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INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

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REVIEWER
Module 15

On Environmental Philosophy

Environmental philosophy is a branch of philosophy that is concerned with the natural environment and
humans' place within it.

It asks crucial questions about human environmental relations such as "What do we mean when we talk
about nature?" "How should we respond to environmental challenges such as environmental degradation,
pollution and climate change?" and "What is our place in the natural world?" It is concerned with defining
environment and nature, how to value the environment, moral status of animals and plants, endangered
species, environmentalism and deep ecology, aesthetic value of nature, restoration of nature, and
consideration of future generations.

Environmental philosophy includes the following areas: environmental ethics, environmental aesthetics,
ecofeminism, environmental hermeneutics, and environmental theology.

Module 16

Areas of Environmental Philosophy

Environmental philosophy has five areas, namely, environmental ethics, environmental aesthetics,
ecofeminism, environmental hermeneutics, and environmental theology.

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS - is the part of environmental philosophy which considers extending the
traditional boundaries of ethics from solely including humans to including the non-human world.

ENVIRONMENTAL AESTHETICS - has as its subject matter the aesthetic experience of the world. It
focuses on questions concerning appreciation of the world at large and, moreover, that world as it is
constituted not simply by particular objects but also by environments themselves.

ECOFEMINISM - is an area of environmental philosophy that links feminism with ecology. It seeks to
eradicate all forms of social injustice, not just injustice against women and the environment.

ENVIRONMENTAL HERMENEUTICS - is an area of environmental philosophy that applies the

techniques and resources of the philosophical field of hermeneutics to environmental issues. It addresses
issues of interpretation as they relate to nature and environmental issue. Lastly,

ENVIRONMENTAL THEOLOGY - is an area of environmental philosophy that focuses on the

understanding of God's relationship to the cosmos or Creation.

Module 17

Environment-related Worldviews

There are three worldviews which are related to the environment, namely, biocentrism, eco-centrism, and
anthropocentrism.
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BIO-CENTRISM - is a world-view that upholds that all living beings have inherent value and humans are
not superior to others. It is an ethical point of view that extends inherent value to all living things. It is an
understanding of how the earth works, particularly as it relates to its biosphere or biodiversity. It stands in
contrast to anthropocentrism, which centers on the value of humans. Biocentrism does not imply the idea
of equality among the animal kingdom, for no such notion can be observed in nature. Bio-centric thought
is nature-based, not human-based. Advocates of biocentrism often promote the preservation of
biodiversity, animal rights, and environmental protection.

ECO-CENTRISM - is a world-view which puts forward the value of the ecosystems (both its living and
non-living components) above all. As such, the value of biodiversity is above the value of individuals or
single species (including humans). Eco-centrism denotes a nature-centered, as opposed to human-centered
(i.e. anthropocentric), system of values.

ANTHROPOCENTRISM - is a world-view that puts the human being at the center stage and, hence,
nature and ecosystems are sources of resources for human use. It is the belief that human beings are the
most important entity in the universe.

Anthropocentrism interprets or regards the world in terms of human values and experiences.
Anthropocentrism is considered to be profoundly embedded in many modern human cultures and
conscious acts. It is a major concept in the field of environmental ethics and environmental philosophy,
where it is often considered to be the root cause of problems created by human action within the
ecosphere.

Module 18

Philippine Laws Protective of the Environment

There are three different laws in the Philippines that protect the environment. These laws are the
following:

Sec. 16, Art. II, 1987 Philippine Constitution. This provision mandates that the State shall protect and
advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and
harmony of nature.

Republic Act No. 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000).

This law provides that it is the policy of the State to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological
solid waste management program which shall:
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a) ensure the protection of the public health and environment;

b) utilize environmentally-sound methods that maximize the utilization of valuable resources and
encourage resource conservation and recovery; and,
c) set guidelines and targets for solid waste avoidance and volume reduction through source
reduction and waste minimization measures, including composting, recycling, re-use, recovery,
green charcoal process, and others, before collection, treatment and disposal in appropriate and
environmentally sound solid waste management facilities in accordance with ecologically
sustainable development principle.

Republic Act No. 9275 (Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004).

