Perspectives

When reading DesJardins book, I found that I most identify with nonanthropocentric and holistic ethics. I have loved animals and the environment ever since I can remember, and am a strong believer that everything in the environment deserves to be treated with respect no matter how insignificant it may seem. Recently somebody posted a video on facebook of someone’s roof being redone, and as they were pulling apart the roof, hundreds of bats started flying out. While everyone’s comments to the video were about how disgusting that was, the only thing going through my mind was how those poor bats’ home was being ripped apart in the middle of a bright sunny day, and where are they going to find a new home, and shelter until it gets dark. I am always very conscious of how my, and other peoples’ decisions and actions my affect not only animals and the environment, but how it will also have an effect on our future generations, and how it could affect the planet as a whole. I see where all of the other ethical viewpoints are coming from, and agree with parts of each of them.

I agree with the Utilitarian point of view that we should try to do what is right and good for the overall majority, but when it does so at the expense of the individual is where I disagree. I also like the views of Deontology, and that we are moral beings who can freely choose how to act, and thus we should be able to act on good intentions. If everybody acted on their good intentions, the world might be a bit of a better place, however I know that good intentions do not always end up with good results, and can sometimes do more harm than good. I don’t necessarily agree with teleology, and that if we understand an object/being’s reason for existence we can decide what is ethically right based on that. Everything has multiple purposes and uses in the environment, some good and some bad, and people could interpret an object’s purpose in their own way and simply decide it is “bad” and thus it is ethically ok to do away with that object or being. There are many different sides to each ethical viewpoint, and I agree and disagree with points from each view, but at this point, I think I still agree with nonanthropocentric and holistic ethics the most.

About me

My name is Kate Reichert and I am from Sartell Minnesota. I have one younger brother who started his freshman year at St.John's this fall. I love reading, and almost always carry a book with me. I was in dance for thirteen years, and also enjoy playing softball, tennis, and soccer. I am a junior psychology major, and art minor. I am not sure what I will be doing with my major, or what career I would like to have after I graduate, but ideally I would like to work with children. I spent the last semester in London and fell in love with the city. I was able to go to museums, art galleries, plays, see all of the major attractions, and even travel a bit while I was there. I was able to travel around Athens, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Paris, Oxford, Bath, Canterbury, and so many other amazing cities while I was abroad. If I ever get the chance to travel again I would do it in a heartbeat. There is always something new to see and experience and is an amazing opportunity to learn about other cultures. I am taking this class to fulfill my ethics requirement, but I chose this ethics class specifically because I love nature and being outdoors, and I am also very interested in environmental issues.