| Scope and Method of Study. This thesis explores Michael Slote's agent-based ethics of empathic care and seeks to find plausible ways for which Slote's theory can take into account our moral intuitions regarding our duties to the non-human world. This thesis pays particular attention to the notion of empathy and explores whether it is useful to current discussions in environmental ethics.;Findings and Conclusions. Slote's agent-based empathic care is in a unique position to explain many of our moral intuitions about our duties to the non-human world. The notion of empathy seems very useful in discussing our obligations toward the natural world. Also, Slote's agent-based virtue ethic does seem useful as a theoretical moral framework to analyze environmental issues. |
