Philosophy (Module 4)

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The Human Person in the Environment
LESSON 1 – THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Have you ever realize the changes in our environment? Do you observe
the weather in your place? It seems that summer is hotter now compared to
the past, the typhoons are stronger and more frequent, floods are
everywhere and our surroundings have become dirtier and more chaotic.
How can we address these problems? In this lesson, you will discover
different views on how human deals with the environment, proposes ways to
address environmental issues, upholds its preservation and sustainability,
and appreciates the beauty of nature.

What’s In

Write Your First Name if the statement is TRUE, and Your Last Name if the
statement is FALSE.

____1. A human person has dignity which is the recognition that each
person has a worth and value that go beyond quantifiable terms.
____2. Not only are the body and spirit are united, but they are also
disintegrated.
____3. Our human nature makes transcendence impossible.
____4. Man is a social being and has a natural capacity to establish
relationship with others.
____5. Each person is indispensable and irreplaceable.

What’s New

Read and analyze the lyrics of the song, “Oyayi sa Mundo” by Buklod.
Answer the following questions.

Oyayi sa Mundo
ng: Buklod
1. What do you feel when you read/ hear
Aking mundo the lyrics of the song?
Ihimlay ang pagal mong katawan
Sa duyan ng kalawakan
Hayaang 2. What do you think is the artist
Maghilom ang mga sugat sa intention/ inspiration in writing the
iyong dibdib song?
Na likha ng mga tao
At itigil ng isang saglit
Ang iyong paggalaw 3. Do you agree that the world needs
Pagkat sa muli mong pag-inog healing? Why? Why not?
Ay may bago nang buhay
What is It

The Human Person in the Environment

Have you ever wondered what happens to the things you throw away?
Did you ever think of the effects of these things on our surroundings? If not,
it is time for you to reflect. As the popular saying goes, “what goes around
comes around,” it tells us that for every action there will be effects to it.
Blocked drainage, wastewater flooding, diseases, and different kinds of
pollution are some of the consequences we are experiencing because many
people show no concern for our environment. Aside from the loads of waste
that we are creating, inefficient and negligent use of natural resources like
electricity and water are also major problems we are facing right now.

Human beings as a steward has to show care for the environment and not
destroy it. The earth’s future is our responsibility, so let’s find out how to
take care of it!

I. ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY

Environment philosophy is the discipline that studies the moral

relationship of human beings with the environment and its non-human
contents. Philosophers believe that the human person has the ability to
change the environment to suit his purposes. This means that as human
person, we interact not only with our fellow human beings, but also with
other living and non-living elements in our environment. Humankind is a
part of the world, and we significantly affect our environment in the same
way that changes in our environment affect us (Ramos, 2015)

Let’s take a look on these three views of philosophical environment.

1. Anthropocentrism – focuses on the significant role of humankind in the

world and considers nature as the means by which humans are able to meet
their needs and survive. This view believes that humans are the most
important species on the planet and they are free to transform nature and
use its resources.

2. Biocentrism – believes that humans are not the only significant species
on the planet, and that all other organisms have inherent value and should
be protected. This view advocates ethical treatment of animals.

3. Ecocentrism – places great value on ecosystems and biological

communities. This view believes that humankind is a part of a greater
biological system or community and that we have a significant role as
stewards or guardians of nature. This view promotes the idea that order and
balance in nature brings about stability and beauty. The influence of
humanity on the environment can be best understood if we consider the
individual person as a dynamic source of change within his particular
environment.

People may treat environment as source of raw materials to be used in any

way he pleases and as something that envelops and surround him thus,
have a unique relationship with it. This means that people can help solve
environmental issues and problems. We can apply our philosophical
investigation aesthetically to appreciate our nature. But how can we
aesthetically organize the place that are not in order?

Let’s understand the ancient and modern thinkers’ concepts on how to

appreciate nature.

II. ENVIRONMENTAL AESTHETICS

A philosophical view that believes in maintaining order in the

environment will bring out the natural beauty of surroundings and
contribute to the well-being of the people and other organisms living in it
(Endriga, 2017).
III. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

According to the World Commission on Environment and Development,

sustainable development defines as: “Development that meets the needs of
the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs.” To put it simply, the idea of sustainable development is
any environmental, economic and social advances can be realized within the
carrying capacity of earth’s natural resources. (Sioco & Vinzons, 2016) It is
reconciling human activities and economic advances while protecting our
environment. Sustainable development upholds on the following principles:

PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY

 Environmental Integrity- means that any human activities or

economic advances should not unduly disrupt the environment and
human communities located in the area. The environment should not
be drastically impacted by human activities (Abella, 2016).

 Economic efficiency- this is to ensure that there is minimum to zero

waste in using our natural resources (Abella, 2016).

 Equity- it refers to conserving our natural resources so that the

future generations will still be able to use it (Abella, 2016).

The influence of humanity on the environment can be best understood

if we consider the individual as a dynamic source of change within his/her
particular environment. There are theories that can explain how the
humanity address environmental problem. These theories offers ways to
value care, conservation, and preservation of nature and humanity.

IV. THEORIES IN RADICAL ECOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHY

 Deep ecology- Arne Naess, proponent of Deep ecology, assumes that

all living things possess equal value and intrinsic worth regardless of
their usefulness or utility to other beings. This is experiencing
ourselves as part of the living earth and finding our role in protecting
the planet. It highlights the shifting away of approaches to
environment from anthropocentrism to ecocentrism (Sioco and
Vinzons, 2016).

