Electronic Library of Scientific Literature
Electronic Library of Scientific Literature
Volume 51 / No. 2 / 1996
Sustainable Development on the Crossroads.
JAN LETASI, Filozoficky ustav SAV, Bratislava
From the philosophical stand the paper analyzes the fashionable concept
of „sustainable development“ in three contexts: economic, technological
and environmental ones. From the economic point of view sustainability
is related not only to the proportional consumption of natural resources
but also to the conception of man-made and natural capital as well as to
the integration of environmental criteria into systemic economic instruments.
The structure of technology and its application determines sustainability
of our civilization. The evolutionary approach to environmental problems
perceives the complexity of biospheric systems in dynamic equilibrium as
controvertial processes, not as a static state. Traditional beliefs in
Man’s sustainability are no longer valid. Unless mankind finds more cooperative
and steward-like relationship towards Nature, it may turn out to be a blind
alley of Evolution in the end.
FILOZOFIA 51, 1996, No 2, p. 70
On Anthropocentric Ethics.
TEODOR MUNZ, Filozoficky ustav SAV, Bratislava
The request to behave morally towards the nature means to apply our
morality to an inappriopriate field, because this morality was created
for humans. We cannot be responsible for the nature, we cannot be her partners
or administrators, although we can and must limit our interventions into
it. The vocabulary for our contacts with nature yet has to be created.
FILOZOFIA 51, 1996, No 2, p. 80
The Quest for New Economic and Ecological Paradigms.
LADISLAV HOHOS, Katedra filozofie a dejin filozofie FFUK, Bratislava
Industrial civilization based on the authoritarian advantage of reason
as interpreted within the framework of enlightenment, sees as its main
objective domination and manipulation. The late 20th century, however,
is witness to a new change, namely the shift from mechanistic to holistic
conception of reality. The period of unconstrained economic growth is comig
to its end, because it met with fatal ecological limits. The paper deals
with basic strategies of sustainable living. The discussion and the search
for a new civilization paradigm leads to the conclusion that values are
the primary forces in human society. The question then is, if we have enough
time to make the dominant values of humanity the superior principle to
preserve the world.
FILOZOFIA 51, 1996, No 2, p. 84
The Value Problem in Environmental Ethics.
ZUZANA PALOVICOVA, Filozoficky ustav SAV, Bratislava
The paper gives an analysis of values in environmental ethics. Attention
is paid to the most important axiological theories, i. e. axiological individualism,
resp. axiological holism. The author’s standpoint is, that a value theory
corresponding the protection of environment could not be built on a subjective
axiology, which makes the background of the above mentioned conceptions.
In her view the concept of value results from human needs and from man’s
struggle to survive. The concepts of „system value“, „transformative value“
are analysed as well. She is also concerned to show the relation between
instrumental and intrinsic values.
FILOZOFIA 51, 1996, No 2, p. 91
The Value Dimension of Environmental Ethics.
EVA SMOLKOVA, Filozoficky ustav SAV, Bratislava
One of the most important current transformations of the value system
concerns the relation betwen man, humanity and environment. The building
of a functioning axiology which would embody the value of environment as
an irretrievable real value of human being, takes on various forms. Thus
the environmental ethics and ecophilo-sophy come up with new approaches
to the existential condition of man, to being as such, to value as an axiological
and ethical category e.t.c. These considerations aim at applying value
and moral relations to nature, to all nature beings and entities, to the
whole planet.
FILOZOFIA 51, 1996, No 2, p. 98
Man in the Centre, or on the Margin?
DUSAN SPIRKO, Katedra managementu Chemickotechnologickej fakulty STU, Bratislava
The paper deals with anthropocentric, resp. non-anthropocentric character
of the environmental ethics. For fear of consequently applied non-anthropocentric
approach, which could bring about the loss of humanistic perspective, the
author points out, that it was the original, non-anthropocentric ethics
of the early periods of humanity, which led to inequality, loss of freedom
and humiliation of man. In his view, it was anthropocentric humanism, which,
on the contrary, contributed to equality, and freedom of man. Consequently,
he is defending an ethics based on anthropocentrism, which he sees deprived
of its extreme elements (e. g. superiority of man over nature) and grounded
in man’s responsibility for his own life and for the whole planet.
FILOZOFIA 51, 1996, No 2, p. 106
Moral Value as the Relation between Man and the Being of Nature.
