Chapter 16: Environmental Ethics Quiz

Of the following, which environmental movement locates the source of environmental problems not in metaphysics, or worldviews, but in social practices? a. Ecofeminism b. Ecomarxism c. Deep ecology d. Naessian ecology

a. Ecofeminism

Which of the following is a reason that William Baxter might oppose the emission of greenhouse gasses that contribute to global warming? a. Global warming will cause the extinction of many species that many humans enjoy. b. Global warming will change or destroy ecosystems that have existed for thousands of years. c. Global warming will cause devastating tsunamis. d. Global warming will destroy the integrity, beauty, and stability of the biotic community.

a. Global warming will cause the extinction of many species that many humans enjoy.

Which of the following is probably not a future consequence of global warming or a result of the global climate change? a. Human overpopulation and patterns of overconsumption, overproduction, and waste. b. More intense storms and thus hurricanes or typhoons of devastating size like Rita and Katrina. c. Millions or even hundreds of millions of human climate refugees. d. Rising coastal water levels and massive flooding in regions where floods were never a problem in recorded history.

a. Human overpopulation and patterns of overconsumption, overproduction, and waste.

The ozone layer is important for which of the following reasons? a. It protects humans from harmful UV radiation. b. It powers photocopy machines and other technological devices. c. It allows the earth to cool when it gets too warm. d. It protects us from meteorites.

a. It protects humans from harmful UV radiation.

Something has instrumental value if it is valued solely for which of the following? a. Its usefulness for something or someone else b. Its existence in and of itself c. Its monetary value or worth to societal majorities d. Its instrumental role in a moral hierarchy

a. Its usefulness for something or someone else

What does a biocentrist believe? a. A biocentrist believes that only biology can supply answers to fundamental problems facing the environment. b. A biocentrist believes that biological organisms may have a higher moral status than cyborgs, but they are not as physiologically advanced. c. A biocentrist believes that intrinsic value is not limited to humans. d. A biocentrist believes that biology, not nurture, is the major determining factor in human development.

c. A biocentrist believes that intrinsic value is not limited to humans.

How, in Aldo Leopold's ethics, are right actions to be distinguished from wrong ones? a. Right actions preserve nature as a productive resource for valuable ends; wrong actions destroy it. b. Right actions tend to preserve the stability and beauty of nature; wrong actions tend to do otherwise. c. Right actions ensure the continuity of the natural world for future generations; wrong actions rob them of that inheritance. d. Right actions act in such a way that all members of the biotic community could will them simultaneously; wrong actions use some members as means.

b. Right actions tend to preserve the stability and beauty of nature; wrong actions tend to do otherwise.

Which of the following are norms or intuitions that Devall and Sessions see as central to deep ecology? a. Belief in ample resource reserves b. Self-realization into organic wholeness c. Biocentric inequality d. An ontological divide in the field of existence

b. Self-realization into organic wholeness

What is one characteristic of a prima facie value? a. That it is an absolute; it is the kind of value that cannot be overcome by other interests or values. b. That it is not an absolute; it is the kind of value that can be overcome by other interests or values. c. That it acts as a primal force in shaping an ethical value system. d. That it is stronger than appears at first glance.

b. That it is not an absolute; it is the kind of value that can be overcome by other interests or values.

Which of the following represent aspects of the "dominant" worldview that deep ecologists believe we must overcome? a. The belief that the earth revolves around the sun b. The belief that we have ample resource reserves for human development c. The belief that all reality is complex and difficult to understand d. The belief that we are all interrelated parts of a whole

b. The belief that we have ample resource reserves for human development

According to an anthropocentric perspective, the health of a particular river might be considered important because a. fish and other aquatic life are inherently important. b. it is a valuable source of water and food for a community of people settled nearby. c. the river is a part of the natural world. d. the river floods yearly.

b. it is a valuable source of water and food for a community of people settled nearby.

Ecocentrists are distinguished by their rejection of the anthropocentric idea that a. the environment does not matter. b. only humans have intrinsic value. c. endangered species are of no concern. d. All of these choices

b. only humans have intrinsic value.

