Here are the key points made in the passages:
Singer: Pacifists view the use of violence as absolutely wrong regardless of consequences. This assumes a distinction between acts (using violence) and omissions (not using violence).
Thomson: Introduces the violinist thought experiment where a person is hooked up to a famous unconscious violinist who will die if unplugged. The doctor says it's only for 9 months. Thomson asks if one is obligated to remain hooked up for that time against their will.
The passages present contrasting views on moral obligations and consequences. Singer questions an absolute prohibition on violence by pointing to consequences. Thomson uses a thought experiment to question if we have an obligation to aid
La lactancia materna exclusiva durante los primeros seis meses es la mejor opción para alimentar y cuidar la salud de los bebés. Luego de los seis meses se recomienda continuar amamantando mientras se introducen otros alimentos complementarios, hasta los dos años como mínimo. La lactancia materna proporciona al bebé un alimento ideal para su crecimiento y desarrollo, y trae beneficios para la salud de la madre y el bebé.
La lactancia materna es la forma más natural de alimentar a los bebés y les proporciona nutrientes esenciales para su crecimiento. El calostro, la primera leche, protege al recién nacido de enfermedades. A partir de los seis meses, se debe complementar la leche materna con otros alimentos para brindar más energía y nutrientes al bebé. Una buena alimentación en los primeros años es fundamental para la salud y desarrollo del niño.
This document provides an introduction to Module 5 of the Connecticut Code of Professional Responsibility for Educators. It discusses how educators hold a position of trust and have significant impact on students. The Code is a set of principles that guides ethical conduct. Upholding these standards is important even outside of school. Examples of potentially questionable behavior are described. Investigations may be required if misconduct is alleged and consequences can include administrative discipline, legal action, or certification penalties. Facilitated discussions of case studies aim to increase awareness and foster reflection.
El documento proporciona información sobre la lactancia materna, incluyendo las recomendaciones de la OMS sobre la lactancia exclusiva hasta los 6 meses, las ventajas para la salud de la madre y el bebé, la técnica adecuada y las contraindicaciones médicas. Resalta los beneficios de la leche materna para la protección contra infecciones y enfermedades, el vínculo afectivo entre madre e hijo, y los efectos positivos sobre la salud a largo plazo tanto para la madre como para el bebé.
El Gobierno de Aragón ha editado “CUÍDAME: guía para madres y padres. Los cuidados después del parto y los primeros años de vida” que es un librito de 96 páginas que trata todos los aspectos relacionados con la llegada a casa de un bebé: su alimentación, desarrollo y salud.
La guía está disponible en español, árabe, rumano y francés.
Lo he leído con todo el escepticismo que aplico a las informaciones oficiales relacionadas con el mundo de los bebés y esperando encontrar críticas y prejuicios infundados a la crianza natural, pero debo reconocer que me he llevado una gran sorpresa y que la guía es EXCELENTE.
Pedagógica, comprensible, bien estructurada, breve, seria y sobre todo respetuosa 100% con las necesidades de los bebés que son personas desde que nacen.
Sus consejos sobre lactancia materna, colecho (dormir con los hijos), coger al niño en brazos sin miedo a malcriarlos, portabebés, no usar chupete y cómo adaptarnos a los despertares naturales de los bebés por la noche y atender siempre su llanto, son tan poco habituales dentro de la pediatría oficial que recomiendo leer en profundidad esta guía no sólo a todos las familias nuevas, sino a todos los profesionales de sanidad: pediatras, ginecólogos, enfermeras, … para que eliminen prácticas anti-mamíferas y adiestradoras y vean que la crianza natural es también científica y no un capricho de padres hippies, alternativos y consentidores.
El grupo de trabajo de está guía está compuesto por pediatras, psiquiatra, matrona, farmacéutica, enfermera y la bióloga Mª Jesús Blázquez del grupo de lactancia VÍA LÁCTEA de Zaragoza, uno de los más veteranos y activos de España y una gran experta en lactancia materna y maternidad. Este es un artículo suyo.
La guía está ilustrada con bellísimas fotos de madres y padres con sus hijos en brazos y no las típicas escenas de bebés solitos en carritos o hamacas y un chupete o biberón, con multitud de imágenes de lactancia materna en diferentes posturas y hasta lactancia gemelar y, lo más novedoso en un libro pediátrico, ,tiernas fotos de colecho junto con los pertinentes consejos para realizarlo correctamente y de forma segura.
Estas son algunas de las afirmaciones que más me han agradado:
El llanto es el recurso que tienen los bebés para manifestar lo que les pasa, ya sea físico o emocional, y por lo tanto necesita una respuesta. El bebé expresa con su llanto lo que siente, ya sea hambre, frío o calor, cansancio, gases, dolor, incomodidad por tener el pañal sucio, la ropa muy ajustada, por el roce de algún objeto, por la necesidad de contacto físico con sus padres o, simplemente, porque necesita que le mimen. No existe el llanto inmotivado; es la manera de reclamar mayor frecuencia de alimentación y cuidados.
Cuando un bebé llora no lo hace por capricho. Cógelo en brazos cuanto antes y procura comprenderlo. Los niños a los que al nacer se les permite un contacto piel con piel con sus madres, durante los primeros 90 minutos de vida, lloran menos veces y durante menos tiempo que los que son separados de ellas. Tener el bebé en brazos no lo malcría; al contrario, aumenta la confianza en sus padres, se relaja y aprende formas de comunicación. Si el bebé tiene hambre dale de nuevo el pecho
Compartir cama favorece la lactancia materna, aumenta el descanso materno, facilita la conciliación del sueño del bebé, y disminuye su llanto.
No atender su llanto nocturno puede ser vivido por el bebé o el niño como rechazo o negación de sus emociones y necesidades afectivas.
Es conveniente que reflexionéis sobre cuánto tiempo dedicáis a estar con vuestro bebé. Vuestro hijo os necesita, y si no tiene mucho contacto de día lo buscará de noche. Hay que aumentar el contacto y la atención diurna.
Por tanto, agradecemos de todo corazón al Gobierno de Aragón por publicar esta guía gratis y en varios idiomas, y le felicitamos por la sabiduría, valentía y conciencia al
Kant is arguing that the moral worth of an action lies not in its consequences or expected effects, but solely in the principle or motivation from which the action arises. For Kant, an action has moral worth only if it is done from duty to the moral law itself, not because of any external incentives or rewards. The good will and duty to the moral law are the sole determinants of morality, according to Kant.
El documento describe el sistema nervioso humano. Después de evolucionar durante mucho tiempo, el sistema nervioso permite que el cuerpo se adapte al medio ambiente, se autorregule internamente, y coordine las numerosas acciones necesarias para conservar la vida y las funciones del organismo. El sistema nervioso central y periférico trabajan juntos para captar estímulos y hacer que el cuerpo reaccione de manera adecuada.
