Collective Environmental Virtue

Abstract

I propose a notion of collective virtue that makes it easier to understand environmental harm, our biggest collective-action problem, as a moral problem for which we are all responsible. Following Larry May and Gregory Mellema, I distinguish individual from shared and from collective responsibility. I then introduce parallel distinctions between individual, shared and collective character. I explore the interaction between character traits at the individual and group levels, and finally show how these distinctions help to clarify how responsibility for collective action and character forms part of individual environmental virtue.

Human values and preferences for cleaner livestock production

“…system of values may help to identify the consumers' segments most receptive to cleaner production conditions and, at the same time, understand what values are negatively related. Furthermore, though extremely difficult to achieve, knowledge of the current framework of values is needed in a long-run strategy aimed at reshaping a socially desirable setting of societal value (Whitehead, 2014;Clowney, 2014).…”

“…According to this field of research, the internal system of values drives human behaviour towards nature (Whitehead, 2014). Some authors go further stating that values provide the basis toward proenvironmental attitudes (Clowney, 2014).…”

“…PVQ potentialities are mainly related to the ability to link individual beliefs (enduring by definition) with attitudes. Knowledge of the individual value asset may be useful in setting up strategies aiming at building new frames of societal value (Whitehead, 2014;Clowney, 2014).…”

1. Food justice, food security, and climate engineering

“…Thus, community in this sense is not restricted only to humans, but includes animals and the environment we share. Similar accounts have been proposed for shared and collective virtues (Clowney, 2014). These accounts extend the aim for individual 'eudaimonia' , to the effect that virtues do not only have individual value, but also social value.…”

Bhutanese Teachers' and Students' Perceptions about Environmental Issues in Bhutan

“…Collectivism is a real potential strength in terms of students' participations in taking action. This collective perspective is a cause for optimism for Bhutan's environmental future given the argument by Clowney (2014) that:…”