Happiness, often a topic in ethics, is gained in deep ecology by what means? a. By doing Tai Chi Gong each day or similar relaxation techniques b. Through meditation, and not through being subjected to judgmental negativism from traditional helping professions. c. By being quiet, doing real work, and not controlling others or non-human nature. d. Being free of suffering due to the real work of chopping wood, carrying water, or planting and gardening.

c. By being quiet, doing real work, and not controlling others or non-human nature.

In the view of Arne Naess and other members of the movement, how does deep ecology differ from establishment environmentalism? a. Deep ecologists take a holistic view of nature that sees human impact on the environment as no less "natural" than other changes to ecosystems over time. b. Deep ecologists see themselves as the saviors or guardians of nature and focus on the need to establish a hierarchy of values. c. Deep ecologists take a holistic view of nature and think we should seek the root psychological and cultural causes of environmental degradation. d. Deep ecologists are more concerned with environmental degradation on the global level than on the state or individual level.

c. Deep ecologists take a holistic view of nature and think we should seek the root psychological and cultural causes of environmental degradation.

Which of the following does not represent a basic principle of deep ecology, as expressed by George Sessions and Arne Naess? a. Both human and nonhuman forms of life have intrinsic value. b. Our ideology should change to emphasize quality of life over standard of living. c. Environmentalists should focus on local action first and foremost. d. Humans can legitimately reduce the richness and diversity of life forms to satisfy vital needs.

c. Environmentalists should focus on local action first and foremost.

Why do some people in poor nations view the environmental movement as an example of Western elitism? a. They believe that people in the West only seek to preserve their own environmental resources at the expense of those in the developing world. b. They believe that the West is using environmentalism as a new form of colonial expansion. c. They believe that only the wealthy West can afford not to change and use the environment. d. They believe that the West is only interested in environmentalism as a fashion statement.

c. They believe that only the wealthy West can afford not to change and use the environment.

What is meant by intrinsic value? a. Things have intrinsic value or worth when they have no discernable value. b. Things have intrinsic value or worth when they have been assessed by an outside agency. c. Things have intrinsic value or worth when they have value or worth in themselves for some reason. d. Things have intrinsic value or worth when they have explicit economic status or marketability.

c. Things have intrinsic value or worth when they have value or worth in themselves for some reason.

Baxter takes the position of a(n) a. ecocentrist. b. biocentrist. c. anthropomorphist. d. penguin.

c. anthropomorphist.

Guha says that deep ecologists invoke Eastern philosophies as important influences on their thinking. He says this romantic view is an example of viewing the East as constituting a. the Truth. b. Enlightenment. c. the Other. d. the Teacher.

c. the Other.

Guha argues that deep ecology is uniquely a. Western b. universal c. anthropocentric d. American

d. American

What does it mean for ecocentrists to regard a tree or a fish as a moral patient? a. It means that we must care for these life forms as a medical doctor cares for patients. b. It means that we can have indirect, rather than direct, duties to these life forms. c. It means that we must, like physicians, "do no harm" when it comes to these life forms. d. It means that we must care for these life forms for their own sake, and not just for the sake of how it might ultimately impact us.

d. It means that we must care for these life forms for their own sake, and not just for the sake of how it might ultimately impact us.

Which of the following is an example of an opportunity cost within a decision? a. Diverting money toward preserving a watershed that could have been used to build a school b. Spending more money on creating economic opportunities for young people c. Losing the chance to preserve an ecosystem because sufficient funds were not available d. Losing the chance to preserve an ecosystem because the funds were used to build a senior center

d. Losing the chance to preserve an ecosystem because the funds were used to build a senior center

A perspective is anthropocentric if it holds which of the following views? a. Only humans have instrumental value. b. Only primates have intrinsic value. c. Only human beings can solve the environmental crisis. d. Only human beings have intrinsic value.

d. Only human beings have intrinsic value.

There are two aspects to a cost-benefit analysis, namely, a. assessment of risks and establishing relative gains. b. integration of theories and organizing constituents. c. augmenting benefits and rectifying costs. d. assessment of facts and establishing relative values.

d. assessment of facts and establishing relative values.