1.1 EVS | essgurumantra

Home

TOPIC 1.1: ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE SYSTEM

Significant Ideas:

Historical events, among other influences, affect the development of environmental value systems (EVSs) and environmental movements
There is a wide spectrum of EVSs, each with its own premises and implications

Knowledge and Understandings:

Significant historical influences on the development of the environmental movement have come from literature, the media, major environmental disasters, international agreements, and technological developments.
An environmental value system (EVS) is a worldview or paradigm that shapes the way an individual, or group of people, perceives and evaluates environmental issues, influenced by cultural, religious, economic, and socio-political contexts.
An EVS might be considered as a system in the sense that it may be influenced by education, experience, culture and media (inputs), and involves a set of interrelated premises, values, and arguments that can generate consistent decisions and evaluations (outputs).
There is a spectrum of EVSs, from ecocentric through anthropocentric to technocentric value systems.
Different EVSs ascribe different intrinsic values to components of the biosphere.

Application and Skills:

Discuss the view that the environment can have its own intrinsic value.
Evaluate the implications of two contrasting EVSs in the context of given environmental issues.
Justify, using examples and evidence, how historical influences have shaped the development of the modern environmental movement.

International-mindedness:

Ecosystems may often cross national boundaries and conflict may arise from the clash of different value systems about the exploitation of resources
Differences in cultures and societies may influence the development of environmental value systems

Theory of Knowledge:

EVSs shape the way we perceive the environment - which other value systems shape the way we view the world?

Ecocentrism (Nature centered)

Holistic world view. Minimum disturbances of natural processes. Integration of spiritual, social, and environmental dimensions. Sustainability for the whole Earth. Self- reliant communities within a framework of global citizenship. Self-imposed restraint on resources. (IBO Environmental systems and societies guide, 47)
A look at various voices and the controversy
Ecocentric Philosophy
Ecocentrism vs. Technocentrism
Environmental Ethics behind Ecocentrism- Technical

Anthropocentrism (People centered)

People as environmental managers of sustainable global systems. Population control is given equal weight to resource use. Strong regulations by independent authorities required. (IBO Environmental systems and societies guide, 47)

Ecocentrism in context of anthropocentrism
A balance between ecocentrism and anthropocentrism

Technocentrism (Technology centered)

Technology can keep pace with and provide solutions to environmental problems. Resource replacement solves resource depletion. Need to understand natural processes in order to control them. Strong emphasis on scientific analysis and prediction prior to policymaking. Importance of market, and economic growth. (IBO Environmental systems and societies guide, 47)

Technocentric philosophy
Technocentric vs. Ecocentric values

1.1.Significant historical influences on the development of the environmental movement have come from literature, the media, major environmental disasters, international agreements, and technological developments. (Guidance 1: A variety of significant historical influences could be covered, but with a minimum of three in-depth examples. Possible examples could include:

James Lovelock’s development of the Gaia hypothesis; Minamata disaster;
Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring (1962);,
Davis Guggenheim’s documentary An Inconvenient Truth(2006);
Chernobyl disaster of 1986;
Fukushima Daiihi nuclear disaster of 2011
Bhopal disaster of 1984;
Gulf of Mexico oil spill of 2010;
Chipko movement;
Rio Earth Summit 2012 (Rio+20);
Earth Day; Green Revolution;
Copenhagen Accord; recent or local events of student interest.)

Significant historical influences on the development of the environmental movement have come from literature, the media, major environmental disasters, international agreements, and technological development.

An EVS is a worldview or paradigm that shapes the way an individual, or group of people, perceives and evaluates environmental issues, influenced by cultural, religious, economic, and socio-political contexts. (Guidance: A society is an arbitrary group of individuals who share some common characteristics, such as geographical location, cultural background, historical timeframe, religious perspective, value system, and so on.)

Explain what an environmental value system is and the fact that it will vary between cultures and over time.
Outline how assumptions, values and beliefs, and worldwide views can influence individual value systems
Discuss how environmental philosophies influence decision-making processes
Compare and contrast LEDCs and MEDs environmental philosophies

This is a particular world view or set of paradigms that shape the way an individual or group of people perceive and evaluate environmental issues. This will be influenced by cultural (including religious), economic, and socio-political context. An environmental value system is a system in the sense that it has inputs (for example, education, cultural influences, religious doctrine, media) and outputs (for example, decisions, perspectives, courses of action) determined by processing these inputs.
Ecosystems may often cross national boundaries and this may lead to conflict arising from the clash of different value systems about the exploitation of resources (for example, ocean fishing and whaling).

An EVS might be considered as a system in the sense that it may be influenced by education, experience, culture, and media (inputs), and involves a set of interrelated premises, values, and arguments that can generate consistent decisions and evaluations (outputs). (Guidance: EVSs are individual; there are no “wrong” EVS.)

Define "system"
Explain how an environmental value system is a system
Understand and explain what the inputs, processes, and outputs are in an EVS.
Define ecological deficit
Explain how the environment can have its own intrinsic value.

An environmental value system is a system in the sense that it has;

inputs - education,cultural influences, religious doctrine, media)
outputs - decisions, perspectives, courses of action determined by processing these inputs.

There is a spectrum of EVSs, from ecocentric through anthropocentric to technocentric value systems.

Demonstrate the range and extremes of EVSs:
Range includes ecocentric through anthropocentric to technocentric.
Extremes are the deep ecologist and the cornucopian.
An ecocentric viewpoint integrates social, spiritual, and environmental dimensions into a holistic ideal. It puts ecology and nature as central to humanity and emphasizes a less materialistic approach to life with greater self-sufficiency of societies.
An ecocentric viewpoint prioritizes bio-rights, emphasizes the importance of education, and encourages self-restraint in human behavior.
An anthropocentric viewpoint argues that humans must sustainably manage the global system. This might be through the use of taxes, environmental regulation, and legislation. The debate would be encouraged to reach a consensual, pragmatic approach to solving environmental problems.
A technocentric viewpoint argues that technological developments can provide solutions to environmental problems. This is a consequence of a largely optimistic view of the role humans can play in improving a lot of humanity. Scientific research is encouraged in order to form policies and to understand how systems can be controlled, manipulated, or changed to solve resource depletion. A pro-growth agenda is deemed necessary for society’s improvement

An ecocentric viewpoint integrates social, spiritual, and environmental dimensions into a holistic ideal. It puts ecology and nature as central to humanity and emphasizes a less materialistic approach to life with greater self-sufficiency of societies. An ecocentric viewpoint prioritizes bio rights, emphasizes the importance of education, and encourages self-restraint in human behavior.

Identify the core values of self-reliance soft ecologists
Identify the core values of deep ecologists
Contrast ecocentrists and technocentric philosophies

This is a holistic worldview that is nature-centered and respects the rights of nature. Ecocentric such as deep ecologists put more value on nature than humanity and believe in rights. (The right of endangered species or landscape to remain undisturbed). They also wish to have policies to reduce the human impact on the environment which would decrease the population and consume fewer resources. In summary, they believe that:

The resources are limited so we need to use them carefully
The Earth is for all species including animals, plants, and humans
There should be a minimum disturbance of natural processes

An anthropocentric viewpoint argues that humans must sustainably manage the global system. This might be through the use of taxes, environmental regulation, and legislation. The debate would be encouraged to reach a consensual, pragmatic approach to solving environmental problems.

Identify the core values of anthropocentric viewpoint
Contrast ecocentrists and anthropocentric philosophies

Anthropocentrism is a viewpoint/theory that is people-centered and gives preferences to human beings above all other considerations. So if you believe that the Earth exists for us, humans and we can rightfully benefit as much as we want from the environment then you are anthropocentric. You would also believe that:

Economic growth and resource use can continue as long as improvements are made in legal rights to a minimum level of environmental quality
Compensation arrangements are made satisfactory for people who experience bad environmental and social effects

A technocentric viewpoint argues that technological developments can provide solutions to environmental problems. This is a consequence of a largely optimistic view of the role humans can play in improving a lot of humanity. Scientific research is encouraged in order to form policies and to understand how systems can be controlled, manipulated, or changed to solve resource depletion. A pro-growth agenda is deemed necessary for society’s improvement.

Identify the core values of technocratic viewpoints
Contrast ecocentrists and technocentric philosophies

This means that values are centered on technology and this type of view believes that it can provide solutions to all environmental problems. Similar to anthropocentrism, it is a worldview, which conceives that nature is present to benefit human beings.
A technocentric viewpoint argues that technological developments can provide solutions to environmental problems. (technology” does not mean “electronics”; technology means tools, devices, and methods (can include electronics). This is a consequence of a largely optimistic view of the role humans can play in improving a lot of humanity. Scientific research is encouraged in order to form policies and understand how systems can be controlled, manipulated, or exchanged to solve resource depletion. A pro-growth agenda is deemed necessary for society’s improvement.

The category includes: Environmental managers and cornucopians (extreme technocentric)

There are extremes at either end of this spectrum (for example, deep ecologists–ecocentric to cornucopian–technocentric), but in practice, EVSs vary greatly depending on cultures and time periods, and they rarely fit simply or perfectly into any classification.

Explain how deep ecologists, soft ecologists, environmental managers, and cornucopians fit into this range of value systems

Soft ecology: self-sufficiency in resource management. Ecological understand a principle for all aspects of living. Shun large scale profit motives for action, for small-scale community-orientated schemes.

Deep ecology: a need for a spiritual revolution to fix environmental problems is at the core of all environmental issues. Nature is at the center, equal rights for species. (nature before human)
Environmental managers: no radical political agenda but promote working to create change within the existing social and political structures. Current economic growth can be sustained if environmental issues are managed by legal means or political agreement. (believe that the environment can be used if manage properly)

Cornucopians: a perspective that doesn't really see environmental issues as "problems" as humans have always found a way out of difficulties in the past. New resources and technologies will solve many environmental problems as they are encountered. There is no need for radical agendas, socio-economic, or political reform. (don't care for the environment; human come first)

Applications

1.1.A1 Discuss the view that the environment can have its own intrinsic value.

Define intrinsic value
Outline how resources can be valued
Discuss the intrinsic value of two named examples
Identify the issues with determining the value of natural capital
State which EVSs attribute intrinsic value
Outline how different societies have generally different EVSs

Resources can be valued in several ways;

Economic: Having marketable goods and services (timber, food)
Ecological: Providing life support services (gas exchange by forests)
Scientific: useful applications (medicines)

These are examples of resources being valued ¨instrumentally¨.
Resources can also be valued ¨intrinsically¨. This means that a resource is valued for its cultural, esthetic, spiritual, or philosophical (moral) value and are valued regardless of their potential use to humans.
Attempts are being made to acknowledge diverse valuations of nature (for example, biodiversity, rate of depletion of natural resources) so that they may be weighed more rigorously against more common economic values (for example, gross national product (GNP)). However, some argue that these valuations are impossible to quantify and price realistically. Not surprisingly, much of the sustainability debate centers on the problem of how to weigh conflicting values in our treatment of natural capital.

Evaluate the implications of two contrasting EVSs in the context of given environmental issues.

Compare and contrast the environmental value systems of two named societies

The development of environmental movements is often viewed from a very western perspective. We are going to investigate a couple of examples that will help broaden our understanding of how different societies across the world relate to the environment.

The societies chosen should demonstrate significant differences

First Nation Americans and European pioneers operating frontier economics, which involved the exploitation of seemingly unlimited resources
Buddhist and Judaeo‑Christian societies and Communist and capitalist societies.

Native American Communal property (no one owns the property)

Subsistence economy
Barter for goods
Low impact technologies
Politically come to a consensus democratically
Laws are handed down through oral tradition
Matrinineal decent
Extended families and low population density
Polytheistic and animals, plants, and natural objects have spirituality.

Buddhism believed that

Suffering exists
Suffering arises from attachment to desires
Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases

Buddhism believes in living in balance with nature, therefore they tend to be more ecocentric and have philosophy very similar to that of the deep ecologists.

Also Buddhism's vegetarian diet would benefit the environment as well. Judaeo-Christian believes that

Nature was created by God for mankind
Man is in charge of nature.

The philosophy is closer towards anthropocentric (having a responsibility to provide better stewardship) or Cornucopians (we can do whatever we want to the planet because God gave it to us)

Classroom Materials

What Do You Know About The Environment Activity
WorksheetPersonal Environmental Value Systems
ActivityHistory of the Environmental Movement
PerspectiveEnvironmental Value System
activityPaper-bag of Values
Patagonia ppt and Patagonia Assignment
Environmental Value Systems Internal Assessment
Ecotourism Case Study

View the videos A through H. Decide where each of them lie on the environmental philosophies continuum presented in 1.1.2.
A. Matt Ridley—The Natural Optimist
B. Going Green—Militant bicyclists and more
C. Rush Limbaugh blasts a Global Warming caller
D. Bjorn Lomborg talks about Al Gore overselling Climate Change
E Taking the Heat - A Silver Lining - Geoengineering a Brighter Cloud
F. Life in a Russian Eco-village
G. 7 Years After An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore May Actually Be Winning
H. Satish Kumar explains the meaning of Deep Ecology
Should Pesticides Be Ban Debate: Opinion In-class activity Research a local environmental issue:

Describe the issue
State arguments of the pressure group
State opposing arguments to their case
Consider, economic, aesthetic, socio-political, and cultural values
State your position and defend/justify your argument.

