Environmental ethics

Often I work and speak on environmental ethics. In 2004, I have written a paper on value judgment in economics and ethics focussing on well-being of nonhuman beings. The paper was presented at the Sixth Annual BioEcon Workshop on Biodiversity and Economics for Conservation at the Kings College, University of Cambridge, Sept 1-3, 2004.

Abstract: Is the process of human development anthropocentric? Does it ignore the interest of nonhuman beings? These are some of the unanswered questions, which gave a new thought towards solution of today’s environmental crisis. In order to answer such questions, we must examine whether there exists some sort of bias in the process of human development. And if bias exists, we must know its relevant characteristics. Such an exercise requires on the theoretical side, incorporation of ideas from economics and ethics; and on the practical side, quantification of levels of well-being of both human and nonhuman beings. The paper presents basic tenets of economics and one ecoshphical school of thought – deep ecology, tries to minimise their distance, and computes an index of well-being for living nonhuman beings utilising country level data from World Development Indicators 1999 and checks its relationship with human development in 106 countries in various phases of industrial transition.

Citation: Majumder, A. 2006. “Economics, ethics, and well-being of nonhuman beings,” International Journal of Environment and Development, 3 (1): 45-54.

A similar version of the paper is available here: Amlan Paper Wellbeing of Nonhuman Beings-Download Link.

**Tarajan Tea Estate – far from the madding crowd**

Economics Vs. Ethics

I am adding my another paper on environmental ethics, which I contributed to the first annual conference of the Centre for Studies on Environment and Development (CSESD), Rabindra Bharati University, Emerald Bower, 56A, B. T. Road, Kolkata 700 050.

Title: Economics vs. ethics: Re-examining our values on nature, development, and existence.

The pdf version of the paper is available here: Amlan Paper CSESD environmental ethics.

Peace in silence – Sitakunda River behind Tarajan Tea Estate

The simple equation

… The western development model has been executed in the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America through colonisation of land, forest, river and people… The culture associated with it equated women with nature as both have reproductive functions. And nature is perceived as being inferior to culture, which is thought of as being the domain of men. This phenomenon can be presented in a simple equation: women = child bearers = nature = the less valuable. As both women and nature are perceived as less valuable, parallel oppression of both goes together. …