Environmental pragmatism Essay

Pluralism, environmental pragmatism and eco feminism represent differing perspectives on the subject of moral ethics. The paper seeks to look into the details surrounding some of these issues and comparisons between them will be made. Major principles As the name suggests, eco-feminism refers to a merger between feminism and environmentalism. In other words, the term refers to a social movement that connects female oppression and the degradation of nature to similar attitudes that are related to masculine domination. The latter principle asserts that there must be some sort of interrelation between women, race, class and the environment. While the oppression of women may be the main concern within this field of study, eco feminism asserts that environmentalism, animal rights, class struggles, age oppressions, human supremacism and racism all have one thing in common; they all signify oppression driven by the same social mentality. (Thoma-Slayter & Rocheleau, 1995) One of the most interesting aspects about eco feminism is that this particular movement has merged thoughts and views in seemingly different fields to come up with a comprehensive analysis of current environmental problems. Eco feminists assert that male land ownership has led to patriarchy hence resulting in a manifestation of the following environmental problems †¢ Viewing animals and land as material resources †¢ Abusing land †¢ Exploiting people †¢ Overgrazing †¢ Excessive food export even when local residents lack adequate food The latter adherents also propose that this abuse of land and environmental degradation has eventually led to female oppression. Such an assertion was made by Thoma-Slayter, B. & Rocheleau, D. (1995) in their book â€Å"Gender, Environment and Development in Kenya† McMillan. The latter authors illustrated how exports in this East African country have been driven by a capitalist culture that has led to soil erosion, deforestation, excessive pesticide use and less productive land. In the end, families have been forced to move from such areas and this is especially visible among the women. Other authors claim that the reason why nature has been undergoing excessive degradation is because nature has been treated as something that is only valuable if it has material benefits. Again, such proponents claim that this is the same view held about women; that they have little value since they are not the major wealth creators. However, eco-feminists assert that such beliefs are quite misleading owing to the fact that nature is still useful even without man’s interference. An example of such a perspective is when one analyzes a forest. The former attitude would assume that a forest is useful for fuel, food and the like. However, even without tampering with it, a forest can still be useful in terms of protecting ground water, circulating oxygen or providing a habitat for other animals. On the other hand environmental pragmatism is founded on the beliefs held within pragmatism; that there is no absolute truth in the process of seeking for knowledge. Instead, pragmatists assert that there are only relatively stable ones that assist people in the process of making sense of their world and their surrounding. Experience plays a central role in pragmatism because through it one can either affirm or reject previously held beliefs about how their world works. Given this background, then it is possible to understand some of the perspectives put forward by environmental pragmatists. The latter school of thought put forward the idea that the environment forms a central part of our experiences. Consequently, it needs to be held in high regard. It asserts that every part of the environment needs to be treated with as much seriousness as the next. For instance, oceans are jut as important as deserts or just as important as buildings and bridges. (Lucas, 2002) Environmental pragmatism rejects the notion that man can dominate the earth. Since nature is an important part of one’s experience, then it is essential for man to look for the most feasible ways of co-existing with nature. In fact, adherents to this philosophy claim that understanding or cultivating meaning in the earth is quite crucial, however, imagining that man can do anything with nature without dealing with any consequences is self defeating. Additionally, the latter adherents put forward the notion that exerting care within the environment is a crucial element in preserving it. They claim that in the process of determining what constitutes good things or what constitutes right things, it is indeed necessary for human beings to implement environmental ethics through the foundations of certain beliefs and ideas. One can therefore assert that environmental pragmatism has elements of interrelatedness with other concepts. In this regard, there is a connection between eco feminism and environmental pragmatism owing to the fact it refers to the concept of caring for one’s environment. Environmental pragmatism also brings in new concepts of environmental philosophy owing to the fact that it opposes the notion of trying to decide constituents of value. In other words, the latter adherents claim that it is impossible to determine whether man holds greater precedence over nature. Instead, both issues need not be treated as mutually exclusive as they both need one another. (Lucas, 2002) Pluralism on the other hand refers to the acceptance of diversity of thought within ethical endorsements. Adherents to this school of thought claim that it is possible for different perspectives to exist within a particular ethical system owing to the fact that morality is an ensemble of many things. This means that nature as it is cannot provide an underlying and thoroughly conclusive explanation for things; consequently, it is best to settle for a series of explanations that can provide a more comprehensive framework for these matters. In this regard, pluralism can be related to eco feminism owing to the fact that the latter theory attempts to merge concepts from different fields. Additionally, environmental pragmatism is another form of pluralism because in the former philosophy, there is the belief that there is more than one way to understand nature. Pluralism can occur in three forms i.e. †¢ First order †¢ Second order †¢ Third order In first order pluralism, environmentalists believe that the value in something can be described in more than one way i. e. beauty, diversity etc. In second order pluralism, there is the belief that nature can be described in so many ways that there is no single method that is appropriate. In third order pluralism, there is the belief that other views should be tolerated because it is almost impossible to account for forms of value within nature. In this regard, pluralism advocates for an overlap of explanations. (Lucas, 2002) Conclusion Eco feminism is the view that falls in line with my belief system owing to the fact that it is the most practically rooted environmental theory. Additionally, its interrelatedness with other concepts is less abstract than in pluralism or environmental pragmatism. The latter two theories are quite related because of their adherence to multiplicity of beliefs. References Lucas, P. (2002): Environmental ethics – between inconsequential philosophy and unphilosophical consequesialism; Journal of environmental ethics, 24, 353-369 Rocheleau, D. (1995): Gender, Environment and Development in Kenya; McMillan.