 Social Ecology- Murray Bookchin, proponent of Social ecology,

believes that ecological problems can be traced to social problems.
Societies that are structured around hierarchies as well as economic
classes use their authority to dominate natural resources and exploit
the environment for profit and self interest. (Sioco and Vinzons, 2016).
  Ecofeminism- It assumes that male-centered view of nature is the
root cause of ecological problems. To address environmental
problems humanity has to remove the superior vs. inferior in human
relations. Ecofemimism also believes that a society that tolerates the
oppression of women is directly linked with its tendency to tolerate the
abuse of the environment and the degradation of nature. It also
features the existing patriarchal and capitalist systems in our society
as social and economic exploitative to the detrimental of women and
nature. This theory benefits the social and political agenda of both
female and nature. (Sioco and Vinzons, 2016).

V. PRUDENCE AND FRUGALITY

How can one lessen the waste he/she is making? How can one be
more efficient and more responsible in using natural resources? These
questions can be answered by observing prudence and frugality towards the
environment. Prudence and frugality are two of the many virtues that can
help us in addressing various environmental problems and solving the
challenges these problems have created.

Prudence is the capacity to direct and discipline one’s activities and

behaviour using reason. It is the behavior that is cautious and, as much as
possible, keeps away from any risks. Prudence is considered as the first and
most vital among the four cardinal virtues, which include justice, fortitude,
and temperance. According to Adam Smith’s The Theory of Moral Sentiments
(1759), a truly righteous person embodies the value of prudence since it
controls one’s overindulgences and as such is vital for a certain society. As
St. Thomas Aquinas argued, prudence is not purely an individual virtue, but
concerns the social dimension too. It means that prudence favors not only
the private good of a certain person, but also the common good. Now, the
question is: Is prudence applicable to the challenges that the various
environmental problems have brought? Well, aside from being an individual
virtue, prudence is also considered as an ecological virtue since it implies
the acknowledgement of human finiteness, both moral and physical. Human
finiteness is indivisible from the physical environment, which means that
we, vulnerable beings, depend on a no less fragile and vulnerable natural
world, the ultimate source of human well-being and economic prosperity.
Prudence can help us become wiser, more responsible in terms of using our
natural resources and, most importantly, become more appreciative of
nature’s essential value.

On the other hand, frugality is the quality of being thrifty. It is the

careful supervision of one’s resources. Frugality, aside from prudence, is
another fundamental value that can help us develop a sense of right and
wrong and attain whatever we want in life. Moreover, it is a virtue that can
guide us in making choices in life and receiving the most value out of those
decisions. Commonly, when we talk about frugality, we are talking about the
cautious management of material resources, especially money. A frugal
person always invests time to think carefully just to save a lot of money and,
therefore, uses far less money compare to an affluent person. However,
frugality can be used in a wider way to practically everything in our lives. It
can be considered as one of the most important parts when it comes to
carrying on our responsibilities to our community and the world. Now, the
question is: How can frugality help in solving environmental problems? Well,
one of the main benefits of being a frugal person is that it is environmentally
friendly. When someone is being frugal in using natural resources like
electricity and water, this person is putting lesser damage on our natural
environment. Furthermore, a frugal person usually lives out the idea of
“reduce, reuse, recycle” just to minimize expenses. Yet, this same idea also
minimizes overall environmental impact. Frugality, just like prudence, plays
a big role in protecting our environment. It finds a great deal of value in
lessening one’s use of natural resources and, at the same time, getting as
much value as possible out of the resources that we are using.

What’s More

Activity 1: HEAL THE ENVIRONMENT

Direction: Organize the following images in a more aesthetic way and

environment friendly. Draw your idea and write your explanation on the
space provided.

Draw here your idea!

and explain.
Draw here your idea!
and explain.

Draw here your idea!

and explain.
Activity 2: CONSERVE AND PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT

Direction: Think of two (2) ways on how you can apply prudence and
frugality on consuming each the following item. Fill the table with your
ideas.

Energy Plastic Water Paper

Assessment

I. Directions: Read each statement carefully and write “KALIKASAN” if your

answer is True and “KASIRAAN” if it is False.

1. Anthropocentrism focuses on the part of humankind as a stewards or

guardians of nature in our greater biological system or community.

2. Both ancient and modern thinkers believe that man will bring out the
natural beauty of environment if they are capable to govern the nature.

3. Biocentrism advocates ethical treatment of animals.

4. Deep ecology is a philosophical idea that combines feminism and ecology

concerns, emphasizing that both suffer from their treatment by a male
dominated society.

5. Environmental Aesthetics is a philosophical view all life forms have an

equal right to exist, and human needs and desires have no priority over
those of other organisms.
II. Directions: Identify the correct answer as described in every item. Write
your answer on the space provided.

________________1. Bringing your own cup whenever you refill your coffee in
7-eleven shows what principle of sustainability?

________________2. A businessman grabbed and bought a vast land from the

farmers and decided to convert it into a subdivision. During the
construction, farmers left without jobs and hundreds of trees were uprooted
and streams were covered in cement. What principle of sustainability was
violated?

________________3.Franciso Moreno, Mayor of Manila, declared Arroceros as

a “permanent forest park” as part of his vision of building a Green City in
Manila’s Lawton area. What principle of sustainability did he use?

________________4. A factory in a province irresponsibly withdraw their

wastes in the river and hire mostly women because of cheap labor. What
theory in radical ecological philosophy explains this ecological problem?

________________5. Finishing your meal without leftovers shows what

principle of sustainability?

“Do something today that your future self will thank

you for.”