Western ethics and resource management: A glance at the history

After explaining how basic questions in the field of ethics are investigated by philosophers and discussing the relevance of these philosophical investigations to forest management, the presentation focuses on the anthropocentric nature of Western ethics. For more than 2500 yr, Western society's predominant philosophical tradition, which has been closely intertwined with the Christian religion, has considered ethics as applicable only to humans. Nonhuman nature has been regarded as having only instrumental value. This people-only ethic, which has allowed humans to own and exploit nature without questioning or regret, has persisted even though Western philosophers are no longer relying on religious beliefs in their moral reasoning. Some Western philosophers, including respected figures like Spinoza (1632 1677), John Stuart Mill (1806 1873), and Alfred Whitehead (1861 1947), have challenged the view that humanity alone has moral value. But only since the 1970s have critical inquiries into the people-only ethic gained strength, and the leaders in this development have not been philosophers, but ecologists, environmentalists, and others concerned about the impending environmental crisis. This new development has profound implications for human activities, including forest management.