Land Ethic

Savage Dreams and GasLand both provide examples of situations where, when looking through the perspective of utilitarianism, the actions being explained could be considered ethical since the benefit of some is sacrificed for the benefit of many.  However, when looking through the perspective of the Land Ethic, we can see that Solnit and Josh Fox are acting in the best interest of the land.

Savage Dreams poses an ethical challenge regarding the Nuclear Test Site.  Through the perspective of utilitarianism, it can be argued that the actions at the Test Site can be considered ethical because of the benefits from the nuclear testing.  The nuclear testing provides valuable insight into nuclear warfare and nuclear energy that wouldn’t be possible without the test site.  However, the Land Ethic supports Solnit’s (and the rest of the protesters) actions to oppose the testing and try to prevent the nuclear storage facility at Yucca Mountain.  The protesters are acting in the interest of the land by working to eliminate the negative effects of the nuclear testing on the land.

GasLand poses a similar situation.  Since fracking provides cheap and relatively clean energy in the form of natural gas, it can be seen as ethical through the lens of utilitarianism since the benefit of only a few are sacrificed.  However, the pollution and contaminated water caused by fracking goes against the “integrity and stability of the biotic community.”  Fox is acting in the interest of his homeland by raising awareness about fracking and trying to prevent fracking in Pennsylvania.

Stickworks poses a different situation.  Although the Stickworks project modifies the ecosystem by using small trees and saplings, it does so in an environmentally sustainable way.  Since the project uses only understory species that grow back very quickly, the project is actually in the interest of the land.  Also, the project shows the unique and natural beauty that can be generated from something as simple as sticks and trees.

Perspectives

Of the four ethical perspectives we talked about in class, I would say that I am most familiar with religious ethics and utilitarianism. 

I was raised Catholic and went to a parochial elementary school, so all through my childhood I constantly heard about creation and how good it was.  We always heard how we should ‘respect creation’ and ‘live in stewardship towards the land and resources’, and how we should always have ‘ultimate respect for the value of life.’  So, it was kind of interesting to talk about these things again in our Ethics class.  It is especially interesting to see how my thoughts and values have developed since elementary school.  I guess I have always thought that people should live in stewardship towards nature and we should respect the land and resources.  However, I have come to realize that people cannot always act ethically through the religious perspective, and in many cases the religious ethical perspective is simply out of place.

During college, the ethical theory of utilitarianism became much more common.  I was no longer finding myself in situations where the number one concern was respect and stewardship for creation.  Now, the main concern is maximizing the benefits of as many people as possible.  It can sometimes be difficult for me to act when this occurs outside of the perspective of religious ethics.  However, I still try to make my decisions based on what I grew up with, and I still try to put myself in situations where I can maintain that stewardship and respect towards the land whichI learned at an early age.

Biography

My name is Scott Schroeder and I am a senior Environmental Studies major at CSB/SJU. I grew up in Richmond, Minnesota, a small town in Stearns County. I graduated from Rocori High School in Cold Spring, where I played football, basketball, and baseball.  I am currently a member of the SJU varsity baseball team, which had one of the best seasons in team history last year, winning the M.I.A.C. playoff tournament and traveling to Oregon to play in the NCAA Western Regional Tournament.  Additionally, I am the student supervisor at the SJU grounds crew and an avid intramural sports participant.

I really enjoy being outdoors, playing and watching sports, and spending time with friends, family, and my four year old white lab named Chloe.  She loves to go pheasant hunting (and she’s pretty good at it) so that is one of my favorite activities to do in the fall.  I am also a huge fan of live music.  This past summer, I saw Dierks Bentley, Randy Houser, and the LoCash Cowboys, as well as the Johnny Holm Band (twice! If you have never been to one of their concerts and you get a chance to, do it! They put on a great show!)  I am looking forward to this semester and I am especially excited for the Johnnie football season to start!

I think that Environmental Ethics will be an interesting course and I am excited for our class.  I hope that I can use what I learn in Environmental Ethics in the future.  I am interested in natural resource conservation, clean energy technologies, and sustainable agriculture and would love to continue on in one of these fields after graduation.