Abstract

After a brief review of the spirit and content of Charter principles, this essay proposes that integrated ethical reflection should deliberately: draw on main principles and supporting principles as interactive imperatives for a sustainable way of life; think across the four parts of the Earth Charter to emphasize combinations of principles; and bring Charter principles to bear both as general ideals and as practical guidelines. Moreover, these principles become quite lively, and we gain multi-dimensional issue perspective, when we hold the Charter in one hand and material presenting a contemporary issue analysis in the other. The essay moves on to illustrate how to make integrated use of Earth Charter principles in ethical reflection on three key global issues: destructive economic integration, loss of biologically diverse habitat, and close confinement of animals. In each case, the author "gathers" Earth Charter principles that illumine the problem's philosophical, ecological, socio-economic, and political dimensions, and help to shape a constructive response.