Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

Lesson 4: THE HUMAN PERSON IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT

Look closely at the picture below.

Describe what you see. Would you like to visit this place? What will you do when you go to this
place?

Describe what you see. Do you see yourself staying near this place? Do you imagine yourself
doing the same things you imagine doing in the first picture?
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 Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

Have you ever wondered about the changes happening in our environment? What have you
noticed about the weather and your surroundings? Which of the following statements regarding
its state are true for you and your community?

• Its hotter now than it usually was during the summer months.
• Typhoons are stronger and there is more rain during the rainy season.
• We experience more flooding in our community.
• We evacuate our homes more frequently due to natural calamities.
• Our community is now dirtier and more disorderly compared to the past few years.

How does philosophy define the person’s relationship with the environment?

Environmental philosophy or environmental ethics is a branch of philosophy that is

concerned with the natural environment and humanity’s place in it.

It deals with issues concerning humanity’s role in the world, the interaction between nature and
humans, and human response to environmental challenges.

Environmental
Philosophy

nature human

Philosophers believe that persons have a special relationship with nature

because of their rationality. They are not only part of nature, but they can also shape,
transform, and cultivate it. However, this also means that they are also capable of
inflicting the most harm on it.

There are three major view regarding the relationship between humanity and the environment:
1. Anthropocentrism
2. Biocentrism
3. Ecocentrism

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Anthropocentrism considers humans the most significant species on the planet, and that nature
provides humankind with the means to survive and develop.
Look around and you can see evidence of human transforming the environment to suit their
needs.

• Landscapes were reshaped to schools, building, and other structures.

• Farmers till vast tract of land to grow crops, loggers clear forests for lumber, and mining
companies dig up land and even level mountains to access minerals and metals.

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Biocentrism believes that humans are not only significant species on the planet, but rather, all
organisms have inherent value and should be protected.

• This view drives the activities of human organizations that advocate the ethical treatment
of animals.
• Our government has passed laws that recognize the rights of animals to be treated
kindly, such as R.A. 8485 or “The Animal Welfare Act of 1998”

Ecocentrism emphasizes great value on ecosystems and biological communities.

• This view 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 also promotes the idea that order and balance in nature brings about stability
and beauty.
• Biologists believe that all biological organisms living with each other and that each
organism occupies a significant role within an ecosystem.

Look at your bedroom. Do you consider your bedroom clean and orderly?
Will you be able to conduct activities if your bedroom is messy and disorganized?

• Human activities have a significant impact on the environment. Current scientific evidence
proves that human activities over the centuries have resulted in great changes in
climate patterns

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throughout the world. Climate change and its related effects are among the most
important environmental issues we face today.

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 Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

Environmental aesthetics is a 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.

How can humanity address the damage inflected on the

environment? Environmentalism advocates to address the growing
environmental problems.

Environmental ethics is a moral approach that analyzes the relationship between

humans and the environment and seeks to address environmental problems brought
about by human activities.
The main ideas of environmental ethics are as follows:
1. All nonhuman elements of the world, including animals and natural resources, have
intrinsic value and should be preserved.
2. The reservation of the envrironment will benefit humans by providing for ht eneeds of
present and future generations.
3. Humankind has a responsibility to safeguard the planet as stewards of creation.

Environmental ethics has resulting in the development of varied views:

• Social ecology applies an ecological and ethical approach in analyzing society, and
sees a relationship between social problems and environmental problems. Society
should therefore, implement changes in order to addrss issues regarding the
environment.
• Environmental justice refers to the fair distribution of environmental benefits, as well as
the burden of meeting environmental challenges.
• Environmental justice influenced the emergence of the concepts of climate ethics and
climate justice.
• Environmental aesthetics advocates emphasizes that knowledge about nature will not
only enable humans appreciate nature’s innate beauty but will also help them relate more
effectively with the environment.

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THINK:

Analyze the following situations and determine which of them show the right or moral choice with
regard to the environment. Discuss your thoughts in class.
1. A mining corporation decided to save costs and did not construct an effective storing
facility for mining waste. The improperly stored waste leaked and polluted the nearby river,
poisoned marine life, and caused people in the nearby village to get sick.
2. A businessman bought a large piece of farmland and decided to convert it into a
subdivision. During construction, hundreds of trees sere uprooted and streams were
covered in cement.
3. A local official led a campaign to set aside several hectares of forested land in their city
as a watershed area. This area was declared off-limits to loggers and miners.
4. An animal shelter partnered with the local government to conduct free vaccination drives
for pets. The shelter also coordinates with local police to address cases involving animal
cruelty.

What can I do to uphold environmentalism and care for nature?

One of the major conceps that drive environmentalism is sustainability or sustainable
development. This concept focuses on reconciling human activities and economic development
with the protection of the environment.

• One of the major ideas of sustainability is that we must make wise decisions regarding
the use of natural resources to ensure that there is still enough left for future use.

Example:
According to a 2011 report by the World Food Programme, about one-third of the total food
supply is wasted throughout the world. In 2008, a study of the Philippine Rice Research Institute
estimates that every Filipino wastes aobut 3.2 kilograms of rice every year. That food could
have fed other people but sadly it often goes to waste.
• This fact highlights one important idea related to sustainability: that the misuse of
resources often means that other people do not get to benefit from it.

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Look back at how you have been using other natural resources like water and electricity. Have you been
using them in a responsible and efficient manner? How can you improve the way you use resources to make
them more sustainable?

Sustainability relies on three important principles:

1. Environmental integrity
2. Economic efficiency
3. Equity

Environmental integrity refers to maintaining the state of environment.

Economic efficiency refers to the prudence in decision-making regarding the use of resources to ensure
that there is minimum to zero waste.
Equity demands that we use our natural resources in such a manner that these are conserved so that the
next generation will be able to use them
Prudence is the ability to regulate one’s actions and behavior.
Frugality is being thrifty with the use of one’s resources.

• As human persons, it is our responsibility to treat with respect not only our fellow humans, but also
everything in our world. Upholding environmentalism and sustainability will enable us to take the first
steps in addressing environmental issues and contribute to solving the greater environmental
challenge of climate change.

Activity:
Reflect on how you and your family use natural resources at home. Copy the table and fill it out with the
appropriate responses
Activities that show sustainable use of Activities that show misuse of
resources resources