El documento describe la fisiología del sistema reproductor femenino. Explica que las hormonas sexuales femeninas, los estrógenos y la progesterona, regulan el ciclo ovárico y uterino. También describe que el ciclo menstrual dura entre 15 y 32 días y comprende la menstruación, la fase folicular y la fase lútea. Además, menciona algunos de los síntomas del climaterio como sofocos, sudoración, insomnio y cambios de humor.
La lactancia materna exclusiva durante los primeros seis meses es la mejor opción para alimentar y cuidar la salud de los bebés. Luego de los seis meses se recomienda continuar amamantando mientras se introducen otros alimentos complementarios, hasta los dos años como mínimo. La lactancia materna proporciona al bebé un alimento ideal para su crecimiento y desarrollo, y trae beneficios para la salud de la madre y el bebé.
La lactancia materna es la forma más natural de alimentar a los bebés y les proporciona nutrientes esenciales para su crecimiento. El calostro, la primera leche, protege al recién nacido de enfermedades. A partir de los seis meses, se debe complementar la leche materna con otros alimentos para brindar más energía y nutrientes al bebé. Una buena alimentación en los primeros años es fundamental para la salud y desarrollo del niño.
This document provides an introduction to Module 5 of the Connecticut Code of Professional Responsibility for Educators. It discusses how educators hold a position of trust and have significant impact on students. The Code is a set of principles that guides ethical conduct. Upholding these standards is important even outside of school. Examples of potentially questionable behavior are described. Investigations may be required if misconduct is alleged and consequences can include administrative discipline, legal action, or certification penalties. Facilitated discussions of case studies aim to increase awareness and foster reflection.
El documento proporciona información sobre la lactancia materna, incluyendo las recomendaciones de la OMS sobre la lactancia exclusiva hasta los 6 meses, las ventajas para la salud de la madre y el bebé, la técnica adecuada y las contraindicaciones médicas. Resalta los beneficios de la leche materna para la protección contra infecciones y enfermedades, el vínculo afectivo entre madre e hijo, y los efectos positivos sobre la salud a largo plazo tanto para la madre como para el bebé.
El Gobierno de Aragón ha editado “CUÍDAME: guía para madres y padres. Los cuidados después del parto y los primeros años de vida” que es un librito de 96 páginas que trata todos los aspectos relacionados con la llegada a casa de un bebé: su alimentación, desarrollo y salud.
La guía está disponible en español, árabe, rumano y francés.
Lo he leído con todo el escepticismo que aplico a las informaciones oficiales relacionadas con el mundo de los bebés y esperando encontrar críticas y prejuicios infundados a la crianza natural, pero debo reconocer que me he llevado una gran sorpresa y que la guía es EXCELENTE.
Pedagógica, comprensible, bien estructurada, breve, seria y sobre todo respetuosa 100% con las necesidades de los bebés que son personas desde que nacen.
Sus consejos sobre lactancia materna, colecho (dormir con los hijos), coger al niño en brazos sin miedo a malcriarlos, portabebés, no usar chupete y cómo adaptarnos a los despertares naturales de los bebés por la noche y atender siempre su llanto, son tan poco habituales dentro de la pediatría oficial que recomiendo leer en profundidad esta guía no sólo a todos las familias nuevas, sino a todos los profesionales de sanidad: pediatras, ginecólogos, enfermeras, … para que eliminen prácticas anti-mamíferas y adiestradoras y vean que la crianza natural es también científica y no un capricho de padres hippies, alternativos y consentidores.
El grupo de trabajo de está guía está compuesto por pediatras, psiquiatra, matrona, farmacéutica, enfermera y la bióloga Mª Jesús Blázquez del grupo de lactancia VÍA LÁCTEA de Zaragoza, uno de los más veteranos y activos de España y una gran experta en lactancia materna y maternidad. Este es un artículo suyo.
La guía está ilustrada con bellísimas fotos de madres y padres con sus hijos en brazos y no las típicas escenas de bebés solitos en carritos o hamacas y un chupete o biberón, con multitud de imágenes de lactancia materna en diferentes posturas y hasta lactancia gemelar y, lo más novedoso en un libro pediátrico, ,tiernas fotos de colecho junto con los pertinentes consejos para realizarlo correctamente y de forma segura.
Estas son algunas de las afirmaciones que más me han agradado:
El llanto es el recurso que tienen los bebés para manifestar lo que les pasa, ya sea físico o emocional, y por lo tanto necesita una respuesta. El bebé expresa con su llanto lo que siente, ya sea hambre, frío o calor, cansancio, gases, dolor, incomodidad por tener el pañal sucio, la ropa muy ajustada, por el roce de algún objeto, por la necesidad de contacto físico con sus padres o, simplemente, porque necesita que le mimen. No existe el llanto inmotivado; es la manera de reclamar mayor frecuencia de alimentación y cuidados.
Cuando un bebé llora no lo hace por capricho. Cógelo en brazos cuanto antes y procura comprenderlo. Los niños a los que al nacer se les permite un contacto piel con piel con sus madres, durante los primeros 90 minutos de vida, lloran menos veces y durante menos tiempo que los que son separados de ellas. Tener el bebé en brazos no lo malcría; al contrario, aumenta la confianza en sus padres, se relaja y aprende formas de comunicación. Si el bebé tiene hambre dale de nuevo el pecho
Compartir cama favorece la lactancia materna, aumenta el descanso materno, facilita la conciliación del sueño del bebé, y disminuye su llanto.
No atender su llanto nocturno puede ser vivido por el bebé o el niño como rechazo o negación de sus emociones y necesidades afectivas.
Es conveniente que reflexionéis sobre cuánto tiempo dedicáis a estar con vuestro bebé. Vuestro hijo os necesita, y si no tiene mucho contacto de día lo buscará de noche. Hay que aumentar el contacto y la atención diurna.
Por tanto, agradecemos de todo corazón al Gobierno de Aragón por publicar esta guía gratis y en varios idiomas, y le felicitamos por la sabiduría, valentía y conciencia al
Kant is arguing that the moral worth of an action lies not in its consequences or expected effects, but solely in the principle or motivation from which the action arises. For Kant, an action has moral worth only if it is done from duty to the moral law itself, not because of any external incentives or rewards. The good will and duty to the moral law are the sole determinants of morality, according to Kant.
El documento describe el sistema nervioso humano. Después de evolucionar durante mucho tiempo, el sistema nervioso permite que el cuerpo se adapte al medio ambiente, se autorregule internamente, y coordine las numerosas acciones necesarias para conservar la vida y las funciones del organismo. El sistema nervioso central y periférico trabajan juntos para captar estímulos y hacer que el cuerpo reaccione de manera adecuada.
El documento describe la fisiología del sistema reproductor femenino. Explica que las hormonas sexuales femeninas, los estrógenos y la progesterona, regulan el ciclo ovárico y uterino. También describe que el ciclo menstrual dura entre 15 y 32 días y comprende la menstruación, la fase folicular y la fase lútea. Además, menciona algunos de los síntomas del climaterio como sofocos, sudoración, insomnio y cambios de humor.
