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Should we care for environment? Should we care for environment?
Yes, it is immoral to abuse the environment Yes, it is immoral to abuse the environment
Yes, religion tells us to care for the environment Yes, religion tells us to care for the environment
No, human superiority allows us to use the environment for its instrumental value No, human superiority allows us to use the environment for its instrumental value
No, religion tells us that we should use the environment for its instrumental value No, religion tells us that we should use the environment for its instrumental value
Discriminating against animals is akin to racism Discriminating against animals is akin to racism
The planet is the only thing with intrinsic value The planet is the only thing with intrinsic value
Caring for the environment will ensure the longevity of the human race Caring for the environment will ensure the longevity of the human race
Every other animal cares for the environment, so should we Every other animal cares for the environment, so should we
By protecting and nourishing the environment, we are realising our full potential By protecting and nourishing the environment, we are realising our full potential
God entrusted us with the environment God entrusted us with the environment
Only humans are capable of reason Only humans are capable of reason
God made humans superior God made humans superior
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Should we care for environment?
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No, religion tells us that we should use the environment for its instrumental value

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God made humans superior

We have a God given right to dominate the environment
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The Argument

For Christians, humans are the culmination of creation. In Genesis 1:31, God switches from seeing the things that he has made as merely "good" to instead being "very good", showing how beneficial humans are to the universe. Aside from humans having obvious superiority over the rest of the universe, within Genesis it is also clear that humans have been given dominion - Genesis 1:36 "Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’" By extension, humans have no obligation to protect the environment and are able to use it only for its instrumental value, disregarding its intrinsic value.

Counter arguments

Premises

P1 God gave humans superiority over all things in the creation story P2 Therefore humans can act as they choose with regard to the planet C Humans have no duty to care for the planet but may choose to do so

Rejecting the premises

References

This page was last edited on Thursday, 14 Jan 2021 at 18:24 UTC