Response to Question 4:

Ecosystems matter for their own sake. I personally believe that the ecosystem and human life are equally as important. But, with saying that, I also feel that without the ecosystem helping humans survive on this earth we would be nothing without it. Which, in my opinion is the opposite of the ecosystems use is for us, it has survived without human beings before. The ecosystem has systematically worked side by side with the species and or humans that have lived on Earth. As we become more advanced and we use natural resources to our benefit we are no longer working with the ecosystem but we are working against it. Before we decide to cut down trees etc for our benefit we should stop and ask, what it will benefit us in the future if we kill off everything thriving in that forest. What will the impact on human life be, once we kill off species or organisms that have only helped us thrive on this earth?

Response to Question 6:

I do not think my own life worth is more important than others. As far as selfishness goes, I think a little selfishness in each person is ok and natural. I have my selfish moments at times and I am ok with that. One example. I make my daughter go to bed at a specific time so I can be selfish and enjoy some “me” time before I go to bed.  When someone is altruism they are thinking of others over themselves. I think that everyone should have altruism concepts in their day to day life too. We all should be a little less selfish and more giving and understanding towards others. This question of worth and if I am more worthy than another person is not the way people should think towards man-kind. It creates a dislike towards others when you think you’re better than someone else. If you’re more willing to give to others than yourself and you are doing it for the greater good I think that is wonderful. However I don’t think majority of the population could do that without be selfish. People help people to make themselves feel good, which is a bit selfish considering you are also doing it for yourself. Overall I don’t think majority of the population could carry altruism concepts to the highest degree without thinking of themselves in a way.  I try to treat everyone equally and teach my daughter the same concepts.

Response to Question 5:

The pain and pleasure of non-human animal’s matters as much as it does for humans but this statement has several ways to look at it. I believe that non-human animals should be treated with as much respect as we would treat each other. In one way or another non-human animals can feel pleasure and pain. After reading module three and understanding that one could also think that if we should treat every human and non-human equally then it wouldn’t be fair to kill and eat these non-human animals. I think that we as humans need to all understand that non-human animals can feel pain and pleasure as we do but they do not have the luxury of being able to tell us all about it. I think selfishness comes into this question too. If one would believe that non-human animal’s pain does not exist and does not need to be considered or respected then I think selfishness for mankind is being portrayed as well.