anthropocentric
	The belief that humans hold a special place in nature; being centered primarily on humans and human affairs.
appropriate technology
	Technology appropriate to a particular time and place. Often described as sustainable development of machines that can be made at an affordable price by ordinary people using local materials to do useful work in ways that do the least possible harm to both human society and the environment.
biocentric
	The belief that all living organisms have intrinsic values and rights regardless of whether they are useful to us.
critical thinking
	An ability to evaluate information and opinions in a systematic, purposeful, efficient manner. Although based on logic and reason, critical thinking also brings context, empathy, history, and values to bear in understanding and interpreting arguments and positions.
domination
	To rule or dominate. Some religions and moral philosophies regard humans as superior to nature and hold that we are justified in controlling and using other organisms in any way we choose.
ecocentric (ecologically centered)
	A philosophy that claims moral values and rights for both organisms and ecological systems and processes.
ecofeminism
	A pluralistic, nonhierarchical, relationship-oriented philosophy that suggests how humans could reconceive themselves and their relationships to nature in nondominating ways as an alternative to patriarchal systems of domination.
environmental ethics
	A search for moral values and ethical principles in human relations with the natural world.
environmental justice
	A recognition that access to a clean, healthy environment is a fundamental right of all human beings. Some biocentric or ecocentric philosophers would extend this concept to include nonhuman organisms or ecological entities.
environmental racism
	Decisions that restrict certain people or groups of people to polluted or degraded environments on the basis of race.
inherent value
	Ethical values or rights that exist as an intrinsic or essential characteristic of a particular thing or class of things simply by the fact of their existence.
instrumental value
	Value or worth of objects that satisfy the needs and wants of moral agents. Objects that can be used as a means to some desirable end.
LULUs
	Locally Unwanted Land Uses such as toxic waste dumps, incinerators, smelters, airports, freeways, and other sources of environmental, economic, or social degradation.
moral agents
	Beings capable of making distinctions between right and wrong and acting accordingly. Those whom we hold responsible for their actions.
moral extensionism
	Expansion of our understanding of inherent value or rights to persons, organisms, or things that might not be considered worthy of value or rights under some ethical philosophies.
moral subjects
	Beings that are not capable of distinguishing between right or wrong or that are not able to act on moral principles and yet are capable of being wronged by others. This category assumes some rights or inherent values in moral subjects that gives us duties or obligations towards them.
morals
	A set of ethical principles that guide our actions and relationships.
neo-Luddites
	People who reject technology as the cause of environmental degradation and social disruption. Named after the followers of Ned Ludd who tried to turn back the Industrial Revolution in England.
nihilists
	Those who believe the world has no meaning or purpose other than a dark, cruel, unceasing struggle for power and existence.
NIMBY
	Not In My Back Yard: the rallying cry of those opposed to LULUs.
post-modernism
	A philosophy that rejects the optimism and universal claims of modern positivism. Post modernists' claims admit to no grand narrative of history and no universal philosophical truths. Nature--or at least our perception of it--is an arbitrary, social construction. No single viewpoint or set of preferences--according to this point of view--is inherently better than any other.
relativists
	Those who believe moral principles are always dependent on the particular situation.
science
	A methodical, precise, objective way to study the natural world.
scientific method
	A systematic, precise, objective study of a problem. Generally this requires observation, hypothesis development and testing, data gathering, and interpretation.
stewardship
	A philosophy that holds that humans have a unique responsibility to manage, care for, and improve nature.
toxic colonialism
	Shipping toxic wastes to a weaker or poorer nation.
universalists
	Those who believe that some fundamental ethical principles are universal and unchanging. In this vision, these principles are valid regardless of the context or situation.
utilitarians
	People who hold that an action is right that produces the greates good for the greatest number of people.
values
	An estimation of the worth of things; a set of ethical beliefs and preferences that determine our sense of right and wrong.