KANTIAN VIEW ON ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS: SOME OBSERVATIONS

Abstract

Environmental ethics explores the ethical relationship between humans and the natural world. It argues for the necessity of a well-structured environmental ethic to guide our moral responsibilities towards nature, highlighting the importance of public discourse in shaping actions that impact the environment. A Kantian perspective on the environment suggests that our understanding and ethical obligations toward the natural world are inherently holistic. It posits that nature should not be viewed merely as an instrument for human benefit but as a complex system that we are morally obliged to preserve. Kant’s theories of teleological judgment and moral autonomy, contend that our duty to protect nature extends to safeguarding ecosystems as integral wholes, thereby ensuring their dynamic diversity and integrity. Ultimately, this piece asserts that our ethical approach to the environment must encompass a holistic view, recognizing our interconnectedness with the natural world and the moral imperatives that arise from it. This paper also evaluates the adequacy of Kant’s ethical theory in addressing our responsibilities towards nonhuman animals and the environment. Kantian ethics differentiates between person rational beings with intrinsic value regarded as ends in themselves and things, which possess only relative worth. Regarding the broader context of nature and nonrational beings, Kant asserts that our obligations toward them are only indirect or contingent. Some philosophers critique Kant’s ethical framework as being anthropocentric, leading to speciesist conclusions. This paper argues that these indirect duties can align with the interests of nonhumans, encompassing concerns like the suffering of nonhuman animals and the preservation of species and ecosystems. Therefore, Kant’s moral philosophy can contribute to environmental ethics by providing a foundation for animal welfare and environmental protections, serving as limits on unrestrained human behaviour.