PHILOSOPHY

1. THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE
ENVIRONMENT

2. • What is the world made of?
• How did the world come into being?
• How can we explain the process of change?
*In both East and West, Philosophers were asking
questions about the universe we live in and our place
in it.
*Eastern sages probed nature’s depths intuitively
through the eyes of spiritual sages, while Greek
thinkers viewed nature through cognitive and
scientific eyes.

3. • The speculations of the pre-Socratic
philosophers represent a paradigm shift – a
change from the mythical explanation of the
origins of the cosmos to a more rational
explanation.
• These philosophers were looking for the
underlying laws of nature.
• They wanted to understand the processes
by studying nature itself, not by listening to
stories about the gods.

4. The pre-Socratic philosophers do represent the first intellectual and scientific attempt to
understand the origins of the universe.
Consider these two frameworks (Payne 2010)
Anthropocentric Model
HUMAN
CULTURE
INDIVIDUALISM
MIND
CALCULATIVE
HUMAN OVER/ AGAINST ENVIRONMENTS
GLOBAL/ TECHNOLOGICAL

5. Ecocentric Model
NATURE
WILD
HOLISM
NATURE/ COSMOS
BODY
RELATIONAL
EARTH/ WISDOM
ECOLOGY OVER/ AGAINST HUMANS

6. NOTICE DISORDER IN THE UNIVERSE
• The domination of humanity is linked to the domination of nature based
on the anthropocentric model.
• An unfair or unjust utilization of the environment result to ecological
crisis.
*Numerous concepts and indicators have been used to understand
environmental impact such as the carbon footprint (CF).
CARBON FOOTPRINT HAS EIGHT CATEGORIES
1. Construction
2. Shelter
3. Food
4. Clothing
5. Mobility
6. Manufactured goods
7. Services
8. Trade

7. • Humanity needs to develop an “ecological
conscience” based on individual responsibility.
• Ecologist challenge us to adopt a lifestyle that
involves simple living that honors the light of all life
forms to live, flourish, and create a rich diversity of
human and nonhuman life.
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY
1.Devastation brought by Yolanda and Ondoy
2.War
3.Poverty
4.Soil erosion Linked to food Supply

8. A. ANCIENT THINKERS
ANAXIMANDER
-employed the term “boundless” to
convey the further thought that
Nature is inderterminate.

9. PHYTAGORAS
- Described the universe
as a living embodiment
of nature’s order,
harmony and beauty. He
sees our relationship
with the universe
involving biophilia (love
of other living things)
and cosmophilia (love of
other living beings).

10. B. MODERN THINKERS
IMMANUEL KANT
- Expresses that beauty is
ultimately a symbol of
morality.
- The beautiful encourage us to
believe that nature and
humanity are part of an ever
bigger design.

11. HERBERT MARCUSE
- Humanity had
dominated nature.
- There can only be
change if we will
change our attitude
towards our perception
of the environment.

12. GEORGE HERBERT MEAD
- As human beings, we do not
have only rights but duties.
- We are not only citizens of
the community but how we
react to this community and
in our reaction to it, change
it.

13. There are numerous theories to show care for the environment
aside from the ecocentric model such as deep ecology, and
ecofeminism to name some:
A. DEEP ECOLOGY
- Deep ecologists encourage humanity to shift away from
anthropocentrism to ecocentrism.
B. SOCIAL ECOLOGY
- Destroying nature is a reflection wherein few people overpower
others while exploiting the environment for profit or self interest.
C. ECOFEMINISM
- Freeing nature and humanity means removing the superior vs.
inferior in human relations.

14. ERICH FROMM
- A German humanistic
philosopher, believes that it is
about time that humanity
ought to recognize not only
itself but also the world
around it.
- As human beings, our
biological urge for survival
turns into selfishness and
laziness.