Katherine Elliot

Professor Stephens
PHIL 4302
16 February 2018

Metaphysical and Ethical Reasoning Analysis: Al Gore and Aerial Wolf Hunting

In order to assess the Metaphysical and Ethical Reasoning of different stakeholders, we

can apply a three-step system. The first step involves tracing the ethical reasoning of the

stakeholder for the situation at hand. By evaluating the certain worldview through specific

principles, values, and rules we can determine actions and claims in particular contexts and

situations. The next step involves applying this form of reasoning to a specific case study. Doing

this allows us the ability to see how one particular outlook works in a real-life situation. Lastly,

the third step involves evaluating the ethical thinking to determine its practicality. It is also

important to compare this one way of thinking to other systems. This entire process allows an

individual to evaluate the validity, soundness, progression, applicability, and practicality of a

moral claim or theory. By diagramming an individual’s ethical reasoning and apply it to an

example, we can both understand a person’s worldview, and how that worldview would play out

in a real life situation.

One prominent American politician with a unique environmental ethic reasoning is

former Vice President Al Gore. In 1992 Jordan Fisher-Smith, a park ranger and writer,

interviewed Gore on his views on environmental problems and how he feels we should work to

solve them. Using the Metaphysical and Ethical Reasoning Analysis model, we can try to

understand Gore’s environmental ethics from the answers he gives during his interview. Starting

with Gore’s worldview, many of the answers that he gives demonstrate that Gore holds a

stewardship view. Gore states, “We Human beings belong here [on earth]...we have a special and
unique role in the web of life.”1 Contrasting to the view of many Deep Ecologists, Gore believe

that human beings deserve to live on planet earth should to be stewards of nature and have a

responsibility to protect it. Next we can assess Gore’s principles and values. Even though human

beings may serve as stewards of the earth, Gore does not believe that they are completely

separate from it. Instead he states, “...we are both apart of the web of life and separate from it.”2

Gore emphasizes that human beings have a distinctive and different role on Earth. Specifically,

Gore states that when human beings lack power, the environment suffers.3 In terms of different

rules, Gore wants humanity to work on healing its relationship to nature, using an ideal version

of democracy to spread environmental values, fix environmental damage, and use the already

existing religious ideologies to influence attitudes. These notions all can transform into different

policies. Gore specifically advocates for the US to take leading initiatives on fighting climate

change and environmental education. He sponsored the first congressional hearings on climate

change. As a U.S. citizen, person of political prominence, and being on earth, he is passionate

about issues regarding the well-being on the planet. Specifically issues of climate change and the

role of the U.S. in combatting this global crisis.

Another issue that that demonstrates the progression of ethical reasoning is the issue of

aerial wolf hunting in Alaska. One can analyze this issue from position of one of the

stakeholders: the wolf-hunters. Much of the problem with this issue lies with the legality of

permitting the hunting of wolves from airplanes for biological purposes, specifically to increase

the population of caribou and deer in the region.4 The wolf-hunters are in favor of legalizing the

1
Fisher-Smith, Jordan, and Al Gore. “Environmentalism of the Spirit: An Interview with Senator Al Gore.” Orion,
1992., 4.
2
Ibid.,4.
3
Ibid.,3.
4
defendersofwildlife. Truth About Aerial Hunting of Wolves in Alaska. YouTube, 19 Sept. 2007.
practice, without limitation. Their claim for its legality is the idea that it is a form of biological

control. These hunters generally agree, unless the wolves face extinction, that humanity should

manage the population of wolves, in order to maintain the population of other species for

hunting. The hunters are valuing the human-management of nature and prioritizing human

recreation at the expense of the animals. This reveals principles of human superiority over

animals. Since the hunters feel as if they should be free to kill the wolves at will, the hunters can

be classified as having a planetary management worldview. It is much easier to dissect why the

wolf-hunters advocate for the policy that they do, the legalization of aerial wolf-hunting, after we

diagram their pattern of ethical reasoning.

Word Count: 700

Question: Is this system of ethical reasoning analysis the best way to handle all environmentally-

based decisions? Will every diagram be as cut and dry as these examples?
 Works Cited

“Aerial Wolf Hunting Flies Again in Alaska.” Environmental News Network, 3 May 2000.

defendersofwildlife. Truth About Aerial Hunting of Wolves in Alaska. YouTube, 19 Sept. 2007.

Fisher-Smith, Jordan, and Al Gore. “Environmentalism of the Spirit: An Interview with Senator

Al Gore.” Orion, 1992.

“Method for Analyzing Worldview and Ethical Reasoning”

Sustainable Human. How Wolves Change Rivers. YouTube, 13 Feb. 2014.

Thomas, Pete. “Sarah Palin's Support for Aerial Wolf Killing May Have Merit.” Los Angeles

Times, 12 November 2008.