This document is a self-reflection essay written by Taoning Zhang for an environmental studies course. In the essay, Zhang reflects on what they have learned about themselves through their writing and critical thinking over the course of the semester. Zhang discusses how their writing and thinking has evolved, the readings and discussions that inspired them the most, and the importance of environmental stewardship and sustainability. Zhang asserts that as humans, we have a responsibility to properly manage the environment and consider future generations in our policies and practices.
Here are the key points about Jean Grimshaw's view of a female ethic from the discussion:
- Grimshaw discusses feminist philosophers like Wolstonecraft, Gilligan, Noddings, and Ruddick who argue that traditional male-centered ethical theories do not fully capture women's moral reasoning and priorities.
- Gilligan argued that portrayals of women's moral reasoning as deficient are wrong, and that women tend to reason differently than men about moral issues, emphasizing care and responsibility to others.
- Noddings argues a morality based on rules and principles is inadequate and fails to capture the female approach centered on caring.
- Ruddick suggests the experience of mothering generates virtues like care,
1) The document discusses environmental pollution and humanity's role as rulers of nature. It argues that technological solutions alone cannot solve environmental problems without changes in human morality.
2) It claims that as nature's rulers, humans have become cruel by mistreating plants, animals, water, and air. Natural disasters may be nature rebelling against this mistreatment.
3) The document calls on people to love nature and all creatures, protect resources given by God, and respect each other in order to transition to loving relationships that value the environment.
1) The document discusses environmental pollution and humanity's role as rulers of nature. It argues that technological solutions alone cannot solve environmental problems without changes in human morality.
2) It suggests that humanity's mistreatment of nature through pollution, deforestation, and harming animals and water sources will lead nature to revolt if changes are not made.
3) The author calls on people to love and respect nature, animals, and each other in order to better protect the environment and resources provided by God for humanity.
This essay discusses environmental ethics and the responsibility of the present generation to protect the environment. The author argues that current environmental damage is largely due to past generations, so the solution must start with the present generation. The essay notes several environmental issues facing the planet, such as global warming and population growth, and argues that humans must change their actions to prevent worse conditions for future generations. Failing to act will only make problems worse over time.
The document discusses the steps involved in requesting writing assistance from HelpWriting.net. It outlines 5 steps: 1) Create an account with a password and email. 2) Complete a 10-minute order form providing instructions, sources, and deadline. 3) Review bids from writers and choose one based on qualifications. 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment if satisfied. 5) Request revisions to ensure satisfaction, with a refund offered for plagiarized work.
The document discusses environmental ethics and how humans have fundamentally shifted their relationship with nature through industrialization. While humanity can now shape nature, unexpected consequences have emerged like global warming from attempting to dominate the environment. This has generated the field of environmental ethics to study the human-environment relationship and provide advice on how to live sustainably. The central debate is how humans should relate to nature and different views propose prioritizing either planetary health or human interests.
Give a hoot! Mapping (and caring for) the semantic environmentJorge Arango
I delivered this presentation at the 2014 IA Summit in San Diego, California.
Presentation details: http://www.jarango.com/blog/2014/03/30/give-hoot-mapping-caring-semantic-environment/
This document discusses environmental ethics and the responsibilities of engineers. It provides definitions and discussions of key concepts in environmental ethics like anthropocentrism, biocentrism, and sustainable development. It also outlines the major functions and responsibilities of engineers, including problem solving, decision making, and their special duty to consider the environment and human welfare. Engineers are said to operate at the intersection of science/technology and society and must balance technical, economic, social and environmental factors in their work.
Trim tab spring 2013 Regenerating the wholeBill Reed
The document discusses the concept of regenerative design and living system design. The key points are:
1) Regenerative design aims to engage human activities in positive relationships with all life by restoring ecosystems and focusing on interrelationships rather than just minimizing impacts.
2) Living system design views places as unique, interconnected systems and recognizes that life only regenerates through exchange of energies between interrelated living entities.
3) The role of design is to create opportunities for ongoing, evolutionary relationships between people and life that inform infrastructure and buildings.
Trim Tab Spring 2013 Regenerating the WholeBill Reed
The document discusses the concept of regenerative design and living system design. The key points are:
1) Regenerative design aims to engage human activities in positive relationships with all life by restoring ecosystems and focusing on interrelationships rather than just minimizing impacts.
2) Living system design views places as unique, interconnected systems and recognizes that life only regenerates through exchange of energies between living entities in relationships.
3) The role of design is to create opportunities for ongoing, evolutionary relationships between people and life that inform infrastructure and buildings.
Trim tab spring 2013 Regenerating the wholeBill Reed
The document discusses the concept of regenerative design and living system design. The key points are:
1) Regenerative design aims to engage human activities in positive relationships with all life by restoring ecosystems and focusing on interrelationships rather than just minimizing impacts.
2) Living system design views places as unique, interconnected systems and recognizes that life only regenerates through exchange of energies between interrelated living entities.
3) The role of design is to create opportunities for ongoing, evolutionary relationships between people and life that inform infrastructure and buildings.
Capital Punishment Essay | Essay on Capital Punishment for Students and .... Essay on Essay on Capital Punishment | Leverage Edu. capital punishment essay 2 | Capital Punishment | Guilt (Law) | Free 30 .... College Essay: Against capital punishment essay. Capital Punishment - GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics .... Essay on Capital Punishment | Capital Punishment | International .... The Idea of Capital Punishment - Free Essay Example | PapersOwl.com. Capital Punishment (Essay) | Capital Punishment | Hanging. My Opinion on the Capital Punishment - Free Essay Example | PapersOwl.com. The Use of Capital Punishment - Free Essay Example | PapersOwl.com. Overview Essay FAS1101 | Capital Punishment | Punishments. Capital punishment essay - GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics .... Capital Punishment. - GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics .... Essay about capital punishment - Expert Custom Essay Writing Service .... An essay on capital punishment. Capital Punishment Essay for Students and Children in English.
The document discusses three main approaches to environmental ethics: anthropocentric, sentientist, and biocentric. It provides details on the
anthropocentric view, which believes nature exists to satisfy human interests and harming the environment is only bad if it also harms humans. The
document also discusses William Baxter, a proponent of the anthropocentric approach, and his views that living in a clean environment is not a clear
goal and clear goals are needed to address environmental issues.
The document discusses goal-directed systems design and how it relates to moral and legal control. It suggests that the purpose of life for human beings should be selecting the well-being of all life as our goal. It argues that goal-directed systems design is needed to guide humanity towards that goal, as natural contingencies alone may lead to undesirable outcomes. Moral and legal rules aim to establish added contingencies, like religious consequences or legal punishments, to influence behavior in ways that support the well-being of life even when no one is watching. Examples are given of both moral and legal rule control systems.
environment human person. Philosophy introjrcpalomar92
Here are some changes I see in my community and school environment caused by people:
- There is more concrete and asphalt covering the ground where there used to be open fields and forests. This has happened to build more homes, roads and parking lots as more people move into the area.
- I see more litter and trash on the ground compared to years past. More packaging and disposable items are used as our lifestyle has become more convenient.
- The air seems more polluted with smells from vehicles and industry. You can see more exhaust coming from the buses and cars going by.
