
Toward a Humane, Sustainable Future
Developing and Implementing Sustainable Ethics
Promoting Models of Sustainability
Education
Churches
Declarations of Sustainable Ethics and Policy
A World Organization Dedicated to Sustainable Development
A Role for Everyone
Overcoming Obstacles to Sustainability
Faith in Technological Fixes
Apathy, Powerlessness, and Despair
The Self-Centered View
Ego Gratification
Economic Self-Interest and Outmoded Governmental Policies
Sustainable Ethics: How Useful Are They?
Key Terms
ethics frontier ethic sustainable ethics
land ethic technological optimism utilitarianism
natural rights
Objectives
1. Discuss the “frontier ethic,” trace its development, and summarize its environmental consequences.
2. Compare the “frontier ethics” to “sustainable ethics” and discuss the how “sustainable ethics” can be promoted.
3. List some obstacles to sustainability and how these may be overcome.
4. Compare and contrast utilitarianism, divine law, and natural rights theories as foundations for establishing environmental ethics.
5. Discuss the importance of Aldo Leopold’s “land ethic” in the development of environmental ethics.
Lecture Outline
The Frontier Mentality Revisited
This is the dominant paradigm of modern society.
The frontier paradigm has three precepts: the world's resource base and resiliency are limitless, humans are apart from nature, and nature is a rival to be conquered.
This mentality, socialized and politicized, serves to justify the individual's pursuit of personal prosperity at the expense of ecosystem stability and diversity.
Sustainable Ethics: Making the Transition
Leopold’s Land Ethic: Planting the Seed
Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac first outlined and made a plea for a land ethic. Though valuable as an ideal goal, Leopold's land ethic offered little guidance for making the switch to a sustainable society.
A New View to Meet Today’s Challenges: Sustainable Ethics
Sustainable ethics embrace the reverse of the tenets of the frontier society; it is based on conservation reuse and cycling, renewable resources, and population control, and replaces human arrogance toward nature with respect and restraint.
The sustainable ethics go beyond the land ethic by giving shape to Leopold's ideals.
The emphasis of sustainable ethics is on restraint, cooperation, and obligation. This emphasis was reflected in the 1992 Rio conference, an indication that these ideas may be beginning to take hold.
Developing and Implementing Sustainable Ethics
Promoting Models of Sustainability
By seeking to spread awareness of working models of sustainability, we may both inspire and guide others on the path to sustainability.
Education
An interdisciplinary, holistic approach to education at all levels will facilitate the transition to a sustainable ethic-based society.
Religious Organizations
Increased efforts on the part of religious leaders may promote environmental awareness among parishioners.
Declarations of Sustainable Ethics and Policy
The ratification of constitutional amendments can help nations send a strong message of environmental commitment to the world.
A World Organization Dedicated to Sustainable Development
Through support of an international organization functioning as an environmental watchdog, nations may successfully unite in efforts to address global environmental issues.
A Role for Everyone
Each one of us can play a significant role in bringing about the needed changes in collective mindset. While no one of us can change the world, we can each make changes that minimize our and our families' environmental impacts, and that serve as a model for others to follow.
Overcoming Obstacles to Sustainability
Faith in Technological Fixes
Our society has a nearly unshakable faith that technology can fix whatever we damage; such optimism is usually at odds with the facts and with critical thinking.
Apathy, Powerlessness, and Despair
Fostered by conditioning, a sense of powerlessness, and feelings of insignificance, apathy causes us to shirk individual responsibility for environmental protection; this leads to the paradox of inconsequence.
The Self-Centered View
An excessively self-centered approach to life encourages consumerism and pursuit of personal material well-being at considerable environmental expense; it discourages personal involvement and sacrifice for environmental quality.
Ego Gratification
Materialism and overconsumption may have deep psychological roots in the development of personal and family relationships.
Economic Self-Interest and Outmoded Governmental Policies
Revision of most countries' socioeconomic systems in keeping with the precepts of sustainability will be necessary if root causes of our environmental crisis are to be addressed.
Sustainable Ethics: How Useful Are They?
Value Judgments and Decision Making
Our values strongly influence our decision-making, and the decisions we make profoundly affect the environment.
Examples of value systems within which decisions are made include utilitarianism, divine law, and natural rights.
Suggestions for Presenting the Chapter
Ÿ Instructors should challenge the students to think about their values in reference to the “frontier ethic.” The process of clarifying values should be encouraged throughout this course. Discussion groups are good tools to help students become aware of their values and think about change.
Ÿ The topic of cost and external costs should be stressed. Students should understand how to be more sustainable in their consumer activities.
Ÿ Assign some readings from texts on environmental ethics or other relevant works.
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