ANNA ONDREJKOVA, Katedra filozofickych vied FHV UMB, Banska Bystrica
Contrary to anthropological ethics the ecological ethics as the product
of new ethical conscience applies also to our actions, which influence
the sphere of non-humane. Three intrinsic ethical values: those of responsibility,
temperance and coexistence, and three mediated ones: those of nourishment,
adaptation and future play an important role in ecological ethics. Man’s
responsibility should be assesed on the background of man’s activity towards
environment. By temperance the harmony of „the being of Ego“ and „Being
in norms“ is ment while the coexistence indicates the unity of man and
nature. The mediated moral values express our hope that we are adaptive
to all future changes, that we will be able to meet all our biological
needs and that we are able to conceive of everything, but the world without
future. Nevertheless, our time is rather limited.
FILOZOFIA 51, 1996, No 2, p. 112
Humanity on the Threshold of Ecological Revolution?
ZLATA ANDROVICOVA, KFV, Fakulta humanitnych vied UMB, Banska Bystrica
In current Slovak and Czech ecophilosophical works the notion „revolution“
is often used to indicate an unavoidable and desirable change of the current
relation between man and nature. The authors speak of a philosophical revolution,
of an axiological revolution, a revolution in thinking, feeling, of a linguistic
and semantic revolution (S. Hubík) and of the necessity of moral revolution
(E. Kohák). In radical ecological movements this notion indicates not only
the above mentioned radical change, but also the radicalism of ways leading
to it.
FILOZOFIA 51, 1996, No 2, p. 118
Intentionality of Human Action and Responsibility.
EMIL VISNOVSKY, Kabinet vyskumu socialnej a biologickej komunikacie SAV, Bratislava
Sharing the so called „intentionalistic“ approach adopted from the analytical
philosophy of action, which the author considers to be the most appropriate
prerequisite for solving the problem of individual responsibility, he discusses
the concept of intentional action. The importance of such an approach for
environmental ethics is more than obvious, that is, we should think over
the transformation of our so called „power-control“ in global intention.
FILOZOFIA 51, 1996, No 2, p. 121
Man in Natural and Alienated World as Seen by Thoreau and Nietzsche.
JAN SLOSIAR, Katedra filozofickych vied FHV UMB, Banska Bystrica
The philosophy of Thoreau and Nietzsche aims at returning man back into
his natural condition, which he has been deprived due to the development
of modern civilization. As Thoreau underlines, man’s alienation form nature
results from his dissolution in the world of things and takes the form
of his enslavement by the products of his own work. On the other hand,
Nietzsche suggests, that the nihilistic European civilization leads to
a herd-like behaviour, diminishes men’s will to life and his ability to
become an authentic being.
FILOZOFIA 51, 1996, No 2, p. 128
On Human Existence.
PETER KRCHNAK, Katedra spolocenskych vied, Fakulta ekologie TU, Zvolen
Man is now standing on the threshold of the third millenium. In answering
the critical question „What way?“ he should find himself and learn to live
as a human being. This is the challenge of the current unprecedented global
ecological crisis. For the ecological crisis is first of all the crisis
of man’s humanity. While the true existence of the individual concerns
his communication with other human beings, his true existence as a species
should be the interspecies communication. Respect for life is thus the
prerequisite of human existence.
FILOZOFIA 51, 1996, No 2, p. 135
Holistic Environmental Ethics: Chances and Prospects.
PAVEL FOBEL, Katedra filozofickych vied, FHV UMB, Banska Bystrica
In searching for a new ecological conception A. Leopold’s holistic interpretation
proved to be inspirative, although in other disciplines the explicative
force of the holistic approach is not accepted any more (as in postmodernism,
the criticism is directed mainly towards its totalitarian consequences).
On the other hand, the holistic approach contributed to overcoming the
shortcomings of humanistic and traditional approaches in environmental
ethics, which led paradoxically to the ethics of the exploatation of environment.
This advantage of the holistic approach is currently defended by F. Capra
and others.
FILOZOFIA 51, 1996, No 2, p. 139
The Ontology of Environment as the Foundation of Environmental Ethics.
JAN URBANEK, Geograficky ustav SAV, Bratislava
The place of man is ambivalent. It is the place of an epiphenomenon
in the global environment and the place of a hegemon in the local one.
Since the end of the Middle Ages man has not been accepting this ambivalent
location any more. He regards himself as an unlimited, global hegemon.
At the end of the XXth century this environmental attitude turned an environmental
act. The modern economy and technology evoke deep transformations of global
environment. Due to this global movement the man is pushed to the periphery.
His fortune as an epiphenomenon – this is the result of his incorrect environmental
attitude.
FILOZOFIA 51, 1996, No 2, p. 145