MST 101A*: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
1st SEMESTER | S.Y 2022-2023
PROFESSOR: MICHELLE S. AGUSTIN
MODULE 1
ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES
THE NATURE OF ENVIRONMENTALS SCIENCE
Environment
• It means to encircle or surround an organism and
includes the social and cultural conditions that
may affect him.
• All things that surround us.
• It can be explained as the physical surroundings
and factors - living things (organisms) and
nonliving things/environments (matter and
energy).
Biotic- Living things or God made.
Abiotic- Non-living things or manmade.
• All of the things that can affect living factors.
• Example: soil, water humidity
• In a broader definition, it is everything that
affects an organism during its lifetime.
• The term "environment" has been used to
describe our everyday surroundings since the
day we were born.
Science
▪ Systematically organized body of knowledge on
particular subject.
Environmental Science
• Is the systematic study of our environment and
our place in it, merely the connections and
interactions in nature, and concerned with
environmental problems/issues.
• Systematic study of environmental and our
place in it.
• It can be explained as to how species interact with
one another and the nonliving environment
(matter and energy).
• It is an interdisciplinary field that includes both
the scientific and social aspects of human impact
on the world.
• interdisciplinary field- Intercalating other
body or field of science to another branch.
THE 7 ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES
Principle #1: Nature knows best.
• This principle is the most basic and comprises all
the others.
• Humans have to appreciate and recognize the
importance of nature and follow its rules. We
must not interfere with various natural processes
STUDENT: ARA MAE M. VILLAFUERTE
BSC 1-D | September 05, 2023
to a continuous and steady supply of resources
provided to us. Remember, any disruption in the
cycle of nature can bring imbalance to our
ecosystem.
• All the things that is present in nature has a
responsibility and value.
• “Nitrogen” as abundant type of gas in the
environment. (Primary Producers)
• Nitrogen- Plants (Grass)- Photosynthesis-
Oxygen
Principle #2: All forms of life are important.
• Each organism plays a vital role in nature.
• All forms of life have a value and purpose.
• Food chain- Simplest term from transferring
energy to one place to another.
Principle #3: Everything is connected to everything
else.
• All living organisms are influenced and adapt to
non-living components to ensure that the system
is sustained.
• Everything is connected to and yet the only thing
that is constant is change.
Principle #4: Everything changes.
• The environment is continuously changing. All
living organisms adapt to these changes to
survive.
• Three types of changes:
1. Linear- Producing a line that follows a
clear direction and timeline.
Example: Evolution of species brought
about by complex types of organisms.
There is no returning back. It
2. Random- changes that occur in a
system or process where the outcome
is not predictable and is influenced by
chance.
Example: the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo
that alters the topography of the land.
3. Cyclical- process in which the initial and
final state is the same. Chronologically
arrange.
Example: Cyclical change may be
exemplified by seasons and the
rhythms in floral and faunal life stages
that go with the seasons. The day, the
week, and the year.
• Poinsettia- a type of Christmas
flower that is present during
Ber months.
 Principle #5: Everything must go somewhere.
• Matter is cycled so as wastes materials.
• Everything ends up elsewhere.
Principle #6: Ours is finite earth.
Finite- limited
• Resources are limited in form.
• It is essential to know how much of a resource
can be consumed at a given time.
• Recycle the things that are still useful.
Principle #7: Nature is beautiful, and we are
stewards of God's creation.
• Humans are the most intelligent creatures that
are capable of manipulating nature to their
advantage. Humans will not exist; thus, it should
not be ravaged or abuse in nature but to be taken
care of.
• As a person who is gifted with intelligent and
reason, we have the power and capability to
take good care of our environment.
• We are the one who is reliable in our actions,
there isn't always a way to get things back to
normal.
MODULE 2
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
Different environmental issues arise
throughout the years. Ethical attitudes and behaviors
determine how humans interact with natural
resources. Philosophical consideration of various
theories and perspectives on the environment and
applying these theories to global moral issues are
given extreme reflections.
