Addressing fragmented human–nonhuman interactions through anubuntu‘mixed’ ethics

Abstract

AbstractIn this paper, I address human‐induced environmental ills we face using anubuntu‐inspired ethical lens. I followubuntuscholars to stress the significance for moral agents to embody virtues. Virtue development is essential to carry out obligations and address human impacts on the environment. Thaddeus Metz, in particular, has drawn attention to how embodyingubuntuvirtues of humility and friendliness can prompt moral agents to be other‐regarding.The viewI developed in this paper differs from hisubuntu‐inspired account in at least two significant ways. First, humans cannot be in harmonious relationships with some species such as Black Mambas, Hyenas and sea urchins even if they can interact. Second, we must acknowledge the consequentialist dimension ofubuntuethics and prioritise the different aspects ofubuntu‘mixed’ ethics, ranking them to offer possibilities for a more realistic recommendation to change our moral life. This paper demonstrates that the three dimensions ofubuntu‘mixed’ ethics are fundamental because we need to think about moral consequences, right action and our virtue in accounting for our actions.