LESSON 4: THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE
ENVIRONMENT become greater than what it originally is if they
World is changing not for the better but
for the worse, and humanity is responsible for
this.
English poet, John Donne, “No man is
an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of
the continent, a part of the main”. This means
that as human persons, we interact not only
with our fellow human beings but also with the
other living and non-living elements in our
environment.
HOW DOES PHILOSOPHY DEFINE THE PERSON’S
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENVIRONMENT?
 ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY or
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
- The discipline in philosophy that
studies the moral relationship of
human beings with the
environment and its non-human
contents.
Philosophers believe that the person
has a special relationship with nature.
 The person has the ability to change the
environment to suit his or her purposes.
 The person has the ability to “access”
nature, the role of the person in
relation to it can take on different
forms:
- He or she may opt to treat the
environment as an object, as a
source of raw materials to be used
in any way he or she pleases.
- A person may also view the
environment as something that
envelopes and surrounds him or
her, thus they have a special and
unique relationship with it.
Persons can help the environment
take the task.
There are three major views regarding
the relationship between humanity and the
environment.
THREE MAJOR VIEWS:
 ANTHROPOCENTRISM
- Focuses on the significant role of
humankind in the world and
considers nature as the means by
which humans are able to meet
their needs and survive
- This view believes that humans are
the most important species on the
planet and they are free to
transform nature and use its
resources.
 BIOCENTRISM
- Believes that humans are not the
only significant species on the
planet, and that all organisms have
inherent value and should be
protected.
- This view drives the activities of
humane organizations that
advocate the ethical treatment of
animals.
 R.A 8485 or “The Animal Welfare Act of
1998”
- Law that the government passed
that recognizes the rights of animals
to be treated kindly.
 ECOCENTRISM
- Places great value on ecosystems
and biological communities.
- Believes that humankind is part of a
greater biological system or
community and that we have a
significant role as stewards or
guardians of nature.
 - This view promotes the idea that
order and balance in nature brings
about stability and beauty.
 “DEEP ECOLOGY” and the “GAIA
HYPOTHESIS”
- Several philosophical views that
emphasize the important role of the
interaction between the living and
non-living components of the
environment.
 ENVIRONMENTAL AESTHETICS
- Philosophical view that believes
maintaining order in the
environment will bring out the
natural beauty of the surroundings
and contribute to the well-being of
the people and other organisms
living in it.
 Human activities can also bring about
disorder in our environment such as
pollution, environmental degradation,
the depletion of natural resourced,
global warming, and climate change.
 INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON
CLIMATE CHANGE (IPCC)
- Conducted a study on global
warming that found clear evidence
that human activities have
contributed to the rise of global
temperatures through the release
of greenhouse gases into the
atmosphere.
HOW CAN HUMANITY ADDRESS THE DAMAGE
INFLICTED ON THE ENVIRONMENT?
- One important philosophical view
from environmentalism.
- A moral approach that analyzes the
relationship between humans and
the environment.
- Also discusses environmental
problems caused by human
activities and social issues that
impact the environment.
- Serves as a basis for reflection on
how our actions show our regard
for nature.
- Also guides us in upholding the
welfare of the environment and
everything in it.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF ETHICAL VIEWS
REGARDING THE ENVIRONMENT
 ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
- Emerged in the 197o’s.
- Advocating human responsibility
and action with regard to
environmental issues.
MAIN IDEAS:
 All nonhuman elements of the world,
including animals and natural resources,
have intrinsic value and should be
preserved.
 The preservation of the environment
will benefit humans by providing for the
needs of present and future
generations.
 Humankind has a responsibility to
safeguard the planet as stewards of
creation.

 ENVIRONMENTALISM
- An important development that
arose during the late twentieth
century.
 ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS