College of
Business
Administration
College of
Business
Administration
1) The question of 'value' is foundational to discussions of environmental issues. How is a 'value' for the environment to be determined? Can 'value' be measured without reference to money? Is there a way to establish value without being homocentric?
Consider the following:
"If I am right there is no theory of intrinsic value that, in a parsimonious fashion, can possibly meet the demands this conception of an environmental ethic imposes upon it."
What is the basis for this conclusion?With what 'values' was Zuckerman concerned? Were any 'values' overlooked by the framing of the issue in the following way?
"Zuckerman faced a dilemma. He had to choose whether to butcher Wilbur (the slaughterhouse would have paid for the pig) or on moral and aesthetic grounds to spare his life...""What reasons have we to preserve biodiversity, protect rain forests, and maintain the quality of lakes, rivers, and estuaries?"
Ecotopia
1) Clearly Ecotopia is a fantasy world. What real-life implications for the bettering of our own society might we draw from this novel?
2) Is Ecotopia a Utopia? Why or why not?
3) Ecotopia relies heavily upon public policy to bring about a sustainable future. What are the implications for our own public policy discourse? Is public policy adequate to redress environmental harms?
4) Had you been in Weston's position, would you have opted to stay in Ecotopia, or leave? What factors are of most importance to you as you make this determination?
5) Ecotopia had a radical shift after their independence to a system view, similar to what was proposed in Mindwalk. Could the changes that were made in Ecotopia have been done without this radical shift? Could things have changed in a more gradual way? What would it take in our present society to make a shift towards an Ecotopian type of society? Would things have to reach bottom before changes would be made?
6) Ecotopia's economic system was a cross between capitalism and socialism. Could such a society exist within a purely capitalistic system? Is a capitalistic economic system compatible with a socialist governmental regime? Which system is more likely to guard environmental interests?
7) Is the severity/oppression that exists in Ecotopia necessary for the country to succeed? How can we relate 100% buy-in on the Commons Game to this?
8) Weston observes that "the security and confidence achieved by the Ecotopians with their dense, highly personalized style of neighborhood and extended-family living are bought at a substantial price in anonymity and freedom." (pg. 156-157) Do you agree/disagree? Which of your personal liberties would you be willing to sacrifice for security and confidence?
9) Weston finds fault with the Ecotopians for their "relentless tendency to fix responsibility on producers vs. consumers" (pg. 22, soda example). What is your opinion on this issue? Do you feel producers have an obligation for the health of their end users or is the consumer solely responsible for their intake?
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