Environmental Ethics

Unfortunately, in the United States there have been several environmental issues over the years, some of them even taking place in our own backyard. Communities of color and low-income households are facing environmental injustices on a daily-basis, yet lack any protection under the law. Many would argue that we live in the “land of the free”and that all Americans have access to a healthy environment, but this is not the case. Thankfully, there are some who have recognized these problems and are trying to put an end to this unequal treatment. Environmental Justice activists promote the fair treatment of all people regardless of their background with respect to environmental laws, policies, and regulations. Here within the Capital Region, environmental justice activists have taken a stand against those who are trying to silence the disadvantaged communities who are dealing with several serious environmental hazards. In an article from 2018, "Two Black Communities in Albany Fight fo...

  In the discussion "Plenary I Climate Change and our Common Future" from The Public Philosophy Network 2021 Conference,  Andrew Light and David Morrow talked to the audience about the issues of Climate Change and the importance of actively cleaning carbon pollution. Both speakers discussed the major problem of the emission of fossil fuels, but brought up the point of changing the goal of the system entirely.  It is very clear that the industry is still trying to hang onto their work, so instead of shutting down the industry completely, we can try to find a common ground with those who are threatened by climate policy.  David Morrow spoke of an energy transition that does not harm the society, but puts those in the fossil fuel industry in charge of removing the carbon they put out into the atmosphere. This is a process and cutting down our carbon emissions is something that can not just happen overnight. In addition to this point, Andrew Ligh...

In the article, "The Trouble with Wilderness; or, Getting Back to the Wrong Nature" by William Cronon, he directs us to the deeper issues of the term 'wilderness'. What exactly is wilderness? In the beginning of time, it was a common belief that this concept was "anything but positive". The article states, "As late as the eighteenth century, the most common usage of the word "wilderness" in English language referred to landscapes that generally carried adjectives far different from the ones they attract today"(2). In fact, the Bible was one of the most important factors influencing this concept of wilderness and over time this concept completely transformed. When most people think of this term they tend to paint a beautiful picture of a pure, pristine, and untouched landscape inside their minds; a sacred place in need of protection. A place where humans can escape reality and find peace within. However, the problem with this viewpoint is ...

 We have an ethical obligation to soil as it is an essential component for our life support. In "Sustainable Agriculture" by Clark Wolf, he explains that we as a community of people living on the earth must gain a complete understanding of the term 'sustainable'. Living sustainably does not necessarily mean living all natural. Clark writes," Sustainable agriculture embodies an ideal of agriculture production that expresses values of environmental responsibility, intergenerational fairness, and the integrity of human communities"(50). By continuing on with the use of unsustainable practices, we are harming future generations. Therefore, we all should have a moral responsibility to the soil or land. It is not just the farmer's or government's job to make a change, it is up to all of "us". We are considered as ONE and it is important that we create a better way of life for all. Wolf states, "if our food is produced unsustainably, if its p...