An introduction to Environmental Ethics
- Religion and Ethics Units 2
Unit Information, log and tracker
(www.goffsrs.com)
Overview of Religion and Ethics Unit 1
What you need to know for this unit as a whole over the next year:

Introduction

Utilitarianism (non-religious)

Situation Ethics (religious)

Kantian Ethics (non-religious)

Natural Law Theory (Greek philosophy and Catholic Theology)

Applied Ethics: abortion (religious and non-religious)

Applied Ethics: euthanasia (religious and non-religious)

Religious Views on the Nature and Value of Human Life

Religious Views of the Created World

Environmental Ethics (both local and worldwide)

Essay practice
Covered in this booklet!
Overview of the introductory lessons
What you need to know for this Unit:
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Threats to the environment: pollution and its consequences, especially
global warming
Concern for animals and animal rights
Protection and preservation of the living and non-living environment
The developing Third World and attempts to restrict this development
Religious teachings about human responsibility for the environment
Philosophical approaches to the environment
Is protection of the environment an issue only for the rich?
Is protection of the environment only for the good and benefit of
humankind?
How far should humans be forced to be environmentally responsible?
Strengths and weaknesses of religious teachings about human
responsibility for the environment
Unit Topic Areas
Topic
Threats to
the
environment
Concern for
animals
Protection
and
preservation
of the living
and non-living
environment
The
developing
Third World
and attempts
to restrict
this
Content
A basic introduction to
pollution and its
consequences,
especially global
warming. We will
discuss why these are
ethical issues as well
as scientific
problems.
Reading
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You will look at threats
to animals from
humanity and be aware
of why the animal
rights movement want
to see greater care
given to animals.
This will include animal
experimentation,
cruelty to animals and
the treatment of
animals in the wild and
captivity.
It will also cover the
preservation of animals’
natural habitats.
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You will learn the
ethical arguments for
preserving the natural
world as well as more
anthropocentric (human
focused) views against
over protection of the
natural world.
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We will evaluate
whether the developed
world is hypocritical in
preventing the
industrialisation of
developing countries
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Bowie, R. (2008)
AQA Religious
Ethics AS
(Cheltenham:
Nelson Thornes)
– pp. 159 - 161
Oliphant, J.
(2011) AQA
Religious Ethics
for AS and A2
(London:
Rutledge) – pp.
148 - 150
Bowie, R. (2008)
AQA Religious
Ethics AS
(Cheltenham:
Nelson Thornes)
– pp. 161 - 165
Oliphant, J.
(2011) AQA
Religious Ethics
for AS and A2
(London:
Rutledge) – pp.
149 – 150
Vardy, P. &
Grosch, P.
(1999) The
Puzzle of ethics
(London: Fount)
– ch. 17
Oliphant, J.
(2011) AQA
Religious Ethics
for AS and A2
(London:
Rutledge) – pp.
151 – 153
Vardy, P. &
Grosch, P.
(1999) The
Puzzle of ethics
(London: Fount)
– ch. 18
Bowie, R. (2008)
AQA Religious
Ethics AS
(Cheltenham:
Nelson Thornes)
– pp. 165 - 166
Oliphant, J.
Understood?
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development
when we have done the
same in the past.
Is protection
of the
environment
an issue only
for the rich?
Following on from the
above, we will assess
the view that the rich
should be burdened
with cleaning up the
environment. Opposed
to this is the idea that
we all have a stake in
protecting the
environment regardless
of wealth.
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Religious
teachings
about human
responsibility
for the
environment
We will explore
religious views on the
environment in depth
focusing on Buddhism
and Christianity.
Importantly, we will
argue whether these
religions hold
environmental ethics as
equal to other types of
ethics and morality.
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Philosophical
approaches to
the
environment
We will learn to explain
the libertarian
extension or deep
ecology as well as the
ecological extension or
eco-holism in relation to
conservation and
environmental ethics.
You will also learn about
the Gaia hypothesis.
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We will ask whether
forcing people to look
after the environment
goes against their
freedom to choose
lifestyles and ways of
life suited to them.
Moreover, how does
this fit into free will.

