HL.c Environmental Ethics

Environmental Ethics is only applicable for students enrolled in Higher Level (HL) IB ESS.

Guiding questions

To what extent do humans have a moral responsibility towards the environment?
How does environmental ethics influence approaches to achieving a sustainable future?

Knowledge statements for IB ESS at HL only

HL.c.1 Ethics is the branch of philosophy that focuses on moral principles and what behaviours are right and wrong.

HL.c.2 Environmental ethics is a branch of ethical philosophy that addresses environmental issues.

This video introduces the field of ethics.

HL.c.3 A variety of ethical frameworks and conflicting ethical values emerge from differing fundamental beliefs concerning the relationship between humans and nature.

This video uses Aldo Leopold’s Sand County Almanac as an example of different beliefs about human relationships with nature. At the end, it specifically compares the Land Ethic with Deep Ecology at the ecocentric end of the EVS spectrum.

HL.c.4 Instrumental value is the usefulness an entity has for humans.

HL.c.5 Intrinsic value is the value one may attach to something simply for what it is.

HL.c.6 The concepts of instrumental and intrinsic value are not exclusive.

This short video succinctly explains the difference between intrinsic and instrumental value. It’s one of the clearest explanations I’ve seen.

HL.c.7 An entity has “moral standing” if it is to be morally considered with regard to how we ought to act towards it.

HL.c.8 There are three major approaches of traditional ethics: virtue ethics, consequentialist (for example, utilitarian) ethics and rights-based (deontological) ethics.

HL.c.9 Virtue ethics focuses on the character of the person doing the action. It assumes that good people will do good actions and bad people will do bad actions.

HL.c.10 Consequentialist ethics is the view that the consequences of an action determine the morality of the action.

HL.c.11 Rights-based ethical systems focus on the actions and whether they conflict with the rights of others. There is debate about what these rights might be.

In this mini-lecture, Oxford Professor Adrian Moore explains the differences between consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics.

HL.c.12 Some people hold the view that whatever is natural is correct or good. This position is contentious and is described as the “appeal to nature” fallacy.

HL.c.13 Environmental movements and social justice movements have developed from separate histories but are increasingly seeking common goals of equitable and just societies.

The climate crisis – and our responses to it – are clear examples of ethical environmental issues.

Happy learning!

IB ESSential Science