Study Questions on Chapter 5,
Manuel Velasquez, Business Ethics: Concepts and CasesRevised for Fifth Edition April 9, 2002
1. How should we define pollution? What is (resource) depletion? How is it related to pollution? (269)
Factual Background 2. What pollutants contribute to the likelihood of global warming? (269-71)
3. Why is stratospheric ozone an important issue? (271)
4. What causes acid rain? Does it raise issues of international justice? (271-72)
5. What are the sources of the most prevalent forms of air pollution? (272-73)
6. What are majors sources of water pollution? (276-79)
7. Distinguish toxic substances from other pollutants. (279)
8. Why does plutonium pose a special environmental problem? (282, see also last para in section)
9. What three depletion problems does Velasquez discuss? (283-87) What is a bit odd about his discussing the first as a depletion problem?
Ethical approaches to pollution and depletion 10. Explain Blackstone's notion of a right to a livable environment, its relation to absolute bans and difficulties with adopting this approach. (291-94)
11. Explain the social costs approach to pollution. Be sure to include the idea of external costs. How does it relate to the traditional defense of the perfectly competitive market and what solutions does it advocate? (294-305).
12. Distinguish between (1) an animal rights ethic based on utilitarianism and (2) a strict ("deontological") animal rights ethic. (289-90)
13. Explain what an ecosystem is. (288) What are the characteristics of ecological ethics or deep ecology? (288)
14. Distinguish between an animal rights ethic of the types mentioned above and the broader versions discussed beginning with the third paragraph on p. 290.
15. What is conservation and why does it raise the issue of whether future generations have rights? (308)
16. What arguments are sometimes given against the idea that future generations have rights? How can one answer those arguments? (308-309)
17. What is Rawls' argument for the claim that we have duties of justice to future generations. (309)
18. Why are market mechanisms inadequate to ensure that resources are conserved for future generations? (311)
19. Read (or reread) the Worldwatch Institute 2000 report from pp. 266-68. What difficult and disturbing questions are raised by this report and other facts cited in the final section of chapter 5 by Velasquez? (312-15, especially 314-15)