Environmental Ethics: From Annulment to Integration of Philosophical Concepts and Approaches

Environmental ethics focuses on the ethical principles governing the relationship between humans and their natural environment, asserting that moral norms can and should guide human behavior toward the natural world. Therefore, a robust environmental ethics theory must clarify the nature of these norms and the means by which corresponding responsibilities can be implemented. However, there is no widespread agreement among the various approaches in this field. Environmental philosophies critique the shortcomings of these approaches, with some arguing they stem from a misunderstanding of human values, others claiming they harm human interests in the long term, and yet others emphasizing that marginalized groups are completely overlooked in economic calculations. This descriptive-analytical study utilizes library research and a combination of inductive and deductive reasoning to explore and analyze various concepts and approaches within environmental ethics, aiming to identify the most logical choice for protecting and preserving the environment. Despite the ongoing contradictions between different environmental ethical approaches, a central question arises: Can a solution be found to enhance their impact? Should these approaches be integrated, or should annulment be pursued? The hypothesis of this article supports the integration of these approaches, as it could ultimately make the theories more effective and theoretically more coherent.