MILLER/SPOOLMAN
LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT
17TH
Chapter 25
Environmental Worldviews,
Ethics, and Sustainability
Core Case Study: Biosphere 2—
A Lesson in Humility
• 1991: Biosphere 2
• Constructed near Tucson, AZ, U.S.
• Designed to mimic the earth’s natural chemical
recycling systems
• Many problems
• Some successes
Biosphere 2—Designed to Be a SelfSustaining Life-Support System
Fig. 25-1, p. 661
25-1 What Are Some Major Environmental
Worldviews?
• Concept 25-1 Major environmental worldviews differ
on which is more important—human needs and
wants, or the overall health of ecosystems and the
biosphere.
What Is an Environmental Worldview?
• Environmental worldviews
• How people think the world works and what they
think their role should be
• Human-centered: anthropocentric
• Life-centered: biocentric
• Environmental ethics
• Beliefs about behavior is right and what behavior is
wrong in regards to the environment
Comparison of Three Major Environmental
Worldviews
Fig. 25-2, p. 663
Environmental Worldviews
Planetary Management
We are apart from the rest
of nature and can manage nature
to meet our increasing needs and
wants.
Because of our ingenuity and
technology, we will not run
out of resources.
The potential for economic
growth is essentially unlimited.
Our success depends on how
well we manage the earth's lifesupport systems mostly for our
benefit.
Stewardship
We have an ethical
responsibility to be caring
managers, or stewards, of the
earth.
We will probably not run out of
resources, but they should not
be wasted.
We should encourage
environmentally beneficial forms
of economic growth and
discourage environmentally
harmful forms.
Our success depends on how
well we manage the earth's lifesupport systems for our benefit
and for the rest of nature.
Environmental Wisdom
We are a part of and totally
dependent on nature, and
nature exists for all species.
Resources are limited and
should not be wasted.
We should encourage earthsustaining forms of economic
growth and discourage earthdegrading forms.
Our success depends on learning
how nature sustains itself and
integrating such lessons from
nature into the ways we think
and act.
Fig. 25-2, p. 663
Environmental Worldviews
Planetary Management
■ We are apart from the rest
of nature and can manage
nature to meet our increasing
needs and wants.
■ Because of our ingenuity and
technology, we will not run out
of resources.
■ The potential for economic
growth is essentially unlimited.
■ Our success depends on
how well we manage the
earth's life- support systems
mostly for our benefit.
Stewardship
■ We have an ethical
responsibility to be caring
managers, or stewards, of the
earth.
■ We will probably not run out
of resources, but they should
not be wasted.
■ We should encourage
environmentally beneficial forms
of economic growth and
discourage environmentally
harmful forms.
■ Our success depends on how
well we manage the earth's lifesupport systems for our benefit
and for the rest of nature.
Environmental Wisdom
■ We are a part of and totally
dependent on nature, and
nature exists for all species.
■ Resources are limited and
should not be wasted.
■ We should encourage earthsustaining forms of economic
growth and discourage earthdegrading forms.
■ Our success depends on
learning how nature sustains
itself and integrating such
lessons from nature into the
ways we think and act.
Stepped Art
Fig. 25-2, p. 663
Environmental Worldviews Lie on a
Continuum—from Self- to Earth-Centered
Fig. 25-3, p. 663
Biosphere- or
Earth-centered
Ecosystem-centered
Biocentric
(life-centered)
Anthropocentric
(human-centered)
Self-centered
Planetary
management
Stewardship
Environmental
wisdom
Fig. 25-3, p. 663
Most People Have Human-Centered
Environmental Worldviews
• Two human-centered worldviews
• Planetary management worldview
• No-problem school
• Free-market school
• Spaceship-earth school
• Stewardship worldview
Can We Manage the Earth?
• Criticism of the human-centered worldviews
• Is this supported by the failure of Biosphere 2?
Sequoia National Park
Fig. 25-4, p. 664
Some People Have Life-Centered and EarthCentered Environmental Worldviews
• Inherent or intrinsic value of all forms of life
• Instrumental value of each species: potential
economic value
• Environmental wisdom worldview
Levels of Ethical Concerns
Fig. 25-5, p. 665
Biosphere
Biodiversity (Earth's genes, species, and
ecosystems)
Ecosystems
All species on earth
All animal species
All individuals of an animal
species
All people
Nation
Community
and friends
Family
Self
Fig. 25-5, p. 665
The Earth Flag: Symbol of Commitment to
Promoting Environmental Sustainability
Fig. 25-6, p. 665
25-2 What Is the Role of Education in Living
More Sustainably?
• Concept 25-2 The first step to living more
sustainably is to become environmentally literate,
primarily by learning from nature.
How Can We Become More
Environmentally Literate?