- Wildlife habitats have been destroyed to make way for development. There are fewer places for animals and birds to live and find food
Environmental Philosophy and Environmental Aesthetics ppt..pptxAnneRamos24
This document is a lesson on environmental philosophy given by teacher Rose Anne P. Ramos. She discusses key concepts like natural order, environmental disorder, and environmental aesthetics. Natural order refers to the environment functioning according to its inherent nature, while disorder disrupts this balance. Environmental aesthetics is the view that maintaining order in the environment through actions like conservation brings out natural beauty. Ramos encourages students to appreciate the environment and curb disorder through small actions like reducing waste.
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This document discusses a hypothetical scenario involving an orphan child and a sick child in need of an organ transplant. It suggests that according to Peter Singer's preference utilitarianism, it would be morally acceptable to take a healthy organ from the orphan child, killing them, in order to transplant it to the sick child and satisfy the greater number of preferences between the sick child and their large family. The document argues that Singer's view seems to treat persons as mere preference/utility holders, replaceable as long as preferences are maximized.
Is There a Need for a New Environmental Ethic By Richard Sy.docxchristiandean12115
Is There a Need for a New Environmental Ethic?
By Richard Sylvan
This essay was originally published in Proceedings of the XII World Congress of Philosophy,
No. 1. Varna, Bulgaria, 1973, pp. 205-210.
Richard Sylvan (formerly Routley) was a fellow of the Research School of Social Sciences at the
Australian National University in Canberra.
It is increasingly said that civilization, Western civilization at least, stands in need of a new ethic
(and derivatively of a new economics) setting out people's relations to the natural environment,
in Leopold's words "an ethic dealing with man's relation to land and to the animals and plants
which grow upon it."[1] It is not of course that old and prevailing ethics do not deal with man's
relation to nature; they do, and on the prevailing view man is free to deal with nature as he
pleases, i.e., his relations with nature, insofar at least as they do not affect others, are not subject
to moral censure. Thus assertions such as "Crusoe ought not to be mutilating those trees" are
significant and morally determinate but, inasmuch at least as Crusoe's actions do not interfere
with others, they are false or do not hold -- and trees are not, in a good sense, moral objects.[2] It
is to this, to the values and evaluations of the prevailing ethics, that Leopold and others in fact
take exception. Leopold regards as subject to moral criticism, as wrong, behaviour that on
prevailing views is morally permissible. But it is not, as Leopold seems to think, that such
behaviour is beyond the scope of the prevailing ethics and that an extension of traditional
morality is required to cover such cases, to fill a moral void. If Leopold is right in his criticism of
prevailing conduct what is required is a change in the ethics, in attitudes, values and evaluations.
For as matters stand, as he himself explains, men do not feel morally ashamed if they interfere
with a wilderness, if they maltreat the land, extract from it whatever it will yield, and then move
on; and such conduct is not taken to interfere with and does not rouse the moral indignation of
others. "A farmer who clears the woods off a 75% slope, turns his cows into the clearing, and
dumps its rainfall, rocks, and soil into the community creek, is still (if otherwise decent) a
respected member of society."[3] Under what we shall call an environmental ethic such
traditionally permissible conduct would be accounted morally wrong, and the farmer subject to
proper moral criticism.
Let us grant such evaluations for the purpose of the argument. What is not so clear is that a new
ethic is required even for such radical judgments. For one thing it is none too clear what is going
to count as a new ethic, much as it is often unclear whether a new development in physics counts
as a new physics or just as a modification or extension of the old. For, notoriously, ethics are not
clearly articulated or at all well worked out, so that the appli.
The final exam for the course will take place on April 14th at 2:00pm in room CAB 281. The exam will last two hours and count for 20% of the student's final grade. Students should not use any books or notes during the exam. The exam will consist of two essay questions for each of the four sections covered in the course: political philosophy, jurisprudence, specific themes from the course textbook, and moral philosophy. The first question for each section will be general and the second will be more specific, requiring analysis of a particular chapter. Clarity of thought and expression as well as a strong grasp of Dworkin's work will be paramount.
The document discusses several student questions about the works of Ronald Dworkin and how they relate to natural law theory and interpretivism. It suggests that the students may have topics for term papers in exploring these questions in more depth and comparing Dworkin's views to other philosophers like Hart. The responses recommend referring to specific sections of Dworkin's Taking Rights Seriously and other texts, and note the instructor will provide additional suggestions in class.
This document is a self-reflection essay written by Taoning Zhang for an environmental studies course. In the essay, Zhang reflects on what they have learned about themselves through their writing and critical thinking over the course of the semester. Zhang discusses how their writing and thinking has evolved, the readings and discussions that inspired them the most, and the importance of environmental stewardship and sustainability. Zhang asserts that as humans, we have a responsibility to properly manage the environment and consider future generations in our policies and practices.
Here are the key points about Jean Grimshaw's view of a female ethic from the discussion:
- Grimshaw discusses feminist philosophers like Wolstonecraft, Gilligan, Noddings, and Ruddick who argue that traditional male-centered ethical theories do not fully capture women's moral reasoning and priorities.
- Gilligan argued that portrayals of women's moral reasoning as deficient are wrong, and that women tend to reason differently than men about moral issues, emphasizing care and responsibility to others.
- Noddings argues a morality based on rules and principles is inadequate and fails to capture the female approach centered on caring.
- Ruddick suggests the experience of mothering generates virtues like care,
1) The document discusses environmental pollution and humanity's role as rulers of nature. It argues that technological solutions alone cannot solve environmental problems without changes in human morality.
2) It claims that as nature's rulers, humans have become cruel by mistreating plants, animals, water, and air. Natural disasters may be nature rebelling against this mistreatment.
3) The document calls on people to love nature and all creatures, protect resources given by God, and respect each other in order to transition to loving relationships that value the environment.
1) The document discusses environmental pollution and humanity's role as rulers of nature. It argues that technological solutions alone cannot solve environmental problems without changes in human morality.
2) It suggests that humanity's mistreatment of nature through pollution, deforestation, and harming animals and water sources will lead nature to revolt if changes are not made.
3) The author calls on people to love and respect nature, animals, and each other in order to better protect the environment and resources provided by God for humanity.
This essay discusses environmental ethics and the responsibility of the present generation to protect the environment. The author argues that current environmental damage is largely due to past generations, so the solution must start with the present generation. The essay notes several environmental issues facing the planet, such as global warming and population growth, and argues that humans must change their actions to prevent worse conditions for future generations. Failing to act will only make problems worse over time.
The document discusses the steps involved in requesting writing assistance from HelpWriting.net. It outlines 5 steps: 1) Create an account with a password and email. 2) Complete a 10-minute order form providing instructions, sources, and deadline. 3) Review bids from writers and choose one based on qualifications. 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment if satisfied. 5) Request revisions to ensure satisfaction, with a refund offered for plagiarized work.
