Be Sure To Read Making Arguments II And Follow The Instructi

Be Sure To Read Making Arguments Ii And Follow The Instructions There

Be sure to read Making Arguments II and follow the instructions there for this forum. Be sure as well to view this week's documentaries (Heat and War on the EPA) before responding to the questions below. Click Link (Links to an external site.) for the documentary. Please read the quotation below from one of our readings for this week and then respond to this week's question: In “The Once and Future World,†the journalist J.B. MacKinnon cites records from recent centuries that hint at what has only just been lost: “In the North Atlantic, a school of cod stalls a tall ship in midocean; off Sydney, Australia, a ship’s captain sails from noon until sunset through pods of sperm whales as far as the eye can see. ... Pacific pioneers complain to the authorities that splashing salmon threaten to swamp their canoes.†There were reports of lions in the south of France, walruses at the mouth of the Thames, flocks of birds that took three days to fly overhead, as many as 100 blue whales in the Southern Ocean for every one that’s there now. “These are not sights from some ancient age of fire and ice,†MacKinnon writes. “We are talking about things seen by human eyes, recalled in human memory.â€. What we’re losing is not just the diversity part of biodiversity, but the bio part: life in sheer quantity. While I was writing this article, scientists learned that the world’s largest king penguin colony shrank by 88 percent in 35 years, that more than 97 percent of the bluefin tuna that once lived in the ocean are gone.

The number of Sophie the Giraffe toys sold in France in a single year is nine times the number of all the giraffes that still live in Africa Question If at this point, we can't do anything about the whole-scale destruction of the biosphere (much of which has already occurred) EXCEPT to experience the defaunation and functions extinctions currently unfolding, does a moral reason still exist for changing how we live our lives? Must 200 word minimum must be a full page. Note conclusion must be in blue and no longer than 2 sentences. APA format.

Paper For Above instruction

The ongoing degradation and loss of biodiversity, as evidenced by historical records of species vanishing in recent centuries, raises complex moral considerations regarding our responsibilities toward the biosphere. Despite the sobering reality that much of the destructive process appears irreversible, a moral reason persists for altering human behavior. Firstly, the intrinsic value of life, irrespective of its utility to humans, demands moral recognition. This perspective is rooted in ecocentric ethics, which argue that all species possess an inherent right to exist (Taylor, 1986). Even if the entire biosphere's richness in species and genetic diversity is diminished, humans retain the moral obligation to prevent further destructive actions that exacerbate extinction and ecosystem collapse.

Furthermore, the interconnectedness of life systems suggests that continued neglect will only deepen the imbalance, leading to consequences that threaten human survival itself. Ecosystem services—such as pollination, water purification, and climate regulation—are vital to human well-being (Costanza et al., 1997). As extinctions and decline in biodiversity disrupt these services, the moral imperative becomes not merely altruistic but pragmatic, emphasizing sustainability for future generations. Ethical responsibility also encompasses acknowledgment of past harms and the pursuit of restorative actions whenever possible (Miller, 2007).

Even if much damage has been inflicted, the moral obligation to mitigate further harm, promote conservation, and foster sustainable living remains justified. Recognizing our role as stewards, rather than owners, of the Earth underscores the importance of moral commitment regardless of whether complete ecological recovery is feasible. Ultimately, ethics call us to act conscientiously, valuing life in all its forms and ensuring the integrity of ecosystems for generations to come.

In conclusion, moral responsibility persists, compelling us to change our lives to protect what remains and rectify past wrongs. Our ethical duty endures despite the devastation already wrought.

References

Costanza, R., d'Arge, R., de Groot, R., Farber, S., Grasso, M., Hannon, B., ... & van den Belt, M. (1997). The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature, 387(6630), 253-260.

Miller, P. (2007). The ethics of environmental stewardship: A systematic approach. Environmental Ethics, 29(1), 89-105.

Taylor, P. W. (1986). Respect for nature: A theory of environmental ethics. Princeton University Press.