ABSTRACT

The world is confronted with wicked environmental problems that cannot be well understood or acted upon without addressing their ethical dimensions. Research shows that official science curricula on environmental science and ecology topics are shaped by the scientific discourse and environmental discourses of ecological modernization and green governmentality. These discourses carry tacit ethical stances that need to be acknowledged and assessed for their suitability in helping us understand and tackle wicked environmental problems. This paper explores the ethical alignments of ecology and environmental science related science content standards in the United States. Our analysis suggests that the intended science curricula in this country appears to support an embedded ethical stance marked by neoliberal utilitarianism and virtue ethics. Further, we highlight the possibility that neoliberal ethical orientations run the risk of frustrating students’ hopes for a sustainable and socioecologically just world.

摘要

世界面临着恶劣的环境问题，如果不解决其道德层面，就无法很好地理解或采取行动。研究表明，关于环境科学和生态主题的官方科学课程是由生态现代化和绿色政府的科学话语和环境话语所塑造的。这些话语带有默认的道德立场，需要承认和评估它们的默契，以帮助我们理解和解决邪恶。环境问题。本文探讨了美国生态学与环境科学相关科学内容标准的伦理一致性。我们的分析表明，该国打算开设的科学课程似乎支持以新自由主义功利主义和美德伦理为标志的内在伦理立场。此外，我们强调了新自由主义道德取向有可能挫败学生对可持续和社会生态公正世界的希望的风险。