Ethics of environmental concern

Book · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5484303

Attfield, R

The history of ideas and a philosophical investigation into normative ethics and some of its applications focus in this book on environmental concerns. Part one explores moral traditions, which may appear deficient because traditions have been misrepresented. Attitudes and ideas toward ecological problems have a basis in Jewish and Christian stewardship traditions. Part two re-examines moral principles in light of scientific discoveries that have generated and revealed new side effects of human actions on the complex systems of nature. If all worthwhile life is of intrinsic value, it is necessary to reassess and broaden the human obligation to ecology. The author disagrees with the movement to focus environmental ethics on the biosphere as an organic whole rather than on fellow creatures, although his principles embody constraints in the interests of future creaters. The book concludes with an assessment of principles on pollution, resources, population, and preservation. 302 references.

• OSTI ID: 5484303
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
530000* -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- (-1989)
ATTITUDES
BEHAVIOR
ECOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ETHICAL ASPECTS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POPULATIONS
RESOURCE CONSERVATION