I believe the sustainability approach is a conceptual approach to natural resource use. By
using sustainability as guide to follow, there will be situations where the approach needs to
be altered to accommodate the circumstances being evaluated. According to Gabathuler, E.
“No universal conclusions can be drawn about sustainable resource use. Each society must
decide for itself what constitutes sustainable use of natural resources, because
sustainability is primarily a question of evaluation.” While I believe that sustainability
should be a primary approach to take in natural resource use, there are times when the
utilitarian approach may provide value. In our society, there are times when human
satisfaction and needs to be considered when using natural resources. If there is a situation
where the greater good of society or humans can be achieved by non-preservation, our
obligation to protect the environment and the resources may need to be set aside. This has
the potential to occur in the medical field where the utilitarian approach has the potential to
save many lives while challenging moral standards and placing natural resources at risk.
According to Katz, “The essential elements of utilitarianism only provide a justification for
the satisfaction of human need, for this satisfaction is the standard by which utilitarianism
measures goodness or moral worth.”
Scientific Method
While the scientific method is not 100% certain, it can be used as a valuable method to
systematically analyze issues. The scientific method allows individuals to apply critical
thinking skills which can help acknowledge the differences between beliefs and facts.
Since it is an ordered form of thinking, the scientific method can provide structured
methods for gathering data and evaluating information from all points of view on a
particular subject. By following this method, individuals can seek out known biases and
question conclusions made by others prior to forming their own opinions.