The document discusses environmental ethics and how humans have fundamentally shifted their relationship with nature through industrialization. While humanity can now shape nature, unexpected consequences have emerged like global warming from attempting to dominate the environment. This has generated the field of environmental ethics to study the human-environment relationship and provide advice on how to live sustainably. The central debate is how humans should relate to nature and different views propose prioritizing either planetary health or human interests.
Give a hoot! Mapping (and caring for) the semantic environmentJorge Arango
I delivered this presentation at the 2014 IA Summit in San Diego, California.
Presentation details: http://www.jarango.com/blog/2014/03/30/give-hoot-mapping-caring-semantic-environment/
This document discusses environmental ethics and the responsibilities of engineers. It provides definitions and discussions of key concepts in environmental ethics like anthropocentrism, biocentrism, and sustainable development. It also outlines the major functions and responsibilities of engineers, including problem solving, decision making, and their special duty to consider the environment and human welfare. Engineers are said to operate at the intersection of science/technology and society and must balance technical, economic, social and environmental factors in their work.
Trim tab spring 2013 Regenerating the wholeBill Reed
The document discusses the concept of regenerative design and living system design. The key points are:
1) Regenerative design aims to engage human activities in positive relationships with all life by restoring ecosystems and focusing on interrelationships rather than just minimizing impacts.
2) Living system design views places as unique, interconnected systems and recognizes that life only regenerates through exchange of energies between interrelated living entities.
3) The role of design is to create opportunities for ongoing, evolutionary relationships between people and life that inform infrastructure and buildings.
Trim Tab Spring 2013 Regenerating the WholeBill Reed
The document discusses the concept of regenerative design and living system design. The key points are:
1) Regenerative design aims to engage human activities in positive relationships with all life by restoring ecosystems and focusing on interrelationships rather than just minimizing impacts.
2) Living system design views places as unique, interconnected systems and recognizes that life only regenerates through exchange of energies between living entities in relationships.
3) The role of design is to create opportunities for ongoing, evolutionary relationships between people and life that inform infrastructure and buildings.
Trim tab spring 2013 Regenerating the wholeBill Reed
The document discusses the concept of regenerative design and living system design. The key points are:
1) Regenerative design aims to engage human activities in positive relationships with all life by restoring ecosystems and focusing on interrelationships rather than just minimizing impacts.
2) Living system design views places as unique, interconnected systems and recognizes that life only regenerates through exchange of energies between interrelated living entities.
3) The role of design is to create opportunities for ongoing, evolutionary relationships between people and life that inform infrastructure and buildings.
Capital Punishment Essay | Essay on Capital Punishment for Students and .... Essay on Essay on Capital Punishment | Leverage Edu. capital punishment essay 2 | Capital Punishment | Guilt (Law) | Free 30 .... College Essay: Against capital punishment essay. Capital Punishment - GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics .... Essay on Capital Punishment | Capital Punishment | International .... The Idea of Capital Punishment - Free Essay Example | PapersOwl.com. Capital Punishment (Essay) | Capital Punishment | Hanging. My Opinion on the Capital Punishment - Free Essay Example | PapersOwl.com. The Use of Capital Punishment - Free Essay Example | PapersOwl.com. Overview Essay FAS1101 | Capital Punishment | Punishments. Capital punishment essay - GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics .... Capital Punishment. - GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics .... Essay about capital punishment - Expert Custom Essay Writing Service .... An essay on capital punishment. Capital Punishment Essay for Students and Children in English.
The document discusses three main approaches to environmental ethics: anthropocentric, sentientist, and biocentric. It provides details on the
anthropocentric view, which believes nature exists to satisfy human interests and harming the environment is only bad if it also harms humans. The
document also discusses William Baxter, a proponent of the anthropocentric approach, and his views that living in a clean environment is not a clear
goal and clear goals are needed to address environmental issues.
The document discusses goal-directed systems design and how it relates to moral and legal control. It suggests that the purpose of life for human beings should be selecting the well-being of all life as our goal. It argues that goal-directed systems design is needed to guide humanity towards that goal, as natural contingencies alone may lead to undesirable outcomes. Moral and legal rules aim to establish added contingencies, like religious consequences or legal punishments, to influence behavior in ways that support the well-being of life even when no one is watching. Examples are given of both moral and legal rule control systems.
environment human person. Philosophy introjrcpalomar92
Here are some changes I see in my community and school environment caused by people:
- There is more concrete and asphalt covering the ground where there used to be open fields and forests. This has happened to build more homes, roads and parking lots as more people move into the area.
- I see more litter and trash on the ground compared to years past. More packaging and disposable items are used as our lifestyle has become more convenient.
- The air seems more polluted with smells from vehicles and industry. You can see more exhaust coming from the buses and cars going by.
- Wildlife habitats have been destroyed to make way for development. There are fewer places for animals and birds to live and find food
Environmental Philosophy and Environmental Aesthetics ppt..pptxAnneRamos24
This document is a lesson on environmental philosophy given by teacher Rose Anne P. Ramos. She discusses key concepts like natural order, environmental disorder, and environmental aesthetics. Natural order refers to the environment functioning according to its inherent nature, while disorder disrupts this balance. Environmental aesthetics is the view that maintaining order in the environment through actions like conservation brings out natural beauty. Ramos encourages students to appreciate the environment and curb disorder through small actions like reducing waste.
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This document discusses a hypothetical scenario involving an orphan child and a sick child in need of an organ transplant. It suggests that according to Peter Singer's preference utilitarianism, it would be morally acceptable to take a healthy organ from the orphan child, killing them, in order to transplant it to the sick child and satisfy the greater number of preferences between the sick child and their large family. The document argues that Singer's view seems to treat persons as mere preference/utility holders, replaceable as long as preferences are maximized.
Is There a Need for a New Environmental Ethic By Richard Sy.docxchristiandean12115
Is There a Need for a New Environmental Ethic?
By Richard Sylvan
This essay was originally published in Proceedings of the XII World Congress of Philosophy,
No. 1. Varna, Bulgaria, 1973, pp. 205-210.
Richard Sylvan (formerly Routley) was a fellow of the Research School of Social Sciences at the
Australian National University in Canberra.
It is increasingly said that civilization, Western civilization at least, stands in need of a new ethic
(and derivatively of a new economics) setting out people's relations to the natural environment,
in Leopold's words "an ethic dealing with man's relation to land and to the animals and plants
which grow upon it."[1] It is not of course that old and prevailing ethics do not deal with man's
relation to nature; they do, and on the prevailing view man is free to deal with nature as he
pleases, i.e., his relations with nature, insofar at least as they do not affect others, are not subject
to moral censure. Thus assertions such as "Crusoe ought not to be mutilating those trees" are
significant and morally determinate but, inasmuch at least as Crusoe's actions do not interfere
with others, they are false or do not hold -- and trees are not, in a good sense, moral objects.[2] It
is to this, to the values and evaluations of the prevailing ethics, that Leopold and others in fact
take exception. Leopold regards as subject to moral criticism, as wrong, behaviour that on
prevailing views is morally permissible. But it is not, as Leopold seems to think, that such
behaviour is beyond the scope of the prevailing ethics and that an extension of traditional
morality is required to cover such cases, to fill a moral void. If Leopold is right in his criticism of
prevailing conduct what is required is a change in the ethics, in attitudes, values and evaluations.