Case Studies
Greenpeace - can direct action bring results
Whale Hunting
Discuss how the events listed under the history of the modern environmental movement shaped the people who lived through them.
Compare the environmental value systems of two distinctly contrasting societies:

communist vs capitalist
Buddhist vs Judeo Christian

Useful Links

Ecological Values - Oregon State University-
SlideShareEnvironmental value systems: Lake Victoria vs the Gulf of California
Rachel Carson
PBSEarth Days
World Changing
WORLD VILLAGEClick the following link to find out more

In The News
Bee studies stir up pesticide debate, Nature, Cressey, 22 April 2015
The grassroots movement that shut down an Indian copper plant - BBC, 29 May 2018
Straws. Bottle caps. Polyester. These are the new targets of California's environmental movement - LA Times. 28 May 2018
So Japan can't hunt whales any more? That doesn't mean they're safe - Guardian, 24 March 2014

TOK:

EVSs shape the way we perceive the environment—which other value systems shape the way we view the world?

International-Mindedness

Ecosystems may often cross national boundaries a conflict may arise from the clash of different value systems about exploitation or recourses (for example, migration of wildlife across borders in southern Africa)

Video Clips

Man vs Earth. Will Man win the Battle against Climate Change?

Short documentary on the environmental movement (1960-1970)

This video provides visual examples of how we value the world around us in various manners.

Conservacion Patagonica, a non-profit organization dedicated to protection of wildland ecosystems and biodiversity in the Patagonia region of Chile and Argentina, is working towards the goal of creating Patagonia National Park, a world-class park similar in size to Yosemite National Park in California

A graduate from the UTSC journalism program, Emily Hunter has graced the world stage with her empowering and innovative work as an environmental advocacy journalist, who is constantly reporting throughout the climax of global activist movements

Manvendra Singh Shekhawat's love for carefully preserving cultural heritage and traditions and reframing them in a modern context whilst maximizing human potential is uniquely expressed through his experiential hotels. His NGO launched Jaisalmer’s largest conservation and cleanliness campaign in 2013 and he is currently creating an ever-evolving, cross-disciplinary, collaborative, whole-system community for a more productive and personally fulfilling societal model.

On 26 March 1974, people of Himalayan state of Uttarakhand started Chipko movement or Chipko Andolan, through the act of hugging trees to protect them from being felled.

This is a great video to analyse EVSs

Bruce is shown how to hunt off the land and is invited to be initiated into the tribe. Fascinating culture films from Tribe - BBC worldwide

Spanning 50 years of grassroots and global activism, this Sundance documentary brings to light the vital stories of the environmental movement where people fought -- and succeeded -- against enormous odds

Through visually stunning footage from over fifty countries, all shot from an aerial perspective, Yann Arthus–Bertrand shows us a view most of us have never seen. He shares with us his sense of awe about our planet and his concern for its health. With this film, Arthus-Bertrand hopes to provide a stepping-stone to further the call to action to take care of our HOME.

Photographs do more than document history -- they make it. At TED University, Jonathan Klein of Getty Images shows some of the most iconic, and talks about what happens when a generation sees an image so powerful it can't look away -- or back

Environmental Values Systems (1.1)

EVS NOTES

Ecocentrism (Nature centered)

Holistic world view. Minimum disturbances of natural processes. Integration of spiritual, social, and environmental dimensions. Sustainability for the whole Earth. Self-reliant communities within a framework of global citizenship. Self-imposed restraint on resources. (IBO Environmental systems and societies guide, 47)

A look at various voices and the controversy

Ecocentric Philosophy

Ecocentrism vs. Technocentrism

Environmental Ethics behind Ecocentrism- Technical

Anthropocentrism (People-centered)

People as environmental managers of sustainable global systems. Population control is given equal weight to resource use. Strong regulations by independent authorities are required. (IBO Environmental systems and societies guide, 47)

Ecocentrism in context of anthropocentrism

A balance between ecocentrism and anthropocentrism

Technocentrism (Technology centered)

Technology can keep pace with and provide solutions to environmental problems. Resource replacement solves resource depletion. Need to understand natural processes in order to control them.

Strong emphasis on scientific analysis and prediction prior to policy-making. Importance of market, and economic growth. (IBO Environmental systems and societies guide, 47)

Technocentric philosophy

Technocentric vs. Ecocentric values