How I View Ethics

The type of ethics that best describes me is holistic ethics. This is not to say that I disagree with all of the other ethical viewpoints, but to stress the fact that holistic ethics is what I believe to be the decision making process that I use the most. I do not feel that humans should be the bases of all decisions. I feel that the moral responsibilities should be directed towards collections of individuals. The example of selective hunting in DesJardin’s book is great. That is, to say, that I agree with the idea of allowing game to be hunted so long as it is not risking the population (endangered species should not be hunted). I believe this to be a very safe, cost effective, way to maintain stable populations of various species. What I mean by stable populations is that, ecosystems have carrying capacities and some inhabitants may exceed that carrying capacity, putting the entire ecosystem at risk. Overpopulation would result in a shortage of food (the shortage of food can also be viewed as a declining population of a different species). Another example of a, somewhat horrifying, disturbance to an ecosystem (or a planet I suppose) is the human race. The human race is expanding rapidly. Throughout the expansion, humans have been and will continue to deplete the earth of resources such as natural gas, fresh water, and forests. At what point in time must we begin to consider such precious resources as these, as endangered or at a risk of extinction? When this idea progresses into a reality are we to begin managing/regulating the human population?

I feel that humans should not be the center of all ethical decisions. I personally think that environmental conservation efforts are a wonderful thing. I love traveling, some of my favorite places to travel are those which are least affected by anthropogenic factors. I feel that, holistic ethics can help us to avoid making decisions (probably not all of them) that can lead to such anthropogenic disturbances to the world.

Bio/first Blog Post

My name is Jake Denning. I am a senior at Saint John’s University in Collegeville Minnesota. I am studying biology. At this point in time I am unaware of what I will be doing after graduation. I recently applied for the Peace Corps and am hoping to have an interview by the end of the month. For some reason, the idea of spending 27 months in a foreign country speaking a different language is absolutely fascinating to me. If I am accepted I have requested to help with natural resource conservation (although, I would gladly do anything). I am hoping to study forestry after the Peace Corps. The more I think about my life, the more I realize that, in terms of a work environment, being outside is a necessity.

I am very excited to be enrolled in the environmental ethics course at CSBSJU. The reason I am enrolled in the class is to fulfill the ethics requirement for graduation. It is exciting for me due to the fact that I want to work in natural resource conservation. I feel that the class will lead to a better understanding of many environmental challenges existing today. I believe that being in the wilderness is perhaps the most rewarding experience that planet earth has to offer. I have witnessed this first hand canoeing in the Boundary Waters, and backpacking in the Grand Tetons and Swiss Alps, and exploring the redwood forest in California. These places are the reasons that I am so excited to take this class. It is important to preserve these wonders of the world, if I may call them wonders. I want to learn about the things that are threatening the environment so that I can do my part to help. I am eager to learn of other viewpoints on the issues that will be discussed in class.