6.2.3 Other Environmental Perspectives
Completion requirements
6.2.4 Other Perspectives on the Environment
How do we view the environment?
Reflect
Think about the section question for a moment. Is the environment essential to sustainability and prosperity? Do we have to use our natural environment to create prosperity? If we overuse or abuse our environment, that prosperity cannot
be sustained. How do you view the environment? Is it something to use or something to be respected?
Our worldview is an most important consideration when we think about nature and how we should treat it.
Imperialism is another perspective about how people should treat the environment. You have learned that in political terms imperialism is the domination of one country over another. In the environment, imperialism means the control or domination of the environment by human beings. Imperialists believe that human beings should dominate the environment because the world is designed to serve their needs. Science and technology are used to harness nature and make its materials useful to human beings. People with a controlling view about nature often believe that while human use of the environment might produce problems, we do not need to limit our impact on the natural world because any resulting problems can be solved by science. They believe that for developed and developing countries to progress, they must use scientific and technological advancement.
Our worldview is an most important consideration when we think about nature and how we should treat it.
Imperialism is another perspective about how people should treat the environment. You have learned that in political terms imperialism is the domination of one country over another. In the environment, imperialism means the control or domination of the environment by human beings. Imperialists believe that human beings should dominate the environment because the world is designed to serve their needs. Science and technology are used to harness nature and make its materials useful to human beings. People with a controlling view about nature often believe that while human use of the environment might produce problems, we do not need to limit our impact on the natural world because any resulting problems can be solved by science. They believe that for developed and developing countries to progress, they must use scientific and technological advancement.
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Utilitarianism is another perspective on the environment. A utilitarian viewpoint holds that the environment should be used to serve people and their needs. However, humans should preserve and protect the environment because it is fundamental to human happiness and prosperity both today and in the future.