Plain language, shorter sentences, no jargon.
Environmental Ethics: Do We Have Duties to Nature?
Extending moral consideration beyond humans to ecosystems and future generations
If a species goes extinct because of human action and no human suffers, has something morally wrong occurred?
Start here: make a prediction before reading
Environmental ethics extends moral consideration beyond humans. The traditional anthropocentric view holds that only humans have intrinsic moral worth; nature has only instrumental value (useful to us). Environmental ethics challenges this: it argues that animals, species, ecosystems, and even future generations may have moral standing independent of their utility to present-day humans.
Quick Check
Which of these best captures what you just read?
It's okay to be wrong. The thinking process is what matters.
Quick Check
Question 1 of 1What does an anthropocentric view of ethics hold regarding nature?