Do Trees Have Rights? • Deep Dive into Environmental Ethics, Deep Ecology & Eco-Justice

Описание: Do Trees Have Rights? • Deep Dive into Environmental Ethics, Deep Ecology & Eco-Justice
Philosophy and contemporary issues Ecology IB Philosophy HL Extension

Is a forest valuable only for its timber—or does it have worth all on its own?
In this episode we journey across centuries and cultures to rethink humanity’s bond with the natural world. From anthropocentrism to Taoist harmony, from Peter Singer’s animal‐rights arguments to Ecuador’s landmark “Rights of Nature” constitution, we tackle the big questions:

Who counts in our moral circle? Humans, animals, plants—whole rivers?

Dominion vs Stewardship: Do we rule nature or care for it?

Progress at what price? Green growth, degrowth, and the “progress trap.”

Deep Ecology, Social Ecology & Ecofeminism: Must social justice and environmental justice rise together?

Ideal for students, activists and anyone weighing our planetary future, this conversation arms you with key concepts, landmark thinkers, and real-world cases—plus one challenge: What single mental shift could most improve our relationship with Earth?

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0:00 Intro — “Do trees have rights?” & why it matters
1:25 Anthropocentrism vs Ecocentrism: two starting points
3:10 Obligations beyond humans & intergenerational justice
4:58 Dominion or Stewardship? The Genesis debate & Leopold’s land ethic
6:53 Ahimsa and non-violence in Indian philosophy
8:55 Taoism’s “wu-wei” — living in harmony with the Tao
10:59 Industrial Revolution & the age of exploitation
12:17 Intrinsic value of nature: deep roots & modern science
13:45 Real-world crises: depletion, climate change, injustice
16:00 Rights of Nature: from thought experiment to court cases
17:50 Expanding legal & moral personhood: animals, rivers, ecosystems
19:05 Rethinking “Progress”: sustainable development vs degrowth
22:00 Shallow vs Deep Ecology (Arne Naess)
24:45 Critiques & complements: Murray Bookchin’s Social Ecology
26:40 Ecofeminism: linking patriarchy and environmental harm
29:30 Synthesis & common threads—responsibility and interconnectedness
31:21 Final question for viewers & closing thoughts