Lecture # 8

Eco-centrism #1 –

Aldo Leopold and “The Land Ethic”

Aldo Leopold was a pioneer in field ecology and environmental ethics

He was one of the earliest to attempt to bridge these two fields

Land community

Not just the living creatures; flora, fauna

Also the soils, watersheds, plants, animals

—“the land”

The balance of nature

Biotic pyramid

Food chains (carry nutrients from low to high)

Energy circuit (energy flows through the food chains)

Pyramid exists in a self-sustaining balance

“Equilibrium”

Land Ethic’s primary principle:

“A thing is right when it preserves the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”

“Think like a mountain”

The attitude Leopold advocates toward the natural world

What’s unique about this eco-centrist approach?

Always differs from anthropocentric theories

Always differs from atomistic/individualistic theories

The locus of moral concern is: the ecosystem

Self-sustaining natural ecosystem

Diversity and complexity within ecosystems

Therefore: it is sometimes acceptable to mistreat and kill nonhuman animals (whenever the land community benefits)

Arguments for The Land Ethic

Metaphysical arguments

Epistemological arguments

Practical arguments

Challenges to The Land Ethic

Facts and Values à

What is the basis of Leopold’s environmental ethic?

What is the underlying principle?

Natural equilibrium

How strong is this moral claim?

Problems with holism à

Eco-centric theories hold that “ecosystems” are the focus of moral concern

Leopold argues that we should always promote the stability, beauty and integrity of biotic communities

What constitutes illegitimate interference?

How far should we go in promoting this?

Are biotic communities ever superior to human lives?

Could this be a form of “eco-fascism”