A Reflective Study on the Constitution of Holmes Rolston III's Environmental Ethics

• Main Authors: Cheng,Li-Jung, 鄭麗蓉
• Other Authors: 柯志明
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/96560758599877079179

碩士 === 靜宜大學 === 生態學系 === 100 === Abstract In this thesis I attempted to provide an in-depth discussion on the environmental ethic theory of Homes Rolston, III, the American contemporary environmental ethics authority. The discussion is divided into two major topics aspects: 1.to understand the origin and thought process of Rolston’s environmental ethics theory; 2.to examine the significance of Rolston’s theory and the practical aspects of his theory. Since 1970 Rolston has been a pioneer in the theory of environmental value ethic system. His theory’s main idea is a nature-based environmental ethics principle based on ecology (an ecological point of view). He proposed that human beings should derive our ethic value from natural intrinsic values. He concludes that our model of reality implies a model of conduct. The environmental ethics rests upon the discovery of certain values integrity, projective creativity, life support, community-already present in ecosystems, and it imposes an obligation to act so as to maintain these. By differentiating viewpoints of natural value and human value, he thinks that the basic essence of environmental ethics and human ethics are different. Therefore, we must establish a nature-based environmental ethics system. He criticizes the environmental ethics theory that based on traditional human-centered ethics system. He thinks a human-centered ethics system is incomplete. The main principle of Rolston’s theory is pointing out that human beings are not the center of nature. However, since human beings are at the top of the ecological pyramid and are the only species that possess moral ethics value, we must assume the responsibility and obligation of our role. He expresses that environmental ethics is not the only ethics. A complete ethics system must cover the culture part and nature part of ethics. The global ecosystem counts morally because it is inclusive and productive of all the individual landscapes, plants, animals and persons within it. In conclusion, a complete ethics system must take into consideration the welfares of human and nature entities.