The Conservation Conversation: A Necessity or an Inconvenience?

Transcription

1 The Conservation Conversation: A Necessity or an Inconvenience? Date: Thursday, March 13, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Location: Museum of Northern Arizona Facilitated by: Dr. Jona Vance, NAU Department of Philosophy 12:00 p.m. Welcome and Introduction Andrea Houchard, Director, Philosophy in the Public Interest 12:15 p.m. Dr. Jona Vance, NAU Department of Philosophy What, if anything, should we conserve and why? Is conservation a necessity, and if so, what kind of necessity? How do questions about conservation relate to issues concerning collective action? 1:20 p.m. Recap of discussion Additional support received from NAU s Compassion Project and the McKenzie Endowment for Democracy. Contact us: nau.ppi@nau.edu nau.edu/ppi

2 What, if anything, should we conserve and why? Conservation can apply to a wide range of things: natural resources, animal species, and even more abstract things such as moral values or cultural norms. The following are examples of things at the forefront of conservation concerns: water, the integrity of our ecosystems (including biodiversity), and energy. 1 ) Water Experts predict that by next year, nearly half the world s population will live in areas that are water stressed, mostly in northern China, the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. There is growing concern that water shortages in combination with other tensions, especially in the Middle East, will result in conflict. Our current water usage, especially in agriculture, is believed by experts to be unsustainable. This problem will likely continue to become more serious as the world s population is expected to reach 10 billion by A large difference between the amount of water extracted and used suggests that conservation efforts could have a very positive impact on this issue. 4 2 ) The integrity of our ecosystems Researchers have found a link between infectious disease and human effects on ecosystems. For example, dams have provided ideal habitats for snails carrying schistosomiasis in Africa, South America, and Asia. Other diseases proliferated by ecosystem changes include West Nile Virus and Lyme disease in North America and malaria in Africa and South America. 1 It is hard to conceive of conservation in terms of such a broad topic like the ecosystem, however, conservation of its components, such as wildlife and plant life, can mitigate these issues. Beyond the preservation of our ecosystems, some people, such as advocates for compassionate conservation, insist on treating animals in such a way simply to obey the moral imperative, do no harm. 2 3 ) Energy Energy conservation is a broad term that refers to the reduction of energy services. 5 Many scientists have interpreted a correlation between the increase in human CO 2 emissions and the rise of global temperatures to conclude that reliance on energy that produces greenhouse gases may have a negative effect on the environment. They warn that a continued reliance on energy that produces greenhouse gases will cause further rising temperatures, an increase in sea level, an increased contrast between wet and dry regions, a reduction in air quality, and continued shrinkage of the polar ice caps. 6 Is conservation a necessity, and if so, what kind of necessity? There are different types of necessities in general, as well as different types of necessities that can be applied to conservation. Note that a single act might fall under more than one kind of necessity or none at all. 1 ) Practical necessity X is a practical necessity for achieving goal G if goal G cannot be achieved without X. In other words, a practical necessity is one that is required to complete a specific goal. In order to have a defined practical necessity there must be at least one defined goal. Is conservation a practical necessity? If so, what are the goals for which conservation is a practical necessity? This informational handout was prepared by Anthony Wallace, a philosophy major and finance minor at Northern Arizona University. Hot Topics Café, March 13, 2014

3 2 ) Moral necessity A moral necessity is an action required to meet moral obligations. A moral necessity presupposes a moral duty. Is there a moral duty to conserve? How might we come to this conclusion? 3 ) Legal necessity A legal necessity is a requirement within the legal framework of society. Legal necessities are enforced by the judicial system. Does conservation threaten the legal framework of our constructed society? Is there good reason to explore legal options in encouraging conservation? How do questions about conservation relate to issues concerning collective action? Many people would agree that human caused environmental changes could pose a threat to humanity, and refusing to change it could result in much human suffering. However, it does not follow from this that individuals are required to take action. Most everyone can accept this familiar idea: If you know that a course of action would be both costly and futile, then you aren t required to take that course of action. 7 Perhaps more than any issue, conservation, and environmental care in general, emphasize the troubles that arise when collective action is required. For many conservation issues, large scale cooperation is required to make a difference. It seems very likely at times that not enough people will participate. These observations raise the questions: Can one person make a difference with an issue that requires collective action? and furthermore, If it s clear that the public is not inclined to act collectively to conserve, is there still a moral obligation for the individual to make sacrifices to address environmental problems? This graph emphasizes the differences between water extraction and usage. Reducing these differences through conservation efforts could help solve water issues. 8 Museum of Northern Arizona

4 This graphic illustrates the sources of energy for the United States and where they eventually end up. This is very useful information when considering conservations because it includes both the sources and uses of our energy. 9

5 This graphic illustrates how human caused disturbances to the ecosystem can proliferate infectious disease. 10 Sources Buldolfson, Mark B. Collective Action, Climate Change, and the Ethical Significance of Futility. Diss. Princeton University, n.d. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print

6 Hot Topics Café Community Committee The hot topics in the Hot Topics Cafés are selected by community members represent diverse constituencies and viewpoints. We thank our committee for their participation. Flagstaff & Winslow Allan Affeldt Owner, La Posada; Founder, Winslow Arts Trust; Former Mayor, City of Winslow; Board Member for: Arizona Town Hall, Arizona Citizens for the Arts Joe Boles Professor Emeritus, Northern Arizona University Scott Deasy Deacon of Epiphany Episcopal Church, semi-retired OB/GYN Coral Evans Flagstaff City Council Jean Friedland Compassion Project Patty Garcia Coconino Community College District Governming Baord, Nuestras Raices, Raymond Educational Foundation Board, US Geological Survey Jacque Gencarelle Prevention Program Manager, Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority Wayne Ranney Geologist, Author, Grand Canyon river and trail guide, Board Member for: Flagstaff Festival of Science, Grand Canyon Historical Society (President), and Museum of Northern Arizona (Emeritus) Craig Van Slyke Dean, NAU Franke College of Business Michael Vincent Dean, NAU College of Art and Letters Randy Wilson Editor, Arizona Daily Sun Harriet Young President, Flagstaff AAUW Sedona & the Verde Valley Jennifer Epperson Executive Director, Imagiventure Foundation Angela LeFevre Board and past president of the Democrats of the Red Rocks, Board Member for: Arizona Planned Parenthood, Keep Sedona Beautiful Barbara Litrell Sedona City Council Elemer Magaziner Sedona Citizens for Civil Dialogue Dan McIlroy Sedona City Council John Neville Executive Director, Sustainable Arizona Judy Reddington NAU s Arts and Letters Advisory Council, Board Member for: Museum of Northern Arizona, Sedona International Film Festival Doug Von Gausig Mayor of Clarkdale, Executive Director of Verde River Institute Del Weston Marketing, Hypertherm, Inc., Board Member for: Sedona Y.M.C.A. Jessica Williamson Sedona City Council NAU's Philosophy in the Public Interest is non partisan, and does not endorse any position with respect to the issues we discuss. Philosophy in the Public Interest is a neutral convener for civil discourse. Ex officio Robert Breunig Museum of Northern Arizona Andrea Houchard NAU, Philosophy in the Public Interest Ron Hubert Hozho International Scott Sanicki Sedona Public Library Robin Weeks Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Yavapai College, Sedona Center Next Flagstaff Hot Topics Café: How Should the Economy Compensate Women s Work? Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2014 Location: The Museum of Northern Arizona