Reference no: EM133345998

Questions

1. Philosophers often use a tool called a "thought experiment" to explore our intuitions and to challenge different views. Thought experiments present situations that tend to be very unrealistic. By exploring those situations, we are able to learn new things about the world, about certain ideas, or about ourselves. In this prompt, we will consider a thought experiment designed to help us understand our own intuitions.

Sylvan offers the following "thought experiment." Imagine that all the humans have died except for one person. All the trees have also died, except for one tree. Sylvan then supposes that this person, as he nears the end of his life, cuts down last tree. The last man doesn't use the tree for anything. He just cuts it down because he is bored, and then he dies.

If the Last Man cuts down the last tree right before he dies, do you think he has he done anything wrong? Why or why not?

What does your answer tell us about what we owe to trees?

2. In "The Land Ethic," when Leopold discusses the "Ethical Sequence," whose perspective is he writing from? What is an example of someone who might have a different perspective? What might they say the "ethical sequence" has been?

3. Sylvan notes that Passmore has "mapped out three important traditions in Western ethical views concerning man's relation to nature" What are these three views? Sylvan further argues that we need a new ethic, an "environmental" ethic. What does this new ethic need to be able to do, according to Sylvan, and why? Do you find his reasons convincing or not?