Ethical living
Encyclopedia
Ethical living is the philosophy of making decisions for daily life
which take into account ethics
and moral values, particularly with regard to consumerism
, sustainability
, environmentalism
, wildlife
and animal welfare
. At present it is largely a personal choice, and not an organized social movement
.
Ethical living is an offshoot of sustainable living
, in which the individual initially takes a series of small lifestyle changes in order to limit their effect on the environment
. Making the decision to start to live ethically, can be as easy as beginning to recycle, switching off electric lights when leaving a room, buying local organic or fairtrade produce. Though many people often go further by re-using/re-cycling waste water, using renewable resources in their homes (solar panel
s or atmospheric water generator
s), giving up the use of the family car in preference of greener modes of transport (bicycle).
Though ethical living is growing in popularity, many in the environmental movement believe that the responsibility of ethical practice should be enforced on "Big Business
". They argue that the onus is being unfairly laid on the individual to change the way they live in order to effect change, as these everyday changes are often insignificant in comparison to the level of changes that large organizations or multinational corporation
s could make.
Personal life
Personal life is the course of an individual's life, especially when viewed as the sum of personal choices contributing to one's personal identity. It is a common notion in modern existence—although more so in more prosperous parts of the world such as Western Europe and North America...
which take into account ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
and moral values, particularly with regard to consumerism
Consumerism
Consumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen...
, sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
, environmentalism
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
, wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
and animal welfare
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
. At present it is largely a personal choice, and not an organized social movement
Social movement
Social movements are a type of group action. They are large informal groupings of individuals or organizations focused on specific political or social issues, in other words, on carrying out, resisting or undoing a social change....
.
Ethical living is an offshoot of sustainable living
Sustainable living
Sustainable living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual's or society's use of the Earth's natural resources and his/her own resources. Practitioners of sustainable living often attempt to reduce their carbon footprint by altering methods of transportation, energy consumption and diet...
, in which the individual initially takes a series of small lifestyle changes in order to limit their effect on the environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
. Making the decision to start to live ethically, can be as easy as beginning to recycle, switching off electric lights when leaving a room, buying local organic or fairtrade produce. Though many people often go further by re-using/re-cycling waste water, using renewable resources in their homes (solar panel
Photovoltaic module
A solar panel is a packaged, connected assembly of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells...
s or atmospheric water generator
Atmospheric water generator
An atmospheric water generator , is a device that extracts water from humid ambient air. Water vapor in the air is condensed by cooling the air below its dew point, exposing the air to desiccants, or pressurizing the air. Unlike a dehumidifier, an AWG is designed to render the water potable...
s), giving up the use of the family car in preference of greener modes of transport (bicycle).
Though ethical living is growing in popularity, many in the environmental movement believe that the responsibility of ethical practice should be enforced on "Big Business
Big Business
Big business is a term used to describe large corporations, in either an individual or collective sense. The term first came into use in a symbolic sense subsequent to the American Civil War, particularly after 1880, in connection with the combination movement that began in American business at...
". They argue that the onus is being unfairly laid on the individual to change the way they live in order to effect change, as these everyday changes are often insignificant in comparison to the level of changes that large organizations or multinational corporation
Multinational corporation
A multi national corporation or enterprise , is a corporation or an enterprise that manages production or delivers services in more than one country. It can also be referred to as an international corporation...
s could make.
See also
- Ethical consumerismEthical consumerismEthical consumerism is the intentional purchase of products and services that the customer considers to be made ethically. This may mean with minimal harm to or exploitation of humans, animals and/or the natural environment...
- Fairtrade labellingFairtrade labellingFairtrade certification is a product certification system designed to allow people to identify products that meet agreed environmental, labour and developmental standards. Overseen by a standard-setting body, Fairtrade International , and a certification body, FLO-CERT, the system involves...
- Sustainable livingSustainable livingSustainable living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual's or society's use of the Earth's natural resources and his/her own resources. Practitioners of sustainable living often attempt to reduce their carbon footprint by altering methods of transportation, energy consumption and diet...
- Intentional livingIntentional livingIntentional living is a term used in a variety of contexts including religious, ethical and values-oriented contexts as well as coaching, personal transformation, and leadership training practices and programs...
- Personal lifePersonal lifePersonal life is the course of an individual's life, especially when viewed as the sum of personal choices contributing to one's personal identity. It is a common notion in modern existence—although more so in more prosperous parts of the world such as Western Europe and North America...
External links
- Living Ethically, a website for the philosophy
- Ethical Journey BBC journalist reporting on the highs and lows of living ethically
- Buying Organic Shopping and Living Organic and Ethical
- Eco-Green Pages, a website for environmental news, eco shopping and green events
- People for Ethical Living, a center for resources and information about corporate and government policies, corporate farming, the cost of a global economy, destructive consumerism, the corporate media and the intense suffering of animals in farms and experimentation. "Be the change you want to see in the world"