Case Study 1 Wolves in the Southwestern

Let us consider the implications of the morally deep argument for the case of restoration of wolves into the Southwest, one of the most contentious issues in wildlife management today [51]. For the purposes of illustration, let us focus on the land near the White Sands Missile Range near Las Cruces, New Mexico. Johnson would challenge us to first identify all the members of the community. For this example a listing would include the following  

Often in such cases, two very different perspectives dominate the deliberations. On one side of the debate is atomism, a view that moral assessment applies only to individuals. The individual would be individual wolves, prey, ranchers, etc. 

A criticism of a morally deep world perspective is that it prevents any action that will affect a community. On the contrary, though a morally deep perspective does assert actions that violate vital interests of the community or erosion of it self-identity should be avoided, it requires active participation in the protection of the essential functions and the maintenance of the viability of life processes. Rather than calling for inaction, a morally deep world perspective suggests contemplation followed by a direct and specific response. 

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