Environmental Issues: Shallow Ecology

Question 1

Shallow Ecology

Answer 1

• Conservation and protection of the environmental protection should take place because it is in our best interest to do so.
• Environmental issues stand to cost us money, our health, safety, well-being.
• Employs a utilitarian approach that more people will be happy if we protect the environment.

Question 2

Strengths: Shallow Ecology

Answer 2

• Highly pragmatic, and popular as a result.
• It’s secular basis means that it does not rely on any contentious claims about the existence of God or the divine origin of scripture.
• A cost-benefit analysis show how action now will reap financial rewards in the future.
• This approach is used at international climate change negotiations, aiming to appeal to countries’ self-interest in order to achievement agreements and actions.

Question 3

Weaknesses: Shallow Ecology

Answer 3

• It does not accord any intrinsic value to the Earth.
• The only aspect of this world that truly matters is humankind and the environment matters only from the point of view that it impacts upon us.