• Three foundations of environmental literacy
1. Natural capital matters
2. Our ecological footprints are immense and growing
rapidly
3. Ecological and climate tipping points: irreversible
and should never be crossed
• Environmental literacy requires answering key
questions and having basic understanding of key
topics
Components of Environmental Literacy
Fig. 25-7, p. 667
Questions to answer
How does life on earth sustain itself?
How am I connected to the earth and other living things?
Where do the things I consume come from and where do
they go after I use them?
What is environmental wisdom?
What is my environmental worldview?
What is my environmental responsibility as a
human being?
Components
Basic concepts: sustainability, natural capital, exponential
growth, carrying capacity
Three principles of sustainablility
Environmental history
The two laws of thermodynamics and the law of
conservation of matter
Basic principles of ecology: food webs, nutrient
cycling, biodiversity, ecological succession
Population dynamics
Sustainable agriculture and forestry
Soil conservation
Sustainable water use
Nonrenewable mineral resources
Nonrenewable and renewable energy resources
Climate disruption and ozone depletion
Pollution prevention and waste reduction
Environmentally sustainable economic and political systems
Environmental worldviews and ethics
Fig. 25-7, p. 667
Can We Learn from the Earth?
• Formal environmental education
• Ecological, aesthetic, and spiritual values of nature
• Environmental words of wisdom
• Stephen Jay Gould
• Mahatma Gandhi
Learn to Appreciate Nature
Fig. 25-8, p. 667
Individuals Matter: Aldo Leopold’s
Environmental Ethics
• Humans should protect nature, not conquer it
• Helped found U.S. Wilderness Society
• Leader of conservation/environmental movements
• “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the
integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic
community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”
25-3 How Can We Live More Sustainably?
• Concept 25-3 We can live more sustainably by
becoming environmentally literate, learning from
nature, living more simply and lightly on the earth,
and becoming active environmental citizens.
Can We Live More Simply and Lightly
on the Earth?
• People want more community, not more stuff
• Voluntary simplicity
• Principle of enoughness, Mahatma Gandhi
• Many religions teach simpler lifestyles
How Much Is Enough?
• “What do I really need?”
• What are our basic needs?
• What are our qualitative needs?
The Sustainability Eight
Fig. 25-10, p. 670
Food
Reduce meat consumption
Buy or grow organic food and buy
locally grown food
Transportation
Reduce car use by walking, biking,
carpooling, car-sharing, and using
mass transit
Drive an energy-efficient vehicle
Home Energy Use
Insulate your house, plug air leaks, and
install energy- efficient windows
Use energy-efficient heating and
cooling systems, lights, and appliances
Resource Use
Reduce, reuse, recycle, compost,
replant, and share
Use renewable energy resources
whenever possible
Fig. 25-10, p. 670
Can We Become Better Environmental
Citizens?
• Avoid these mental traps
• Gloom-and-doom pessimism
• Blind technological optimism
• Keep a positive attitude
• Recognize the diversity of possible solutions
• Have fun and enjoy life
A Vision for Sustainability
• Environmental or sustainability revolution
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•
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•
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Major cultural shifts
Environmental changes
Social changes
Technological changes
Economic changes
• We can change faster than we think we can
Environmental/Sustainability Revolution:
Cultural Shifts
Fig. 25-11, p. 672
Current Emphasis
Sustainability Emphasis
Energy and Climate
Fossil fuels
Direct and indirect solar energy
Energy waste
Energy efficiency
Climate disruption
Climate stabilization
Matter
High resource use and waste
Less resource use
Consume and throwaway
Reduce, reuse, and recycle
Waste disposal and pollution control
Waste prevention and
pollution prevention
Life
Deplete and degrade natural capital
Protect natural capital
Reduce biodiversity
Protect biodiversity
Population growth
Population stabilization
Fig. 25-11, p. 672
Change Can Occur Very Rapidly
Fig. 25-12, p. 672
Change
Environmental Concerns
Social Trends
Economic Tools
Technologies
Protecting natural capital Sustaining
biodiversity Repairing ecological
damage
Addressing climate change
Reducing waste
Using less
Living more simply Reusing and
recycling Growth of ecocities
and eco-neighborhoods
Environmental justice
Environmental literacy
Full-cost pricing Microlending
Green subsidies
Green taxes
Net energy analysis
Pollution prevention
Organic farming
Drip irrigation
Solar desalinization
Energy efficiency
Solar energy
Wind energy
Geothermal energy
Environmental nanotechnology
Eco-industrial parks
Time
Fig. 25-12, p. 672
Three Big Ideas
1. Our environmental worldview plays a key role in
how we treat the earth that sustains us and how we
treat ourselves.
2. We need to become more environmentally literate
about how the earth works, how we are affecting
its life-support systems that keep us and other
species alive, and what we can do to live more
sustainably.
Three Big Ideas
3. Living more sustainably means learning from
nature, living more lightly on the earth, and
becoming active environmental citizens who leave
small environmental footprints on the earth.