Download Assignment – Topic 1.1 Environmental value systems

Assignment – Topic 1.1 Environmental value systems
Kindly post the answers of these tasks to your e-portfolio.
Due date: Monday, October 12, 2015
Task 1 – Contrasting EVSs
Different types of society have different environmental perspectives, based on their individual EVSs.
Research four types of societies that have different environmental perspectives based on their individual
EVSs. Examine the contrasting two pairs. You may consider the following: Judaeo-Christian, Buddhist
societies, The Quran, Native Americans, European pioneers, Communists and Capitalists in Germany.
1. Judaeo-Christian: Judaeo-Christian believes that nature was created by God for mankind
and that man are in charge of the nature. The philosophy is closer towards anthropocentric
(having responsibility to provide better stewardship) or Cornucopians (we can do
whatever we want to the planet because God gave it to us).
2. Buddhist societies: Buddhism believed that suffering exists, suffering arises from
attachment to desires, and that suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases. Also
Buddhism's vegetarian diet would benefit the environment as well. Buddhism believe
living in balance with nature, therefore they tend to be more ecocentric and have
philosophy very similar to that of the deep ecologists.
3. Native Americans: Native Americans generally saw their environment as communal and
had a subsistence economy based on barter. They used low-impact technologies and loved
in harmony with the environment. They followed their animistic religion, in which all
things (animals, plants, rocks, mountains, rivers, and stars) were believed to have souls.
 Everything is connected – holistic view (interdependent) which links to biodiversity.

Stewardship (sense of responsibility) – live in harmony with nature, everything has a
spirit.

Land is a living entity and it is not owned by any tribe whereas European pioneers divided
up the land (land ownership) and see it as capital.

Nature and the environment is all about a sacred balance and giving thanks for resources
used or taken.

Traditionally, social organization (government) is in clans which also highlight the
importance of animals. Each division is based on animals.
4. European pioneers: European pioneers operated frontier economics, which involved the
exploitation of what they saw as seemingly unlimited resources. Their technologically
advanced industry, lack of connectivity with the environment, exploitation of unlimited
resources, and overpopulation, led to environmental degradation in that society.
Some characteristics of European pioneers:

Pioneers in the East cleared the land of its lush forests using slash and burn techniques.

As the population of settlers increased the connection with the environment was lost.
Industrialization grew and came to be a dominant part of the country’s economy.
Resources were over-exploited in many cases as pioneers took all the opportunities for
growth and development that they saw.
http://www.mrgscience.com/ess-topic-11-environmental-value-systems.html
http://mcouts2.com/first-nation-americans-v-european-pioneers/
Contrasting two pairs:
Judaeo-Christian and Buddhist societies: In Judaeo-Christian religions, the view of the environment is
one of stewardship, where humans have a role of responsibility towards the Earth. The Genesis story
suggest that the planet is given by God to humans as a gift. Other biblical stories indicate that humans
should make the most out of this gift (Earth) as stewards. Therefore, Judaeo-Christian can be seen more
as an anthropocentric society. In contrast, in Buddhism, human beings are seen as an intrinsic part of
nature rather than a steward. Buddhism is sometimes seen as an ecological philosophy, and emphasizes
human interrelationships with all other parts of nature. Also since vegetarianism is part of the Buddhist
tradition, its respects Buddhist respect for all life. Therefore, Buddhists can be seen more as an
ecocentric society.
Native Americans and European pioneers: In general, Native Americans saw their environment as
communal, and had a subsistence economy based on barter. Their low-impact technologies indicated
that they lived in harmony with the environment. Additionally, they followed an animistic religion in
which all things have a soul including animals, plants, rocks, mountains, rivers and stars. Therefore, the
Native Americans can be seen as an ecocentric society. In contrast, the incoming European pioneers
operated frontier economics, which involved the exploitation of what they saw as seemingly unlimited
resources. This lack of connectivity with the environment, and unchecked exploitation of natural
resources, heavy and technologically advanced industry, there was over-population and environmental
degradation. Therefore, European pioneers can be seen as a technocentric society.
Task 2 – Environmental Philosophies
Complete this table to show the main points of the different environmental philosophies.
Environmental
value system
Environmental
management
strategies
Ecocentric
Environmental
conservation is
central to decisionmaking.
Anthropocentric
The environment is a
resource and should
be used by humans as
needed.
Technocentric
Nature is a
model, but
can be
replaced by
technology
when needed.
•
Nature:
environmental
conservation is
central to decisionmaking
•
Society: humans are
part of nature
• Individual
responsibility and
accountability
All life has inherent
value
We should not cause
extinction of other
species
We should protect
habitats and
ecosystems
Humans are not more
important than other
species
Resources are limited
We need the Earth
more than it needs us
•
Environmental
philosophies
•
•
•
•
•
Labels and
characteristics
Social
movements
Nature Centered

Green Revolution
•
Nature: the
environment
is a resource
for humans to
use as needed
•
Society:
human health
and wellbeing are
central in
decisionmaking
• People as
environmental
managers of
the
environment
• Governmental
regulation;
taxes,
legislation,
regulation
• Population
control given
equal weight
to resource
use
• Humans are
the most
important
species
People living in
MEDC’s (more
economically
developed countries)
are more likely to
hold this view.
People Centered


Capitalism
Consumerism
Nature:
nature is a
model, but
can be
replaced by
technology
when needed
•
Society:
human health
and wellbeing are
central to
decisionmaking
• Technology
can keep pace
with and
provide
solutions to
environmental
problem
•
We must
understand
natural
processes in
order to
manage and
control these
resources
• We can solve
any problem
we cause
• Economic
growth is a
good thing
Technology Centered

Technological
utopianism
 Modern
Environmental
Movement

Free software
movement

United Nations
Environment
Programme (UNEP)
Politics
Believe that not all natural
resources are for human use
and that humans should
consume less. They believe
that everyone should be
involved in decision making.
For eccentric
people,
governments
legislate and
protect the
environment.
There are no
radical
political
agenda but
workers
promote
working to
create change
within the
existing social
and political
structures.
Current
economic
growth can be
sustained if
environmental
issues are
managed by
legal means
or political
agreement.
There is no
need for
radical
agendas,
socioeconomic or
political
reform as new
resources and
technology
humans solve
always and
find a way out
of the
difficulties
and
environmental
problems
Task 3 – Draw a table with two columns labeled Ecocentric and Anthropocentric/Technocentric.
Put each of the words or phrases below in one of these columns. Go with your instinct now you
have read about environmental value systems.
Aesthetic
Animal rights
Authoritarian
Belief in technology
Capitalism
Centralist
Competitive
Consumerism
Cooperative
Ecocentric
Earth-centered
Ecology
Economy
Feminist
Global co-existence
Holistic
Human-centered
Individual
Intervening
Animal rights
Anthropocentric/
Technocentric
Aesthetic
Global co-existence
Capitalism
Preservation
Belief in technology
Reductionist
Centralist
Cooperative
Holistic
Earth-centered
Individual
Ecology
Competitive
Intervening
Consumerism
Nurturing
Economy
Participatory
Feminist
Managerial
Manipulative
Seeking progress
Human-centered
Seeking stability
Individual
Managerial
Manipulative
Nurturing
Participatory
Preservation
Reductionist
Seeking progress
Seeking stability
Utilitarian
Utilitarian