How far
should humans
be forced to
be
environmentall
y responsible?
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(2011) AQA
Religious Ethics
for AS and A2
(London:
Rutledge) – pp.
154-155
Bowie, R. (2008)
AQA Religious
Ethics AS
(Cheltenham:
Nelson Thornes)
– p. 176
Oliphant, J.
(2011) AQA
Religious Ethics
for AS and A2
(London:
Rutledge) – pp.
163 - 164
Bowie, R. (2008)
AQA Religious
Ethics AS
(Cheltenham:
Nelson Thornes)
– pp. 166 - 175
Oliphant, J.
(2011) AQA
Religious Ethics
for AS and A2
(London:
Rutledge) – pp.
155 - 159
Oliphant, J.
(2011) AQA
Religious Ethics
for AS and A2
(London:
Rutledge) – pp.
159 – 163
Vardy, P. &
Grosch, P.
(1999) The
Puzzle of ethics
(London: Fount)
– ch. 18
Bowie, R. (2008)
AQA Religious
Studies AS
(Cheltenham:
Nelson Thornes)
– pp. 176 - 179
Oliphant, J.
(2011) AQA
Religious Ethics
for AS and A2
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Strengths
and
weaknesses
of religious
teachings
about human
responsibility
for the
environment
Importantly, we will
consider whether
environmental
protection is a ‘duty’.
To sum up what has
already been studied,
we will evaluate
whether religions
actually engage with
environment ethics and
encourage believers to
act. In contrast is the
view that they do not.
Essay
practice
How do you approach
this topic in the exam.
(London:
Rutledge) – pp.
165 - 166



Bowie, R. (2008)
AQA Religious
Ethics AS
(Cheltenham:
Nelson Thornes)
– pp. 166 - 175
Oliphant, J.
(2011) AQA
Religious Ethics
for AS and A2
(London:
Rutledge) – pp.
155 - 159
Oliphant, J.
(2011) AQA
Religious Ethics
for AS and A2
(London:
Rutledge) – p.
172
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Unit Reflection Audit
Topic
Exam
confident?
Threats to the
environment

Concern for
animals

Protection and
preservation of
the living and
non-living
environment

Areas for revision improvement
The developing
Third World
and attempts
to restrict this
development

Is protection
of the
environment an
issue only for
the rich?

Religious
teachings about
human
responsibility
for the
environment
Philosophical
approaches to
the
environment

How far should
humans be
forced to be
environmentally
responsible?
Strengths and
weaknesses of
religious
teachings about
human
responsibility
for the
environment
Essay Practice
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What did you enjoy about this unit?
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What didn’t you enjoy?
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Glossary of Key Words, Terms and Concepts
Key Concepts to Include:Anthropocentric:
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Biocentric:
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Conservation ethics:
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Deep ecology:
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Eco-holism:
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Dominion:
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Ecosophy:
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Gaia hypothesis:
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Geocentric:
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Holistic:
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Intrinsic value:
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Instrumental value:
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Sentience:
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Shallow ecology:
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Stewardship:
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Key thinkers/Scholars
Andrew Linzey
Peter Singer
Roger Scruton
St. Francis of Assisi
Rachel Carson
James Lovelock
Jonathon Espie Porritt
Dalai Lama
Recommended Books
 Bowie, R. (2008) AQA Religious Studies AS (Cheltenham: Nelson
Thornes)
 Oliphant, J. (2011) AQA Religious Ethics for AS and A2 (London:
Rutledge)
 Vardy, P. (1999) The Puzzle of Ethics (London: Fount)
Possible Essay Question
0 1 Examine religious teachings about humanity’s responsibility towards the
environment (30 marks).
And
0 2 “Humanity has dominion over the environment and animals.”
How far do you agree? (15 marks)
Exam tips:

Make sure you demonstrate your knowledge and understanding (what
you actually know) by selective application of what a question requires
you to explain. Don’t go off on tangents or waffle.
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Show off your analytical skills by discussing different points of view,
even if you don’t agree with them! It is important to weigh up the merits
as well as the flaws of all view points when demonstrating your
evaluative skills.
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The examiners are also looking for strong synoptic skills, which not only
show that you can identify differing viewpoints and perspectives, but
also recognise how these viewpoints came about, who holds them and
why they conflict with other perspectives in terms of different
peoples/groups desired sociological outcomes. Also, you need to
illustrate the importance these views/perspectives had or still have the
study of the sociology of the media as a whole.