For as matters stand, as he himself explains, men do not feel morally ashamed if they interfere
with a wilderness, if they maltreat the land, extract from it whatever it will yield, and then move
on; and such conduct is not taken to interfere with and does not rouse the moral indignation of
others. "A farmer who clears the woods off a 75% slope, turns his cows into the clearing, and
dumps its rainfall, rocks, and soil into the community creek, is still (if otherwise decent) a
respected member of society."[3] Under what we shall call an environmental ethic such
traditionally permissible conduct would be accounted morally wrong, and the farmer subject to
proper moral criticism.
Let us grant such evaluations for the purpose of the argument. What is not so clear is that a new
ethic is required even for such radical judgments. For one thing it is none too clear what is going
to count as a new ethic, much as it is often unclear whether a new development in physics counts
as a new physics or just as a modification or extension of the old. For, notoriously, ethics are not
clearly articulated or at all well worked out, so that the appli.
The final exam for the course will take place on April 14th at 2:00pm in room CAB 281. The exam will last two hours and count for 20% of the student's final grade. Students should not use any books or notes during the exam. The exam will consist of two essay questions for each of the four sections covered in the course: political philosophy, jurisprudence, specific themes from the course textbook, and moral philosophy. The first question for each section will be general and the second will be more specific, requiring analysis of a particular chapter. Clarity of thought and expression as well as a strong grasp of Dworkin's work will be paramount.
The document discusses several student questions about the works of Ronald Dworkin and how they relate to natural law theory and interpretivism. It suggests that the students may have topics for term papers in exploring these questions in more depth and comparing Dworkin's views to other philosophers like Hart. The responses recommend referring to specific sections of Dworkin's Taking Rights Seriously and other texts, and note the instructor will provide additional suggestions in class.
The document discusses different approaches to legal reasoning and arguments against the use of theory. It favors the "embedded approach" which justifies legal claims by showing they are supported by principles that best justify broader legal practice. It also discusses criticisms of theory from judges like Posner and academics like Sunstein, arguing their anti-theory stances can lead to problems like superficial reasoning or paralysis of the legal process.
1) The document discusses Richard Rorty's view of pragmatism which denies that there is a vocabulary which accurately describes reality, and Ronald Dworkin's rejection of this view.
2) Dworkin argues that language derives meaning from social use and context, in line with Wittgenstein's philosophy, not from an external perspective as Rorty claims.
3) Dworkin challenges the "no-right-answer thesis" by arguing that in hard legal cases, judges and lawyers still aim to and believe they have found the soundest or correct arguments and answers.
The document discusses different approaches to legal reasoning and justification. It presents RD's view that legal claims are best justified by theoretical principles (the "embedded approach"). This view allows for "justificatory ascent" to more general legal principles. It contrasts this with more practical approaches from theorists like Posner and Sunstein, arguing their anti-theoretical stances can yield problematic results like utilitarian absolutism or judicial paralysis. RD believes theoretical legal reasoning is necessary to avoid these issues and deal with complex cases.
This document discusses Ronald Dworkin's view that a judge's moral convictions should bear on their judgments about what the law is. Dworkin believes that interpreting laws often requires determining their moral content or resolving ambiguities, which involves moral reasoning. He argues against legal positivism and originalism, stating that the doctrinal concept of law is interpretive rather than merely descriptive. Dworkin also distinguishes between different stages of legal theory - semantic, jurisprudential, doctrinal, and adjudicative - and believes integrity-based moral principles provide the best interpretation of law.
You raise a good point about the implications of Marquis' argument based on potential future experiences. A few thoughts in response:
1. Marquis could argue that while a fetus has the longest potential future, its experiences and capacities are not yet developed to the same degree as an infant or child. So an infant's life may have greater intrinsic value despite a shorter potential future span.
2. Potential future experiences are just one consideration in Marquis' view. He may argue that once a being has attained a certain level of developed experiences, capacities for relationships, etc. its life gains greater intrinsic value regardless of remaining lifespan.
3. You're right that strictly following potential future alone could imply the value of life diminishes with
The document explores connections between Robert Nozick's account of symbolic utility and F.P. Ramsey's discussion of ethically neutral propositions. It argues that Ramsey's recognition of non-neutral propositions is essential to his foundational work on expected utility theory. This helps make the case that symbolic utility belongs to the apparatus that constructs expected utility, rather than being reducible to it. The document concludes that decision value, which incorporates expected utility, symbolic utility, and their interrelations, replaces expected utility as the central concept in normative decision theory.
This document contains a discussion between a student and instructor about Peter Singer's work on ethics and morality. The student asks the instructor to clarify Singer's view on the relationship between reason and ethics, as the student failed to fully understand it. The student and instructor also discuss topics like promoting morality by appealing to self-interest, the justification of violence or coercion in certain cases, democracy, and the interests of sentient beings like trees.
Hobbes argues that in the state of nature, prior to the establishment of political authority, human beings exist in a condition of war - a "war of all against all". The three main causes of conflict and quarrel according to Hobbes are competition over scarce resources, diffidence or distrust of others' intentions, and the desire for glory or status. Hobbes believes this state of nature is intolerable, and that rational self-interested individuals would agree to establish sovereign political authority to impose order and make social cooperation possible.
The student questions Singer's argument that there is no intrinsic difference between killing and letting die. While Singer argues the differences are merely extrinsic, the student believes the distinction should be drawn based on the contours of the self and one's autonomy over their own life. Abandoning one's family and projects against their will through forced killing is a meaningful intrinsic difference compared to letting die.
Aristotle argues that to understand
what constitutes human happiness or
flourishing, we must first understand the
distinctive function or purpose of human
beings. Identifying this function will help
clarify the nature of the highest human good.
The document discusses concerns with using scientific methods to resolve ethical disagreements, as ethics seems intangible whereas science involves testable phenomena. It questions how one could quantify the value of life or rightness of actions. The author is unsure how an objective ethical truth could be measured or tested as Stevenson suggests.
Here are the key points to focus on in preparing for the midterm:
- Understand how Singer's preference utilitarianism differs from other forms of utilitarianism like act and rule utilitarianism.
- Grasp how Singer argues for extending the principle of equal consideration of interests to non-human animals. His position rejects making moral distinctions based on subjective attributes like species membership.
- Comprehend how Singer analyzes interests and what constitutes having an interest according to his view. Having an interest is a value-neutral concept - it refers to any interest an individual can have in avoiding pain or developing their natural capacities.
- Be prepared to discuss objections to Singer's view, like the argument from marginal cases
Cahn presents a dichotomy between two views of the relationship between God and morality: (1) something is morally wrong because God says it is wrong, or (2) God says something is wrong because it is wrong independently of God. The student responds that this dichotomy could be false, as some argue morality flows from God's character. The student also questions Cahn's assumption that punishment is not necessary to mold character and motivate obedience to morality. More discussion is needed to fully address these points.
