Agenda
- Module 1: The Moral Community
- Baxter, "People or Penguins" (1974)
- Discuss RR2
Module 1: The Moral Community
- who/what belongs to the moral community?
In other words:
- which beings matter as ends, not just as means?
- which beings matter in their own right?
- which beings matter for their own sake?
- which beings can we have obligations to?
- which beings have intrinsic value, not just value to others?
- which beings have inherent value, not just value to others?
What is Baxter's answer?
What are his arguments?
Are they any good?
Background for Baxter, "People or Penguins" (1974)
- 1940s: DDT used to eradicate mosquitos; agricultural and household uses
From Doomsday for Pests (1946), a Sherwin-Williams promotional video
- 1962: Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, DDT harmful to humans and wildlife
- 1970: Richard Nixon signs bill creating the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- 1972: EPA banned DDT, citing effects on humans as well as wildlife
- 1974: William Baxter (law professor) wrote the book People or Penguins: The Case for Optimal Pollution
- Why penguins? DDT residues found in Antarctic Adelie penguins (1966, 2008)
- A contemporary pollution example: PFAs (pee-fahs)/PFCs. See "'Forever Chemicals' are Everywhere: What Are they Doing to Us?"
- his position: only people matter as ends (anthropocentrism)
- his argument: premises plus conclusion
- Baxter, annotated
His four criteria (p. 1-2)
His 6-point defense of selfishness (p. 2-4)
What are some argument we should discuss?
Are they good?
Are they bad?
RR2 feedback
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| RR that meets all the requirements--COMPLETE! |