Intrinsicism and the Environment

[Mikee]

One of the co-owners of a National Park , remarked that he is pretty happy that it wasn't vandalised so some slightly cheaper coal could be sent to India. He said that steel is important but so is protecting in his words: "unique tracts of amazing landscape and biodiversity and that this will be even more apparent when everywhere else has been dug up for coal."

would this be an example of instrincism

Edited December 5, 2010 by Mikee

[Eiuol]

That could be intrinsicism if the co-owner thinks the landscape and biodiversity are inherently good and valuable by their very nature. It could also be a utilitarian sort of perspective in the sense that the landscape and biodiversity are good because of the amount of aesthetic utility it provides to a large amount of people. More context to the quote is needed. Two people you can research to find out more about ethical perspectives involving the environment are Gifford Pinchot and John Muir. They were involved in the Hetch Hetchy Valley controversy around 1906.

Edited December 5, 2010 by Eiuol

[VcatoV]

With such limited information, it is difficult to say. It could be, as the poster above stated. Or, the owner might merely have a strong value for that piece of land and does not want it destroyed; in such a case, defending one's values is justified. Though it is good to judge, a rational human being will always seek justice by ascertaining the true nature of the situation (finding out all the facts). I would probe this individual, or do some research on this individual, to help contextualize what he was saying.