The paper examines the theoretical basis of the environmental ethics and tr
ies to find out, why some of its problem still remain unresolved. The autho
r considers the limits of ethical thinking, as well as the possibility of a
new sort of ethics, which would preserve the characteristics of teleologic
al and deontological ethics. She outlines the way of making the humane and
the environmental values equal and discusses the presuppositions of the pra
ctical acceptance of the environmental values. She takes into account also
the possibility of an applied ethics offered by the concept of the sustaina
ble development.