This law provides that the State shall pursue a policy of economic growth in a manner consistent with the
protection, preservation and revival of the quality of our fresh, brackish and marine waters. To achieve
this end, the framework for sustainable development shall be pursued. As such, it shall be the policy of
the State:

a) to streamline processes and procedures in the prevention, control and abatement of pollution of
the country's water resources;
b) to promote environmental strategies, use of appropriate economic instruments and of control
mechanisms for the protection of water resources;
c) to formulate a holistic national program of water quality management that recognizes that water
quality management issues cannot be separated from concerns about water sources and ecological
protection, water supply, public health and quality of life; and,
d) to formulate an integrated water quality management framework through proper delegation and
effective coordination of functions and activities.

Republic Act No. 8749 (Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999).

This law provides that the State shall pursue a policy of balancing development and environment
protection. To achieve

this end, the framework for sustainable development shall be pursued. As such, it shall be the policy of
the State to:

a) formulate a holistic national program of air pollution that shall be implemented by the
government through proper delegation and effective coordination of function and activities;
b) encourage cooperation and self-regulation among citizen and industries through the application
of incentives market-based instruments; and,
c) focus primarily on pollution prevention rather than on control and provide for a comprehensive
management program on air pollution.

Module 19

Man as a Social Being

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The human being is a social being. He/she is always with his/her fellow human beings. Thus, it is said
that no human being is an island. According to Confucius, man is always aware of the presence of other
people in his life. Man is always conscious of the presence other human beings.

The historical relation of man and other people or of man and society is captured by the social contract
theory popularized by Thomas Hobbes, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and John Locke.

The social contract theory of Thomas Hobbes conceives of a pre-society state of nature in which strife
and killing was the rule, and man’s life was poor, solitary, nasty, brutish and short. Quite naturally,
because man wanted to escape from the condition, a relation was consequently built up between human
beings in the form of a social contract. The contract not only established a relation between them, but
each individual suffered in himself a demolition of irresponsibility and brutish behavior.

On the other hand, the social contract theory Jean-Jacques Rousseau asserts that society is a product of a
contract naturally made between human beings. Moreover, Rousseau’s pre-society state of nature was a
free world in which unlimited human bliss did not at first motivate man to think in terms of a contract.

Gradually, when population increased and the concept of personal property was gaining recognition, in
order to protect himself, man voluntarily made the social contract. Individual will was then, for collective
good, made subject to collective will.

Lastly, the social contract theory of John Locke also claims that the pre-contract state of society was the
state of nature in which peace and harmony prevailed and every man was born free. There was a natural
order that guided man’s actions, but no sanction existed for the punishment of any violation of any natural
law. This brought about the social contract and the society.

Module 20

Types of Society

According to Aristotle, man is a social being. This means that human beings are naturally directed into
forming groups because of their need for subsistence. Human beings need society for the attainment of
their optimum happiness and where they can work and enjoy their lives. Society allows the individual
members to flourish and live a good life. Society allows human beings to be moral and practice human
virtue. Human beings as embodied subjects are born in a pre-existing social condition.

Speaking of society - through time different types of society emerged. These types are the pre-industrial
society, industrial society, and the post-industrial society.

Pre-industrial Society - The pre-industrial society is characterized by having limited forms of production,
limited division of labor and limited social stratification. It has three kinds:

1. Hunting and gathering society - which is the longest running type of society – it occupies 90% of
human history. The use of simple tools to hunt animals and gather vegetation is the feature of this society.
In this society, human beings consisted of small groups, did not establish permanent houses, and were
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very dependent on the natural resources and features of the environment. The domestication of fire is
considered the greatest advancement of this society.

2. Horticulture and pastoral society - which is characterized by domestication of animals and cultivation
of plants. Here, human beings used hand tools to cultivate crops. They produced more goods which
allowed them to do other things, and started trading with other societies. Moreover, inequality started to
appear as some people acquire more possession than others.

3. Agrarian society - which is characterized by development of new materials and methods for cultivating
plants and animals. This yielded to more products and food supply. Accumulation of wealth and property
becomes the priority. Slavery emerges as a result of social stratification. Industrial Society.

Industrial society - followed the pre-industrial society. This society provided more and better
opportunities. In this society, technologies were developed that harnessed new forms of energy. Fields of
specialization were also developed. Free public education was established which escalated literacy. The
ease of speed and travel and communication dramatically increased. Health practices were enhanced.
Organization of governments was improved as formal systems and structure were established. The
invention of steam engine marked the arrival of industrial society. More so, there was increased
mechanization (railroads, production of automobile, electrical, telephone and petroleum industries)
brought tremendous changes.

Post-Industrial Society - Post-industrial society followed the industrial society. It is characterized by its
orientation towards knowledge and service. Education and technology become very important in this
society. Human relationships are now mostly mediated by computers.