A moral response to the conflict of interests between humans and non human nature
Loading...
Date
2002
Authors
Makokha, Tadayo Kibaba
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Environmental protection and care is increasingly becoming a major pre-occupation of
many scholars and various fields of intellectual pursuit. This is mainly prompted by the
current environmental crisis occasioned mainly by soaring human populations and
increased capacity by human beings to interfere with the natural processes. This
increased interference with nature has precipitated unprecedented increase in pollution in
various forms, destruction of forests, problems of disposal of toxic wastes and garbage,
extinction of both plant and animal species and so on.
Thus, human beings have become pervasive, overwhelming and abusive to the natural
environment. This raises serious ethical concerns in particular; we discern serious conflict
between humanity and nonhuman nature. It is against this backdrop that this study set out
to argue for a moral intervention to the environmental crisis. The study is premised on the
centrality of morality in harmonization of relationships, as exemplified in human
relationships. The present study has endeavoured to demonstrate that ethical relationships
transcend human to human to include the human to nonhuman nature category. Hence,
the question of conflict applies to human to nonhuman nature relationship in as much as
it does to human relationships. The central thesis of the study is anchored on the moral
standing of nonhuman nature; the view that nonhuman beings have a value of their own,
upon which their interests and well-being are predicated. It is on the basis of this that we
have argued for the extension of moral considerability to nonhuman nature.
We have also endeavoured to concretise our thesis within the specific context of an
African worldview to test the validity of some of our arguments. Specifically, a
reconstruction of Bukusu environmental ethical values gathered through intensive oral
emphasizing the unique place of humanity in nature. Thus, the ensuing ethic is in pursuit
of principles aimed at achieving ecological balance and harmony. This is perfectly in line
viii
with one of the central functions of morality, namely, harmonizing relationships. In
addition, these findings perfectly fit into and reinforce the conceptual paradigm of
ecosustainability, identified, clarified and argued for in this thesis. In sum, the thesis is
structured as follows:
Chapter one outlines the general introduction, purpose, and scope of the study.
Chapter two, explores the centrality of the institution of morality in relationships
involving humans, setting the ground for the central thesis of this study, namely, to
invoke moral reasoning and guidance in attempt to surmount conflicts between humans
and nonhuman nature.
Chapter three endeavours to clarify the problematic and controversial question of the
basis of moral concern for nonhuman nature, thus grounding moral intervention in human
- nonhuman nature relationship.
Chapter four, by way of exemplification reconstructs Bukusu environmental values as a
way of concretising some of the central arguments of the study and as a contribution
towards an understanding or theory of environmental ethics.
Chapter five on the other hand interrogates prevailing theoretical formulations in
environmental ethics, with the view to showing their weaknesses in articulating human -
nonhuman nature relationship. Then we present our considered conceptual framework of
ecosustainability as this study's contribution towards an understanding of environmental
ethics.
Chapter six in a recap, attempts self - assessment particularly in the light of the
objectives and assumptions of the study. summarizes and concludes the main arguments of the study, with a final note on the recommendations and the way forward
Description
A thesis submitted in fulfilment for the award of the degree of doctor of philosophy (PhD) of Kenyatta University School of Humanities and Social Sciences Department of Philosophy, March 2002. GE 42 .M3