This document discusses environmental philosophy from the Enlightenment era to today. It identifies several factors that have contributed to humanity's view of nature as something to exploit. These include Judeo-Christian beliefs establishing human dominance over nature, René Descartes' argument for human superiority based on reason and mind, and the rise of instrumental rationality valuing nature only for its utility to humans. While these philosophies encouraged exploitation, the document suggests new approaches are needed like deep ecology that recognize humanity's interdependence with nature.

1. Environmentalism in
Modern and Enlightenment
Philosophy

2. Our interests in this topic
Finding out man’s attitudes in
his interaction with nature
1
Identifying the environmental
philosophical links that
connect the enlightenment
era to the current one
2

3. The Enlightenment Era: a brief introduction
• Class feedback:

4. • It can be identified in the readings that the contemporary era is facing
an ecological crisis.
• Man/People and their conflicting interaction with nature, are identified
as the instigator of the environmental crisis.
• Yet, where does this ‘programming’ come from?
• The readings identify factors in the enlightenment and modern eras
which explain man’s role in the environmental crisis:

5. Factor 1: Christianity/Judeo Christian Beliefs
Class feedback:
• We must be wary of shifting blame/accountability of ecological crisis on
religion/an abstract instead of centering it on people
• The idea of accountability must not be understanding, it challenges the
assumption that: religion nurtures anthropocentrism in humans who then
exploit/abuse other non-human actors in the ecological realm
• The argument of biblical interpretation must be considered, others can
argue that God does not call for abuse but instead calls for maintenance
of nature.
• Not only Christian inspired anthropocentrism is to blame for ecological
crisis, but other factors such as science and technology have a significant
stake in environmental crisis.

6. Key arguments
1. Christian fundamentals are inherently anthropocentric.
• This is based on Genesis 1v26:
Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the
fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild beasts and all the reptiles that crawl
upon the earth (1:26).
• And Genesis 1v28:
Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it. Be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of
heaven and all living animals on the earth (1:28)

7. Christian fundamentals are inherently anthropocentric: Impressions
It can be argued that these biblical scriptures imply the following:
• Man is ordained by to master and conquer nature
• God has ordained man to rule over nature
How do such scriptures cause man to be in conflict with nature:
• They encourage human centredness and superiority
• They encourage ideas of separation and classification
• Adds to the perception that nature is to be exploited for man’s benefit (Lynn
White)

8. Factor 2: Western Cultural Tradition/Philosophy
• Class feedback:
• Western cultural tradition is rooted in domination of nature.
• Yet, it appears that we need nature more than ‘it’ needs us, which makes us
question philosophical arguments on human ‘superiority’
• Where does Western Cultural Tradition get the audacity to say that humans are
superior

9. Factor 2: Western Cultural Tradition/Philosophy
Western cultural tradition emphasises man’s domination of
nature
Western cultural tradition is exemplified by Rene Des Cartez,
who argues that:
• Any specie with a mind and mental capacity is superior
• Species with mental faculties have value over those who do not
• Therefore, humans by having mental capacities to think and
reason are superior over non-human species
How does such arguments add to the ecological crisis?

10. Class feedback on Des Cartez
• The idea that anything that has a ‘mind’ is superior is problematic,
especially since the definition of ‘mind’ is contentious.
• Some can argue that nature has a ‘mind’, it is logical.
• What makes humans think that they have a monopoly on having
‘mind’
• There is an argument that humans have ‘mind’ plus intellect and
consciousness, which makes them superior to nature
• Cartesian arguments on ‘mind/mental’ cannot respond to the ‘fact’
that humans need nature more than nature needs humans.

11. Factor 3: Instrumental Rationality
• This is argued by Brennan and Lo as being the thinking pattern which
now engulfs society. Developed by Max Weber.
• It is a thinking pattern where humans seek to achieve the most out of
the options at their disposal.
• If an individual has a goal, say goal X, and he/she believes that the
best way to achieve that goal is to do Action A + Action B + Action C,
then it is considered to be instrumentally rational to do A+B+C to
achieve X.
• Instrumental rationality is considered to be amoral.
• It explains the predominant mentality that present day man has in his
interaction with nature

12. • It explains the predominant mentality of ‘the end justifies the means’
in man’s (negative) exploitation of nature.
• It explains the predominant mentality that nature only has
instrumental value for man
Other factors:
4. Disenchantment of nature
5. The argument of patriarchy/masculine egoism by ecological feminism

13. Deep Ecology/Relationalism/Identification
• All the previously stated factors call for a need for change
• There must be a transformation in the way man interacts with nature
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byQ86TjwCEQ

14. Revised ENPP7311 (Presentation) Format
• Learning Unit 1: Moloko, Janinda, Priscilla and Thobeka
• More details (topic specificities) to be communicated.
• You are guided by the rubric in terms of guidelines and rules
• 30 minutes maximum (inc Question and answer time)
• Learning Unit 2: Dylan, Gloria, Syothula, Caroline and Shaylin.
• More details (topic specificities) to be communicated.
• You are guided by the rubric in terms of guidelines and rules
• 30 minutes maximum (inc Question and answer time)