Biocentrism Essay ⋆ Environment Essay Examples ⋆ EssayEmpire

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Deriving from famous precursors such as Aristotle and his work, Virtue Ethics, which stresses the importance of character traits and the inherent value of all life, biocentrism is a whole of life-a centered, environmental ethic that positions the environment and all living things as equal to human beings.

The interconnectedness of humans to nature is emphasized, as is the idea that all living things have an equal right to life, and are each unique in their own right. As a concept, it is best understood in relation to its opposite, anthropocentrism, which positions humanity at the center of the world, uniquely different from and superior to all other life forms.

The notion of “biotic justice” underpins biocentrism, which posits that moral values should not only be attributed to humans but a whole range of other entities. P.W. Taylor argues that a biocentric perspective morally obliges humans to consider the impacts of their actions, insofar as they might negatively impact on or harm nature. Taylor further argues that we are obliged to other living things in their own right, a principle based on the notion of “inherent worth,” which is a concept he identifies as species impartiality. This intrinsic well-being, or good of each species, is identified as a “teleological-center-of-life.”

In application to decision-making processes, proponents of the “biocentrist” theory argue that there are limits to what humans can do with the environment; and they emphasize the need for the development of systems and processes that promote stability, conservation and the interdependency and connectedness of all life systems.

Allocation of resources within a biocentric paradigm would be on the basis of a decision-making system that ascribes all organisms humans included equal values and rights. As such, biocentrism advocates an approach to environmental decisionmaking based on the precautionary principle, and the recognition that environmental systems need to be protected in the short and long term.

Morality of Biocentrism

Consequently, the animal rights, Gaia, and deep ecology movements stem from a biocentrist foundation, that human society is but part of a wide number and scope of organisms and systems. For example, key tenets of deep ecological theory reflect biocentric principles, that: 1) all human and non-human life on earth has value in itself and equal rights to flourish and experience quality of life and well being; 2) the richness and diversity of all life forms contribute to the realization of these values and are also of value in themselves; and 3) that humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital needs.

Peter Singer, an environmental ethicist who focuses on animal rights, takes the view that we share with other species a relationship to earth; that we are but one species amongst others; and that the integrity of the entire biosphere is related to the welfare of both human and nonhuman communities of life. He argues for the adoption of three other principles to guide ethical human action: that animals have the ability to reason; are sentient; and that the capacity to experience pleasure or pain is not limited to humans, nor can it be applied as arbitrary criteria for moral consideration.

Biocentrism has been criticized in that its moral concerns are directed toward the responsibility of the individual, rather than to ecological life forms and systems. While the protection of such collective entities is of major concern, none qualify as being sentient, a “subject-of-a-life,” or a “teleologicalcenter-of-life.” Advocacy by biocentrists of the notion of well-being and worth has also been critiqued for being descriptive rather than prescriptive and therefore difficult to apply.

Biocentrism offers an alternative way of thinking about the world, and describes an ethical system that prioritizes a moral duty of human beings to place limits on human population, development, technology, and all other negative environmental impacts that diminish the welfare of life systems overall.

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