Ethics

Ethics Study Guide have moral status on their own right because they have interests of their own. Beings without interests of their own (such as plants, works of art, embryos) do not have moral status, but if there are moral reasons to protect them, they may have moral value. This differs from Peter Singer’s (animal welfare) view that there is no essential difference between the pain of animals and human beings. This also differs from William Baxter’s (anthropocentrism) view that animals have no moral consideration on their own whatsoever. Instrumental arguments, such as those put forth by Baxter, claim that animals have rights only insofar as they are of value to us. Animals are viewed as means to our ends of development, interests, or quality of life. 9.2 The Land Ethic Aldo Leopold wrote a famous essay in the 1940s called The Land Ethic . In it, he wrote we should think of land as a fountain of energy flowing through soil, water, plants, and animals. Leopold believed the planet was comprised of many systems of life that are intricately woven to function as a whole. All living things were interdependent, creating a community, not a commodity. Humans are members of the community, not masters of it. Land ethic (or eco-holism ) is the belief that a thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it does otherwise. J. Baird Callicott is widely considered to be the leading contemporary exponent of Leopold’s land ethic. He concurs with land ethic, which he believes is the most creative, interesting, and practical of the alternatives. He views the environmentalist position as offering a different perspective on such questions as hunting and meat-eating, as well as on the value of non-animal life.

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