Environmental Science Journal
Environmental Ethics and the Hetch Hetchy Decision
San Francisco is facing a severe water shortage in the early 20th century. The only nearby sources of
water are the Pacific Ocean and th
...
Environmental Science Journal
Environmental Ethics and the Hetch Hetchy Decision
San Francisco is facing a severe water shortage in the early 20th century. The only nearby sources of
water are the Pacific Ocean and the nearby smaller rivers. The saltwater of the ocean cannot be
filtered using available technology, and the local supply cannot adequately meet the needs of the
growing population for much longer.
A larger river to the east could be damned, but the dam would have to be built inside Yosemite
National Park, which was originally set aside as a nature preserve. As president, you are ultimately
responsible for making the decision whether or not to allow this dam to be built.
• Give the potential consequences of building and of not building the dam.
• Consequence of building the dam could disrupt wildlife however a negative would be the
people of San Francisco would soon run out of water. At this time you would have to make a
decision between the people and the wildlife.
• Gifford Pinchot, the first chief of the Forest Service, said that our public lands should provide
for "the greatest good for the greatest number". Explain what side an anthropocentrist would
take in this debate.
An anthropocentrist would be completely for the dam considering these types of people feel that
humans are above every other organism. Therefore they would think the wildlife is secondary to
human lives.
• John Muir, the first president of the Sierra Club, condemned plans to build the dam, saying,
"Dam Hetch Hetchy! As well dam for water-tanks the people's cathedrals and churches, for
no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man." What ecocentric reasons
might he have had to justify this stance?
He can make the argument that disturbing the wildlife could disrupt the ecosystem and cause havoc
on the environment. There could be drastic long term effects that could affect humans drastically.
• What decision would you ultimately make, and why? Explain whether you feel more closely
aligned with the anthropocentrist philosophy of Gifford Pinochet, or the ecocentrist philosophy
of John Muir?
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