Kendra Pierce

Philosophy 2300 Signature Assignment

Is God Green? Buddhism and the Environment

By Kendra Pierce

 Prior to taking this course I did not have a real "relationship" or obligation per say to animals or the environment. I grew up with the understanding that the environment and animals should be respected but never took it to the next step to find out why. Why should they be respected? What purpose do they serve to us? What purpose are the suppose to serve? Are they friend or food? There were so many unanswered question, prior to this class,  that I had never had the opportunity to find answers for. I stuck with the basics of what had slowly molded itself into my life as an everyday norm- some animals are pets, some animals are food, some plants help the environment, others provide food for humans and animals etc.

 Within each module of this class, I was taught new theories and perspectives on what really is "right" and what obligation we as humans have to animals and our environment. I really enjoyed creating my own definition of what the meaning of life meant to me and should be included in the Moral Circle. Throughout many class discussions and case studies I was able to apply the philosophies of many great philosophers such as Jane Goodall, John Muir, Ken Burns, John Rawls, Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mills, Rene Descartes, Richard Sylvan, Paul Taylor, Peter Singer, Tom Regan, Micheal Pollan, Carolyn Merchant, Aldo Leopold, J Baird Callicott, Iris Marion Young, Robert Bullard, Garret Hardin, and Wolfgang Sachs. And integrate theories of one module into another.  As part of my Final Essay, I had the opportunity to chose a topic that interested me the most and work through ideas and theories to back up the position that I have come to. I am proud to say that throughout this process my relationship and view of obligations to animals and the environment have substantially changed for the better. 

 Surprisingly enough the most meaningful thing that I have learned in this class is more focused the idea of thinking through concepts instead of merely accepting them for what i am told that they are. I have always followed the "It is what it is because it is" mentality when really that mentality has restricted me from expanding my mind and accepting new methods of thinking. With the help of this class I was taught many different views from many great philosophers. I was then able to apply what I thought to be true and think through the meaning of life for each individual layer within our biotic pyramid. It is no longer "It is what it is because it is" it is now the mentality of "It is what it is because ....... (backed up with reasons and  theories to which best apply to what ever the subject of discussion is). In my opinion this is a new page in my life because this mentality does not just stop with philosophy, animal rights, obligation to the environment and so on. It goes on to everything that crosses my mind. I am now fully prepared to question "Why" and then continue to execute my search until I can confidently back up my reasoning for why something is the way it is. 

Please feel free to click the link below to read my position on "Is God Green"?