The document provides an overview and excerpts from Peter Singer's Practical Ethics which advocates for a consequentialist approach to ethics and preference utilitarianism. It also discusses William Frankena's view that ethics requires examining issues through reasoning rather than emotions or popular opinion. Excerpts from Plato's Crito are presented where Socrates argues that justice and living well are more important than physical life or reputation.
1. Life’s interests
Student: A further thought on trees having
interests: If we redefine interests to no
longer mean suffering/pleasure, but as being
a living thing thats aim is to live/survive,
then we must re-evaluate Singer's position on
the right to life, particularly in the case of
abortion.
2. prima facie rights and duties
Student: When discussing W.D. Ross’s ethical theory, you described it as postulating a
system of prima facie rights or duties one has. Also, you touched on the fact that
excusing conditions for failing to do what’s right can be either intrinsic or extrinsic. So
what you are really saying is that due to common sense, we fulfil moral acts not as
obligations, but because it is something that all people feel compelled to do in a sense.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
DrC: I’ve proposed an articulation of common-sense morality as a system of prima facie
rights and duties that have weight, which the individual must take into account when
choosing a course of action. DV theorizes this `taking into account’ as the individual’s
utility profile, which reveals the weight that s/he attaches to SU and and how this fares
against the claims of EU. This is an alternative to Singer’s view, which criticizes common-
sense morality and proposes a revisionist interpretation (preference utilitarianism) strictly
in terms of EU.... As for intrinsic and extrinsic excusing conditions, please see the Lexicon.
I would argue that common-sense morality adjusts the demands of prima facie duties to
the contours of a normal life, such that we are `intrinsically’ excused from doing all that
Singer’s revisionist ethic would require. The contours include family and professional life,
hobbies and personal projects, and so forth. I take Susan Wolf to be thinking about these
contours in her essay....And to say something about your final point: I do think that doing
the right thing has symbolic utility for people, so discharging one’s obligations is not
unwelcome to the extent that SU has weight. This is not to deny that obligation can be
onerous, nor is it to deny that we are often tempted to do the wrong thing because of
anticipated personal benefits.
3. neo-Aristotelian ethics?
Student: I thought the point brought up in a pmail in Monday's
class about sentientism was interesting to say the least. Indeed,
Singer's understanding of the term "interest" demands that we be
sentientists, since while a tree may have an "interest" in surviving,
it does not have an interest in the sense that it suffers or
experiences pleasure. The notion of "interest" that the pmailer
used seemed suggestive of the Aristotelian sense of purpose.
Student: On another note, I am wondering if we may "swipe"
sentences and remarks from our pmails without citing them in our
essays. If I use other person's pmail, I will cite it as if I am citing
class notes, but do I need to do that with my own submitted
pmails?
4. evolution and our place
in nature
Student: How, from an evolutionary perspective, can we really
consider man and nature to be in conflict with one another? We
consider all the changes due to global warming to be a result of
man, who is considered to be in opposition to nature; however, if
humans have evolved the way we have, our dispositions, inclinations,
and actions are a result of what nature has imposed on us through
natural selection, just as each trait of every creature on Earth has
been selected for. When a beaver dams up a stream and completely
changes the ecosystem of its environment, we don't consider that to
be a "beaver-made" catastrophe; rather, we call that nature at
work. Why is it that when humans affect their environment, it is
not considered nature at work? In any case, I suppose my question
is how can we be so sure that what we're doing is in conflict with
nature, when so many other animals, under the influence of their
traits selected for over millions of years of evolution, can have very
significant impacts on their environments without being considered
in conflict with nature?
5. The holodeck revisited
Student: I'm not sure if you intended the VR 'holodeck' technology
as a facetious thought experiment, but I don't think it is, as you
claim, a (major) problem for Singer and his comrades who advocate
environmental preservation for its instrumental value. Indeed,
Singer may still have grounds to advance the preservation of the
environment with this futuristic, but not chimerical, technology by
contending that the aesthetic value of a forest, for example, does
not exhaust all of the value therein. Indeed, over and above its
aesthetic value, plant life is useful for cleansing the atmosphere of
CO2, and for supporting the food chain, to name but two
examples. So until the machines are invented that can replace these
sources of value of the natural environment, I think we need to
think twice about razing forests (to erect vast VR holodeck
exhibits, for example).
6. in defense of water-skiing
I find it slightly upsetting that, according to Singer, race-car driving and water-skiing
should be replaced with other forms of recreation that are less harmful to the
environment, such as biking. Firstly, the manufacturing of bicycles contributes pollutants to
the environment, although probably less than the manufacturing of boats and cars. But,
from this view, the only completely accepted mode of transportation that poses no harm
to the environment is walking or running. Canoes and bikes, although they emit no harmful
pollutants when being used, must still be manufactured, and are made from metals, or the
by-products of trees. It would be impossible in this day and age to completely eliminate
the destruction and pollution of the environment. But we should still take measures to
reduce it without completely altering our way of life and recreation. I don't think that
going water-skiing on a lake is going to drastically harm the ecosystem, except maybe
over a long period of time, but this could possibly be dealt with by having all boaters who
use the lake pay an annual fee that goes towards cleaning/filtering of the water.
However, clear-cutting the Amazon Rainforest would have drastic effects on the whole
ecosystem, along with many, many, different animals, species, and beneficial effects that
trees have in cleaning the air.
7. non-religious ethics?
Student: I am curious why Singer starts off his environmental
chapter with what Christians have said about the environment and
what God says is right. It seems counterintuitive to mention these
theological views since he is not considering religious beliefs in this
ethical theory he seems to be building....Also, up until now Singer’s
theories have all dealt with a barrage of expected utility and
whose preferences outweigh whose. However a virgin forest has no
preferences and thus if by demolishing the forest increased utility
for the workers now hired to build something there, it seems as
though by following Singer’s theory, the moral thing to do would be
to cut down the forest. He seems to focus a lot on the fact that
future generations Might enjoy the wilderness and such; however it
seems odd to me that he doesn’t mention the fact that without any
trees or greenery we have barely any oxygen to breath. The only
oxygen production left would come from microbes or other trace
sources.
8. desires and interests
Student: I think Singer understands that there are stronger cases
he could make for environmentalism, but is attempting to ground
the movement in logic that can be sustained. It seems that Singer
would like to agree with the deep ecologists view, as it might
provide more compelling reason to preserve the environment, but it
just seems difficult to defend the environment except on the basis
that it sustains and makes for better quality of sentient life....I'm
also wondering, because you differentiated between desire and
interest, what the difference is exactly. Is it that desires have
moral significance; that is, they are interests that, if unsatisfied,
cause psychological or physical harm? So we can speak of a tree
having interests, but not morally significant ones?
9. Rawls’s second principle
Student: Rawls: A Theory of Justice. Rawls explains the two
principles of justice (Cahn 149). I am not sure how to understand
the second principle. I am not sure if he means that wealth ought
to be redistributed (as in a socialist or even a communist sense), or
if he simply refers to the necessity of the availability of jobs for
anyone who is qualified (I assume qualification is necessary since
obviously none of us want an uneducated doctor looking after us).
