Thesis
Ecocentric Conservation Triage
University of Iowa
Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Iowa
Summer 2023
Abstract
In this paper, I provide an ecocentric account of environmental ethics, positing that ecosystems and the biological processes which directly lead to the continuation of evolution and evolutionary lineages are intrinsically valuable. Furthermore, these processes and ecosystems, if skeptically thought to not possess intrinsic value, are at the very least insurmountably instrumentally valuable, to the point that we are obliged to take serious action on their behalf. Additionally, even if it were found definitively or argued that they are not intrinsically valuable, I maintain that these systems are chock full of intrinsic value and should be treated as such. Indeed, there would still be an immense pragmatism and epistemic advantages in appreciating and motivating one to take serious and sustainable action like they are intrinsically valuable. Therefore, at the minimum we should appreciate more profoundly, and to the point of serious sustainable action in conservation, ecosystems and biological processes which directly lead to the continuation of evolution, evolutionary lineages, and the products therein.. With respect to conservation triage practices, as defined below, I posit that we are in a position where conservation triage in some capacity is now the only option. To reconcile the above view with the necessity for conservation triage, I offer a set of practical moral principles to follow in which organisms that are central to ecosystems, or the expansion and maintenance of ecosystems and the biological processes are given priority. In situations where no keystone species is known or the preservation, expansion, or maintenance of an ecosystem or biological processes is better developed by prioritizing land/ecosystem conservation, that should be prioritized. Remaining priority/resources should be reserved for species populations based on their calculated value to current and surrounding ecosystem stability.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Ecocentric Conservation Triage
- Creators
- David D Keffala-Gerhard
- Contributors
- Richard Fumerton (Advisor) - University of Iowa, PhilosophyAli Hasan (Mentor) - University of Iowa, Philosophy
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Project Type
- Honors Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Philosophy
- Date degree season
- Summer 2023
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 41 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2023 David D Keffala-Gerhard
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- CLAS Honors Theses
- Record Identifier
- 9984454759202771
Metrics
17 File views/ downloads
152 Record Views