A Framework for Integrating Virtue Ethics and Environmental Justice in Moral Decision-Making

Thesis Abstract

The increasing complexity of moral decision-making in environmental contexts necessitates the development of integrated frameworks that incorporate ethical virtues and justice principles to promote sustainable and ethically grounded actions. This research addresses the gap in existing ethical models by proposing a comprehensive framework that synthesizes Virtue Ethics, particularly Aristotelian notions of moral character, with Environmental Justice, emphasizing equitable treatment and distribution of environmental resources across different communities. The primary aim is to formulate, empirically validate, and articulate a practical moral decision-making model that can guide policymakers, environmental managers, and communities toward ethically sound environmental practices. Specific objectives include examining the core virtues relevant to environmental morality, identifying the key principles of environmental justice applicable across different socio-economic settings, and integrating these into an operational decision-making framework. The study adopts a mixed-methods research design, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to provide a nuanced understanding of moral reasoning in environmental contexts. The qualitative component involves thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 30 environmental ethicists, community leaders, and policymakers to explore perceptions of virtue and justice in environmental decision-making. The quantitative component comprises a survey administering validated instruments—such as the Virtue Ethics Scale and the Environmental Justice Sensitivity Index—distributed to a sample of 500 participants selected through stratified random sampling across urban and rural regions. Data collection instruments include structured questionnaires, interview guides, and case vignettes illustrating environmental dilemmas, all subjected to content validation and pilot testing to ensure reliability. Data analysis involves descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression techniques to identify relationships between virtues, justice principles, and decision-making tendencies. Thematic analysis is employed for qualitative data to extract emergent themes related to moral reasoning. The research also utilizes structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the hypothesized relationships among virtues, justice principles, and decision-making outcomes, with model fit assessed through indices such as CFI and RMSEA. The framework development process synthesizes findings from both data streams, drawing on Aristotle’s virtue ethics theory and John Rawls’ theory of justice to underpin the integrated model. Expected findings suggest that specific virtues—such as temperance, prudence, and justice—significantly influence environmental decision-making, particularly when aligned with principles of distributive and participatory justice. The study anticipates demonstrating that an integrated framework enhances moral judgment consistency and promotes equitable resource allocation, fostering more sustainable environmental practices. The findings aim to fill notable gaps in literature concerning the operationalization of virtue ethics in environmental justice contexts and provide evidence-based insights into moral behavior in environmental decision-making processes. This thesis contributes to the theoretical advancement of environmental ethics by presenting a novel, empirically supported framework that bridges virtue ethics and justice, encouraging its adoption in policy formulation and educational curricula. It also offers practical guidelines for practitioners engaged in environmental management, highlighting virtues and justice considerations as central to ethically responsible actions. The study concludes with recommendations for integrating the framework into environmental policy development, fostering ethical literacy among stakeholders, and urging further research to adapt the model to different cultural and socio-economic contexts. Overall, this research advances the understanding of moral psychology in environmental issues and establishes a foundation for ethically resilient and justice-oriented environmental governance.