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14 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is Julian Simon’s argument for why natural resources are (can be) infinite? |
optimistic, pollution inefficient, sustainability is the next step in the function of technology and capitalism... |
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Why does Lynn White blame Christianity for our ecological crisis? (He doesn’t just blame Christianity. What all does he blame? You should know the various elements of his argument.) What is White’s solution? |
dominion ethic+science+technology..... when are combined, we are in trouble.... science in greece was a about understanding world... modern alter the world
Dominion view... god is subjective and alienated from nature itself. we have souls... humans made from god |
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Marx: What does Marx mean by objectification? Alienation? What are the types of alienation that Marx sees in a capitalist society? Just what is Marx’s “humanist” criticism of capitalism? What is Marx’s economic criticism of capitalism? What is “surplus value”? |
humanist crit: Alientation of laborer/ despeciesizing... Objectification of profit.... see each other and animals and nature as terms of money. Alienation: worker, labor, other people, conscience/species being Economic crit: surplus value/externality...exploitation... owners vs workers... workers produce more wealth than the costs and owners benefit...
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Labor Theory of Property: Locke’s philosophy is the basis of rights theory as it is found in the US. But Locke has views about property ownership that are very different from the standard views about property that America is based on. What exactly is Locke’s “labor theory of property”? What are some ways that it differs from the system that one currently finds in the US? What are some ways the US might be different if we had implemented Locke’s views on property? |
locke based american political system. common property can be used but with limits... labor theory of property.... (how much you can use before spoils, as much good should be left for others.) USA 1% has 40% of money bottom 50% has 1%..... better off if top and bottom were closer together... value in self reliance and labor... wealth differences small, property diffs might be big... |
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Consumerism: Assadourian gives several interesting examples of consumerism; what are they? He also gives several directions from which consumerism is currently being challenged (and a number of interesting examples.) You should know a few of these (directions and examples both.)
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pet ownership, obesity,
challenge: Patagonia (provoke people to buy used products), schools, govs (outlawing plastic bags/giant sodas)
Solutions: can't get rid of it without getting rid of capitalism |
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Natural Capitalism: I’d like you to think about a couple of things here. First of all, a couple of general issues: What is “natural capitalism”? What is the problem with capitalism that they are responding to? (How is “externalizing costs” similar to but different from Marx’s “surplus value”?) What is their solution? (It has four parts.) Second, something a little more specific. The article we read has lots of examples illustrating how, according to them, capitalism can and should change. I want you to learn any one of these examples (for instance, the Hypercar, or Interface flooring, or…Choose your favorite.) You should be able to tell me how that example illustrates their solution, and why (according to them) the example isn’t merely about a better product, but rather a completely new approach to capitalism. |
internalize externalities and longterm profits go up... but short term profits loss, and capitalism is about short term... |
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Natural Capitalism: If the natural capitalists are right, and internalizing negative environmental externalities will lead to increased profit – why haven’t people done it already? |
you know |
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Population: The Deep Ecologists think overpopulation is one of the biggest causes of environmental problems. FM Lappe, a social ecologist, argues that population is a symptom rather than a cause. Explain her argument. |
Lappe: demographic transition... overpop is not inevitable but a sign of poverty... why do they still have kids? |
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Geoengineering: Nicholson lists two types. Explain them, and give a few examples for each. We listed four possible problems with geoengineering; what were they? Many of the “supporters” of geoengineering seem to recognize these problems; in that case, why do they continue to support it? (Both Speth and Nicholson seem to be examples here.) |
1) solar radiation 2)CO2 vacuum cleaners
yoke said 4 problems at least... screwing with planet...rogue geoengineering.... holism aspect... what causes pain in lower back? tight hamstrings
if we come up with techno fix... no motivation to change our habits... hummers, 80 thermastat in winter |
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Pollan and food: (a) What does Pollan mean by “industrial agriculture”? (Just what exactly is an “industrial attitude” toward farming? What are some of its characteristics?) Those who defend it – how do they defend it? (Earl Butz, for example.) Why does Pollan criticize it? Why does Pollan think Earl Butz was so significant for American farmers? In general, what are the pros/cons of this sort of farming? Who were Haber and Bosch and why were they important?
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Pollan and food: (b) What does Pollan mean by “industrial organic”? What is the debate between Sir Albert Howard and the German chemist Liebig? Those who defend industrial organic (like Gene Kahn) - how do they defend it? How/why does Pollan criticize it? (Actually Pollan has mixed feelings towards it – why?) Again, what are the pros/cons of this sort of farming?
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Pollan and food: (c) What is “beyond organic” (e.g., Joel Salatin’s Polyface Farm.) Describe some of the features of Salatin’s farm. What are the pros/cons of this sort of farming? |
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Pollan and food: (d) I wanted you to focus attention on the issue of “efficiency.” The main argument in favor of industrial farming is that it’s efficient. Joel Salatin denies this. You ought to be able to compare and contrast the two notions of efficiency: that defended by Earl Butz and the industrial organic farmers, and that defended by Joel Salatin and the “beyond organic” farmers. (Another way to put this: Pollan asks Salatin how he defends his type of farming from the claim that his food is elitist, since it’s so expensive. Salatin denies that it’s more expensive. Why? Hint: it has to do with negative externalities.)
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Pollan and food: (e) Pollan suggests two ways to overcome alienation from food. The first was in the context of Joel Salatin: get to know your farmer, and so on. The second was in the context of hunting and gathering. It’s this second topic that I want you to think about here. Why, for Pollan, is hunting/ gathering important? (The answer isn’t just, “in order to overcome alienation from food,” because we can do that through buying locally, getting to know our farmer, etc.) Specifically, you ought to look at the beginning of ch. 19 on gathering, especially at the paragraphs at the bottom of p. 365 to the top of p. 366 where he compares gathering with gardening. Also look at the chapter on hunting, especially p. 343-4 where Pollan is discussing the philosopher Ortega y Gasset. Ortega distinguishes the hunter from the tourist in nature. How/why? |
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