PHL 443 ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES,
MIDTERM, OREGON STATE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
VERIFIED.
Ch. 1- Understand in broad summary her discussion of political economy, and its relation to
environmental problems. What important distinction does she make between capitalist and
socialist economies, in relation to environmental crises and the potential for sustainability? -
ANS Can't find much about socialist economies in chapter one. Possibly the concept of
growth? State Socialist is used as an example of industrial production.
Understand the discussion about population as a "problem"--what are some very different ways
of understanding the problem? - ANS Conflict between reproduction and production. Can be
viewed as a social issue, and issue of resource supply and demand, or having to do with labor
supply and demand.
What is "globalization" and what are its roots? - ANS Breakdown of trade barriers and
abolition of tariffs, free trade among nations. Arose from historic expansions of capitalism and
colonialism
What is"natural capitalism"? - ANS A form of capitalism that makes natural costs a real factor,
that incorporates habitat damage and the like (ecosystem services ect.) as an internal cost
instead of an externality.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What is a steady state economy? - ANS A system with steady or near steady population,
material goods, total capital (money). Essentially eliminating growth and wealth
overaccumulation. Economic goals would be based in increasing quality of life and such.
Ch. 2- Be able to briefly describe the organic worldview - ANS Viewing the world as a living
organism. Intrinsic value to the land, a real connection between systems since they are alive.
Be able to very briefly discuss the rise of capitalism with experimental science, and the
connection between the two - ANS Market economy arising in Italian city-states, spread to all
of Europe. Stimulated and accelerated by colonial systems of resource extraction. Specialized
production became dominant, money used started to become more universal. The rise of
mechanistic worldviews tied to experimental science provided the disconnect from nature
needed to coldly destroy land to pursue wealth. This also seeped into the general public, lower
class also viewing world as a machine. Mastering nature, logic as separate and above nature.
Be able to discuss what Merchant means by the "death of nature." How does Merchant view
biotechnology? - ANS Death of Nature simply means the transition from a natural worldview
to a dead or mechanistic worldview. She seems to think biotechnology is the latest example of
experimental science reducing nature to mechanistic parts.
What is the "precautionary principle?" - ANS When an action raises threats to humans or the
environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if the direct cause and effect
relationships of the threat have not been established.
Multicultural and Partnership Ethics - ANS biological/cultural diversity; we are one species,
but many cultures; greatest good for the greatest number of human and non human
communities living in natural independence.
Ecocentric - ANS "grounded in cosmos" referring to the stability, diversity, the importance of
the biotic community, and harmony of the ecosystem.
Egocentric - ANS "grounded in self" what's good for individual is good for society; "most
possible" worldview; views nature as instrumental resource/property
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
MIDTERM, OREGON STATE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
VERIFIED.
Ch. 1- Understand in broad summary her discussion of political economy, and its relation to
environmental problems. What important distinction does she make between capitalist and
socialist economies, in relation to environmental crises and the potential for sustainability? -
ANS Can't find much about socialist economies in chapter one. Possibly the concept of
growth? State Socialist is used as an example of industrial production.
Understand the discussion about population as a "problem"--what are some very different ways
of understanding the problem? - ANS Conflict between reproduction and production. Can be
viewed as a social issue, and issue of resource supply and demand, or having to do with labor
supply and demand.
What is "globalization" and what are its roots? - ANS Breakdown of trade barriers and
abolition of tariffs, free trade among nations. Arose from historic expansions of capitalism and
colonialism
What is"natural capitalism"? - ANS A form of capitalism that makes natural costs a real factor,
that incorporates habitat damage and the like (ecosystem services ect.) as an internal cost
instead of an externality.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What is a steady state economy? - ANS A system with steady or near steady population,
material goods, total capital (money). Essentially eliminating growth and wealth
overaccumulation. Economic goals would be based in increasing quality of life and such.
Ch. 2- Be able to briefly describe the organic worldview - ANS Viewing the world as a living
organism. Intrinsic value to the land, a real connection between systems since they are alive.
Be able to very briefly discuss the rise of capitalism with experimental science, and the
connection between the two - ANS Market economy arising in Italian city-states, spread to all
of Europe. Stimulated and accelerated by colonial systems of resource extraction. Specialized
production became dominant, money used started to become more universal. The rise of
mechanistic worldviews tied to experimental science provided the disconnect from nature
needed to coldly destroy land to pursue wealth. This also seeped into the general public, lower
class also viewing world as a machine. Mastering nature, logic as separate and above nature.
Be able to discuss what Merchant means by the "death of nature." How does Merchant view
biotechnology? - ANS Death of Nature simply means the transition from a natural worldview
to a dead or mechanistic worldview. She seems to think biotechnology is the latest example of
experimental science reducing nature to mechanistic parts.
What is the "precautionary principle?" - ANS When an action raises threats to humans or the
environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if the direct cause and effect
relationships of the threat have not been established.
Multicultural and Partnership Ethics - ANS biological/cultural diversity; we are one species,
but many cultures; greatest good for the greatest number of human and non human
communities living in natural independence.
Ecocentric - ANS "grounded in cosmos" referring to the stability, diversity, the importance of
the biotic community, and harmony of the ecosystem.
Egocentric - ANS "grounded in self" what's good for individual is good for society; "most
possible" worldview; views nature as instrumental resource/property
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
