Blog Reflection 2

These articles explore the aspect of environmental ethics. It gave examples of the extremes and the lengths in which people will go as well as how those with good intentions could further the damage. In the first selection by Lynn White Jr spoke upon western society and modern science and technology how tthey have history deeply rooted in the anthropocentric theolgy of Juedo-Christianity. He produced many valid arguments. He concluded that the heart of the environmental issue was that "post- christians" have to begin to embrace a more ecocentric ideals. I think this is aleady happening today on the frontiers of globalization, we meet individuals who are a bond spirtuatly to the living world around them without a dominant faith. Take Andy Goldsworthy for example he creates works of art completely out of natuaral materials he finds in the environment around him. What is so notable is that all his pieces disappear back into nature leaving no evidence theat they were ever there. He feels the connection to his work as all the great artist have. "If I don't work for a long period of time I feel rootless" He feels it is like anyone to feel empty in this way. Many have filled the void with religion. Andy feels the strong spiritual connection with the natural environment around him "There are all the subtleties that I am aware of like the fact that the wind has gotten just a liitle bit stronger."

While Lynn White Jr blames ancient Judeo-Christianity for our massive envirnmental impact Garret Hardin says it is the over population of the planet that created the tragedy of the commons his extermist view speaks of goverments putting into practice laws which would greatly reduce the breeding production of our species. This I believe would ineffective and problematic. Even though our understanding of the world around us and our ability to modify it greatly differs us from other species we are still animals. An indvidual organism no matter what phylum serves only purpose to the rest of its species and that is to preserve it. It is the most primitive of all feelings. The need to produce is imbedded into the mind of every fully functional homo sapien. And second only to food and water as the presious freedom which will oppose and defeat any law that may one day appose it.

The issue of environmental ethics is full of exceptions and grey area it will constantly be changing as we people become desperate and science excells. The ethics will be argued until the end of mankind. We can all agree on that.