From colonization to holism: Reconstructing an ethical method for United States agricultural ethics

In this dissertation, I argue that mainstream agriculture in the U.S., as well as its dominant ethical systems, are profoundly shaped by an orientation I describe as colonization. Current ethical methods applied to U.S. agriculture fail to adequately engage and critique this major orientation of colonization for two major reasons, a practical crisis and a theoretical crisis.;To describe the practical crisis in U.S. agriculture, I construct a social-critical analysis consisting of six historical stages. To highlight the theoretical crisis in U.S. agriculture, I draw from Paul Thompson's exploration of four philosophical worldviews that guide ethical considerations in agriculture, and discuss their strengths and weaknesses. I select holism as the most appropriate worldview for responding to the theoretical crisis in agricultural ethics and for engaging and critiquing the pervasive reality of colonization in U.S. agriculture.;To address deficiencies that Thompson fords in holism, I apply H. Richard Niebuhr's responsibility ethics to holism as a way of illuminating substantial modes of moral inquiry. In this vein, holism can serve as a favorable approach for attending to social and environmental costs of U.S. agriculture. This dissertation also treats the deficiencies that arise from an ethic of responsibility. Because Niebuhr articulated responsibility ethics in mostly dialogical and interpersonal language, Gabriel Moran believes that responsibility ethics inadequately addresses communal, environmental and organizational issues, areas that are critical to agricultural ethics.;I argue that communal issues in Niebuhr's ethics can be addressed by drawing from William Schweiker's integrated life ethic. In addition, Niebuhr's notion of responsibility ethics as it applies to environmental issues can be more fully expressed through a concept of dwelling and shared identity between humans and non-human creation that I develop. And to mature the organizational dimension of Niebuhr's responsibility ethics, I apply the concept of subsidiarity from Roman Catholic social teaching. Finally, I make clear the religious dimension of responsibility ethics and the theological basis of the holistic ethical method that I have developed.;I conclude this dissertation with a strategic application of five moral standards from my holistic agricultural method to the U.S. livestock feeding industry.