Stoic Virtue Ethics and Establishing a Nuclear Power Plant: Perspective Bangladesh

Abstract

[Abstract: Electricity plays an important role in our modern life. However, the process and raw materials used in the production of electricity are not always good for environment. For example, coal and natural gas fired power plants release carbon dioxide that contribute to global warming, whereas hydroelectric power plants are harmful for aquatic lives. So, most developed countries consider nuclear power plants as an alternative to coal and gas fired power plants as nuclear power plants are environment friendly and also can produce more electricity than other power plants do. Considering this fact, the Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh has established the first nuclear power plant project named Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) project in Rooppur, the western part of Bangladesh, using Russian reactors designed with post-Fukushima safety features. In terms of cost, technical complexity and risk profile, it is the largest ever undertaken power plant in the country. However, there is a possibility of spreading radiation producing particles over a wide area that can even cause death for human and non-human species. Now, the question arises: as human beings should we support establishing nuclear power plants to save the nature to ensure a safe world for our future generation as well as for non-human species? Or should we depend on coal, gas or hydroelectric power plants which are cheaper than nuclear power plants? In this paper, I have tried to answer to these questions from Stoic ethical point of view. At first, I have discussed the stoic virtue ethics with a special emphasis on Seneca’s view and try to show that a virtuous person should be disposed to support establishing a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh. For, by supporting the nuclear power plant a person can act appropriately as a member of the universe as a whole and can cultivate the disposition of prudence, temperance, justice, friendliness toward other members of the community, i.e. our future generation and non-human species.]