Ethics and morals should be considered in assessing
different environmental issues. Depending on our
perspective, it could encompass differing principles
and beliefs.
Ethics - is a field of philosophy that focuses on the
study of value or quality and seeks to define what is
right and what is wrong
the environment are called environmental ethics.
Example: different cultures that respects each other
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
is the study of moral perspectives, beliefs, attitudes,
and issues concerning the environment. It applies
ethical thinking to the natural world and the
relationship between humans and the earth.
Generally, it consists of three fundamental
propositions:
1. The earth and its components (natural resources,
human beings, animals, etc.) are worthy of
ethical concern.
2. The earth and its components have inherent
value because they exist, not only because they
provide resources for human needs.
3. Based on the concept of an ecosystem, human
beings should consider “wholes” that comprises
other living organisms and the environment.
PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACHES TO ENVIRONMENTAL
ETHICS
1. Anthropocentrism (Human-centered Ethics)
▪ Human beings are the central, most important
species in the universe. Thus, understanding the
natural world should be centered on
anthropology.
• The needs of human will be provided by the
environment. Regardless of the effects that it
causes.
▪ Some people believe that humans are essentially
separate from or above nature.
▪ It sees the world focusing on people and their
needs.
▪ and believed that nature is provided for human
use/interest alone.
2. Biocentrism (Life-centered Ethics)
▪ All life has a standpoint, regardless of its value to
humans.
• All living things are being valued.
▪ Understanding biology is at the center of
environmental ethics. The biosphere is central to
life on earth.
▪ Some people believe that all living organisms
have the right to exist.
▪ It is a system of ethics that attempts to protect
all life in nature.
▪ All life is interdependent.
Example: if the deer population is over-hunted,
then the coyote and wolf will be affected.
3. Eco-centrism
▪ Focuses on the environment and its need.
▪ Protecting the environment
▪ It involves the essence of the system, rather than
on individuals, species.
▪ The environment itself has moral worth.
▪ The environment should be maintained and
deserves direct moral considerations and not a
concern that is merely derived from human or
animal interests.
Example: Sagada park is a place where you can
trek, eat, and do anything you choose, but you
must be responsible and eco-friendly by
disposing of your trash in the designated areas.
 ▪ Environmentalist- a person who is concerned
ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES with or advocates the protection of the
Any person concerned with the protection of the environment.
environment or who believes that the sustainability of • Taking good care of the environment and
civilization depends on conserving natural aspects of knowledgeable enough
the biosphere free from pollution and maintaining ▪ Cornucopians – a person who assume or believe
biodiversity is called an Environmentalist. that all parts of the environment (natural
• Way or feeling towards the environment our resources) are to be exploited for the advantage
thoughts about the environment and what of humans.
should be done. • Anthropocentrism (human centered)
TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES approach of human.
1. Developmental Approach • Counterpart of environmentalist thus,
➢ It tends to be the most anthropocentric (Human tends to lead industrialization and
Centered) and assumes that humanity is above modernization.
all.
➢ It yields to industrialization and modernization
that slowly sacrificing our environment.
➢ It assumes that the human race is and should be
the master of nature and that the earth and its
resources exist solely for our benefit and
pleasure.
➢ It suggests that improvements in human
condition require converting ever more of nature
to human use; thus, the environment has value
only insofar as human beings economically utilize
it.

2. Conservationists Approach
➢ It is concerned with using natural areas and wildlife
(fauna, flora, and microorganisms) to benefit
present and future generations of human races
and other forms of life.
➢ People who believe that land should be used only
to a certain extent, to what needs to be used.
➢ Using the natural resources in a proper manner
Example: conserving water while brushing teeth using
a cup

3. Preservationists Approach
➢ tends to be the most eco-centric towards the
environment.
➢ Restricted from using to protect the
environment.
➢ It is concerned with the preservation of natural
areas. Their primary goal is to ensure those
undisturbed natural areas are free from
harmful human activities.
➢ Protects the environment from harmful human
activities.
Example: forest and other areas that are
inaccessible to the general public unless for
the use of research purposes