[ISEE/topbanner.html]

Core courses in Environmental Philosophy at Manchester

Theories of Intrinsic Value in Nature (Second Semester)

Themes touched on mainly in:

Semester Two

1. The source and locus of values; objective values.

2. The loci of intrinsic values in Nature:

(A) in individual higher animals which can feel pain and suffer - sentientism (Singer) or which are each the subject-of-a-life (Regan).

(B) in individual animals (high and low) and plants each of which has 'a good of its own' - biocentrism (Taylor).

(C) in individual animals (both high and low) and plants but also in species, ecosystems - holism or ecocentrism (Callicott/Leopold, Rolston, III).

3. Individualism and holism.

4. Biodiversity and its value.

5. Interspecific Justice.

6. Shallow and Deep Ecology.

7. Ecofeminism

8. Vegetarianism - is it an entailed value of environmental ethics?

9. Future generations - human and non-human.

10. Environmental ethics and economics - is market rationality compatible with ecological rationality?; Values and preferences are distinct; the relevance or otherwise of cost benefit analysis.

 

Book List