Caring for Nature: A Discussion on the Ethics of Nature

Abstract

Care ethics is essential for establishing a relationship with nature rooted in care, love, and respect. Considering these relationships care ethics mainly considers them in related to human beings but instead of this view, in this paper, we will examine these relationships through the lens of Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethics. Accordingly, in this paper, we aim to explore the idea that how can we extend that relationship through non-human beings such as animals, soils, et cetera. Furthermore, regarding Nel Nodding’s ecofeminist perspective as distinguishing ethical perspectives as female and male ethical perspectives, firstly, we will argue female ethical perspectives alongside of care ethics and Aldo Leopold’s land ethics and thus we will discuss the ethical relationship between human beings and nature. On the other hand, we will discuss male ethical perspectives by taking deontological ethics into account as a complementary view for the application of care ethics in the practical sphere. Therefore, in this paper, we contend that combining female and male ethical perspectives will provide as a complete account of an ethics of nature.