Does he want equal distribution of wealth, or equal opportunity for
employment? How does this look when fleshed out (capitalist or
communist)? It seems a little bit idealist to me (in a capitalist
society, there is simply not equal opportunity. In a communist/very
socialist society, the rich seem to be taken advantage of and
historically this is ideal but simply impossible).
10. potential people
Student: I believe that Singer is simply aware of the fact that, unless the world (or the
survival of our species) were to come to a sudden end, there will be future generations.
And since this is fundamentally unavoidable, it is our responsibility to care for the
wellbeing of those "potential" people, just as it is our responsibility to care for the
wellbeing of persons in the third world, and the malnourished babies who are
"potentially" to be born there....Furthermore, the reason why I used quotation marks on
the word "potential" is because I think that there is actually a difference in the
meanings of the word in the two cases. I think the main difference is that in the case of
abortion, Singer claims that the fetus has potential because it will become a person
UNLESS it is stopped in its development, or aborted. The future generations of our species,
however, exist on a much larger scale. It would hardly seem possible to hinder all human
reproduction to prevent new generations from coming into existence. Therefore, I'm not
sure the word "potential" is the appropriate term. The existence of future generations,
thus, seems much more definitive than potential.
DrC: This is a helpful response to a pmail from last week that diagnosed Singer as
confused about potential. I suppose that one relevant question is, Why *should* the
existence of future generations be accepted as definite? Graveyard utilitarianism poses this
question.
11. feminism and essentialism
Student: So the argument in chapter 20 in Cahn about males and
females having different perspectives and ways of problem solving
when dealing with the world might have some problems. I do not
think there is any sex distinct differences in how we solve our
problems. How we view the world might be different based on child
caring, birth, power and other factors. But saying that just
because you are female you are going to solve problems differently
sounds wrong to me.
DrC: It’s important in this chapter to distinguish Grimshaw’s own
view from the views of others whom she discusses. Do you take her
to be defending an essentialist view?
12. preserving the environment
Student: I think most people would have trouble arguing against
preserving the environment. To me Singers use of preference
utilitarianism was akin to bringing a knife to a gun fight (i think he
knows it too), i thought it was inadequate in swaying me- unlike the
other chapters where you may not agree but the logic is sound,
this chapter compels you to agree regardless of the "shortcomings"
in rational.
DrC: Do we want to preserve the environment (1) because we value
the experiences that it facilitates, or (2) because it is intrinsically
valuable? The deep ecologists opt for (2), but Singer opts for (1). A
problem with (1) is that it’s only a matter of time before we have
VR technology to render a `holodeck’ that would give us the
(qualitatively identical) experiences without the environment that
nowadays produces them.
13. Rawls’s original position
Student: I found Rawls' theory on justice to be quite rational in a
purely philosophical and theoretical way, that being said, I think it
is too Utopian to have any utility in the real world. I understand
that his "original" position is a hypothetical situation, but I do not
think this saves his theory. Even if, for arguments sake, you are
able to have condition where in the rules can be created under a
veil of ignorance, once in place this veil is lifted. Even if these rules
are in place, this will not stop some from trying to manipulate
matters to suit their own respective position an/or interest in
society. Although a pleasing argument, I do not believe that holds
any practicality in the real world.
DrC: Rawls would argue that even if your point is true, the
argument from the Original Position reveals what’s appropriate and
inappropriate (in the OP, excluded from the OP) when reasoning
about justice. That said, your point leads other moral theorists to
be interested in a more `practical’ contract, like Gilbert Harman’s
virtual contract or David Gauthier’s `morals by agreement’.
14. interests
Student: I think it's interesting that Singer, who's so concerned
about speciesism and ECOI, assumes that only sentient beings can
have interests. It's true that trees (or forests, ecosystems) don't
have preferences, but in a very real sense, it is in their interest to
not be cut down (or destroyed). Why should the value of forests
depend on the value of sentient beings? If speciesism is wrong,
why (if we can assign interests to trees) should "sentientism" not
also be wrong (or a form of unwarranted bias)?
DrC: Biological sciences implicitly attribute interests to all living
things, specifically an interest in survival that explains its
functional properties, which permit it to survive. Exploring this
thought would retain Singer’s individualism while expanding his
conception of interests.
15. the private sphere
Student: I especially support [Grimshaw’s] view in the last sentence
of the essay that moral and social priorities would be very
different if the activities and concerns regarded as primarily female
were given equal value and status. I think that Gramshaw is right
that the 'private' sphere is not given the same consideration as the
'public' sphere, but I disagree in that I do not think in today's
Western society, that the private sphere should be designated
primarily to females anymore. Many families have both parents
working full-time, with family responsibilities in the 'private' sphere
shared. Furthermore, with the high rate of divorce, many
households do not even have females residing in them. I think that
a shift should start recognizing the private sphere as being
encompassed more equally by males and females in Western society,
and for there to be less division between the sexes in the public
and private spheres.
DrC: This makes sense. It’s a good paper idea. But what about
people in a multicultural society who belong to a culture that
insists on a strict division of the sexes in the private sphere?
16. animate and inanimate
Student: On pg 279 Singer parallels the actions of plants to that
of a river or a guided missile. I do not agree with this comparison
that Singer tries to establish. I do agree that plants don't try to
consciously "seek out" water or sunlight, but I do believe that they
should not be paralleled to completely inanimate objects such as
flowing water molecules or fused pieces of metal. I do not share
this because plants are composed of cells that are living, they
undergo metabolism, meiosis, transport and countless other intra-
and extracellular processes that are characteristic of only living
cells, the same processes as the very cells that we are composed
of also, none of which are done so by water molecules or metal
ions. I do not think that because plants may not be concious that
they should be paralleled with molecules or objects that posses no
processes that are characteristic of life.
DrC: You might want to read “Should trees have standing?”, an
essay by Christopher Stone. It’s anthologized in *People, penguins,
and plastic trees*, which should be in our library.
17. Singer, “Ends and Means”
Singer: “Opposition to the use of violence can
be on the basis of an absolute rule, or an
assessment of its consequences. Pacifists
have usually regarded the use of violence as
absolutely wrong, irrespective of its
consequences. This, like other `no matter
what’ prohibitions, assumes the validity of
the distinction between acts and
omissions.” (307)
18. Judith Jarvis Thomson,
“A defense of abortion”
The violinist thought-experiment. The doctor
says, “But never mind, it’s only for nine
months.” Thomson asks, do you *have* to
accede to this situation? “What if it were not
nine months, but nine years?” (169) Later she
supposes that the violinist needs only an
hour. (177-8)
19. Mary Anne Warren, “On the moral
and legal status of abortion”
Warren: “Thus, to demonstrate that a fetus
is not a person, all I need to claim is that an
entity that has *none* of these six
characteristics [sentience, emotionality,
reason, the capacity to communicate, self-
awareness, moral agency] is not a
person.” (194)