1) The plausibility of our claim that we are not aware of the dangers posed to species and ecosystems.
2) The insistence that we are not complicit in a certain deed because, as we also claim, we do not personally see it happening or were not informed of its existence.
3) The practice of denying what we know about the costs of our behaviors because if we admitted these costs we would have to change them.
4) A tactic to avoid accountability and perpetuate the status quo.