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Environment and Society

Environment and Society. Population (1). We all know that the world’s population has increased dramatically since the 1700’s, especially in the past 100 years Is there a population size problem? If so why?. Malthus (1798) argued 3 points

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Environment and Society

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  1. Environment and Society

  2. Population (1) • We all know that the world’s population has increased dramatically since the 1700’s, especially in the past 100 years • Is there a population size problem? If so why?

  3. Malthus (1798) argued 3 points • Wars, famine, and disease are natural ways of limiting population size • Promoting welfare of the poor are counterproductive, because they encourage unnecessary reproduction and resource usage • Key to avoiding resource crises is a moral code of self-restraint • What do you think? Are there any problems with this way of thinking?

  4. Ehrlich and Holdren (1974) sought to measure environmental impact based on population size, which included their overall rate and type of consumption • I (impact) = P (population) * A (affluence) * T (technology) • Affluence = goods per capita (per person) consumed • A and T were not considered by Malthus. Are they significant?

  5. Carrying capacity = theoretical limit of population that an ecosystem can sustain • Are we reaching our carrying capacity? If so are there any solutions? One baby per household limit? Decrease standards of living? • Thoughts on induced intensification (pg 21)?

  6. Forest Transition Theory = model that predicts a period of deforestation in a region during development (forest is a resource or land is cleared for agriculture) followed by the return of forest when the economy changes and the population out-migrates or becomes conservation-minded • What do you guys think? Can this be true? Any examples?

  7. Markets and Commodities (3) • Cap and Trade = market-based system to manage environmental pollutants where a total limit is placed on all emissions in a jurisdiction and individuals possess transferable shares of that total • Theoretically leads to most efficient overall system to maintain and reduce overall pollution levels • This practice has been in effect for over 20 years. Thoughts?

  8. Environmental Ethics (5) • “Adopting an economic logic for nature presents … basic problems: it makes it difficult to maintain ecocentric values” • Why?

  9. Good terms to know • Anthropocentrism = ethical standpoint that views humans as the central factor in considerations of right and wrong action toward nature (benefit and usefulness to humans = right, opposite = wrong) • Ecocentrism = environment is central factor • Feelings and thoughts on anthropocentrism? Is it important to consider both anthropocentric and ecocentric points of view?

  10. Social Ecology = asserts that environmental problems and crises are rooted in typical social structures and relationships, since these tend to be hierarchical, state-controlled, and predicated on domination of both people and nature • Kropotkin suggests “domination and exploitation of nature is inevitable in a society rooted in social hierarchies, and the domination and exploitation of other humans” • Is this really true? Can we ever hope to change this in our current democratic republic?

  11. Political Economy (7) • Production of Nature = nature is often made and remade through economic processes and that people have come to consume it as a commodity • Does production of nature exist? • Can capitalism be used in a way that does not exploit nature?

  12. Social Construction of Nature (8) • Common Usages (Williams 1976) • Essential quality and character of something • Inherent force which directs either the world or humans (or both) • Material world (including or not including humans)

  13. In common speech, usages are understood as being representative of a state, condition, or characteristic that existed before or is separate from human history and society • However, it is important to examine how these usages were derived • Social context = ensemble of social relations in a particular place during a specific period; includes belief systems, economics, and government

  14. What happens when these socially constructed usages are challenged? • Is the claim inevitable, timeless, and universal? • If no, during what time was it invented and under what conditions? • What are the social, political, or environmental effects of believing the claim? • Would it be better to get rid of the claim altogether or redefine it? • Do you find this true? Any examples of when a particular claim about nature has been re-evaluated?

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