Human earth shapers/ETHS101/Ecology and Evolution/Philosophical Themes

= Ecology and Evolution=

In this Learning Pathway we will be thinking about how species respond to environmental change. To understand this you need to know some basic ideas about ecology and evolution. We will consider these ideas:


 * 1) Niches. This reflects the idea that different species are adapted to different kinds of environments - we say that species have different niches. This is extremely important because it means (a) that species can only live in certain places, and (b) when the environment changes species may not be able to live where they do - for instance when the climate changes, or when forests have been cleared.
 * 2) Then we explore what happens to species when the environment changes. This is called '"the four ways"' because every response can be placed into four categories (tolerance, range shift, evolution or extinction). For every species on earth, the balance of the four ways describes the species' past and determines its future, especially if one realises that humans are evolutionary agents.
 * 3) Then we consider one of these four ways in a little more detail. This is evolution. This is because evolution explains how we have come to have so many species, and what those species are like.

Philosopical Themes: Summary
This 20 minute lecture introduces the distinction between intrinsic and instrumental value, as well as some related themes, as follows:


 * 1) The distinction between instrumental and intrinsic value is drawn;
 * 2) Four characterisations of intrinsic value are considered;
 * 3) And the distinction between a 'deep' biocentric ethical standpoint and a 'shallow' anthropocentric ethical standpoint is introduced.

WENOTE ACTIVITY ^