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Why Ecocentrism Is the Key Pathway to Sustainability

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www.ecologicalcitizen.net LONG ARTICLE Why ecocentrism is the key pathway to sustainability Ecocentrism is the broadest term for worldviews that recognize intrinsic value in all lifeforms Haydn and ecosystems themselves, including their abiotic components. Anthropocentrism, in contrast, values other lifeforms and ecosystems insofar as they are valuable for human Washington, well-being, preferences and interests. Herein, the authors examine the roots of ecocentrism Bron Taylor, and discuss its mixed history of international recognition. They argue that non-human Helen Kopnina, nature has intrinsic value irrespective of human preferences or valuation, and they refute the claim that ecocentrism is misanthropic. They then summarize four key examples from Paul Cryer and the academic literature in which anthropocentrism fails to provide an ethic adequate for John J Piccolo respecting and protecting planet Earth and its inhabitants. The authors conclude that ecocentrism is essential for solving our unprecedented environmental crisis, arguing its About the authors importance from four perspectives: ethical, evolutionary, spiritual and ecological. They See following page. contend that a social transformation towards ecocentrism is not only an ethical but a practical imperative, and they urge support for ecocentric understanding and practices. Citation Washington H, Taylor B, cocentrism finds inherent (intrinsic) Historical roots of ecocentrism Kopnina H, Cryer P and Piccolo JJ (2017) Why value in all of nature. It takes a In a sense, ecocentrism has been with ecocentrism is the key E much wider view of the world humanity since we evolved; it underpins pathway to sustainability. than does anthropocentrism, which sees what can be called the ‘old’ sustainability The Ecological Citizen 1: 35–41. individual humans and the human species (Washington, 2015). Many indigenous as more valuable than all other organisms. cultures around the world speak of lore Keywords Ecocentrism is the broadest of worldviews, and (in Australia) ‘law’ that reflects an Anthropocentrism; but there are related worldviews (that ecocentric view of the world (Knudtson and ecological ethics; might be called ‘intermediate varieties’ Suzuki, 1992). Ecologist Aldo Leopold (1949: geodiversity; intrinsic value; worldviews (Curry, 2011: 57). Ecocentrism goes beyond 203–4) provided a classic example of the biocentrism (ethics that sees inherent notion in what he called ‘The Land Ethic’: value to all living things) by including environmental systems as wholes, and The land ethic simply enlarges the their abiotic aspects. It also goes beyond boundaries of the community to include zoocentrism (seeing value in animals) on soils, waters, plants, and animals […] A account of explicitly including flora and land ethic of course cannot prevent the the ecological contexts for organisms. alteration, management, and use of these While other scholars may differ, we see ‘resources,’ but it does affirm their right to ecocentrism as the umbrella that includes continued existence, and, at least in spots, biocentrism and zoocentrism, because their continued existence in a natural state. all three of these worldviews value the non-human, with ecocentrism having Arne Naess (1973) coined the term ‘Deep the widest vision. Given that life relies on Ecology’ for similar sentiments, later geology and geomorphology to sustain it, articulating the notion in Principle 1 of and that ‘geodiversity’ also has intrinsic the Deep Ecology Platform (Devall and value (Gray, 2013), the broader concept Sessions, 1985: 69): ‘ecocentrism’ seems the more inclusive value (Curry, 2011) and hence most The well-being of non-human life on Earth appropriate. has value in itself. This value is independent The Ecological Citizen Vol 1 No 1 2017 35 Why ecocentrism is the key pathway to sustainability www.ecologicalcitizen.net of any instrumental usefulness for limited the United Nations means that it is not itself human purposes. binding, it does have “the character of a proclamation directed to states for their In terms of ecocentrism helping to solve observance” (Wood,85: 982). the environmental crisis, Stan Rowe (1994) The World Commission on Environment argued: and Development (WCED, 1987a: 45), in Our Common Future, argued that development It seems to me that the only promising “must not endanger the natural systems universal belief-system is Ecocentrism, that support life on Earth: the atmosphere, defined as a value-shift from Homo sapiens the waters, the soils, and living beings.” It to planet earth: Ecosphere. A scientific also (in a little-noticed passage) expressed rationale backs the value-shift. All the view that nature has intrinsic value organisms are evolved from Earth, sustained (WCED, 1987a: 57): by Earth. Thus Earth, not organism, is the metaphor for Life. Earth not humanity is [T]he case for the conservation of nature the Life-center, the creativity-center. Earth should not rest only with development is the whole of which we are subservient goals. It is part of our moral obligation to parts. Such a fundamental philosophy gives other living beings and future generations. ecological awareness and sensitivity an enfolding, material focus. However, the Tokyo Declaration that accompanied Our Common Future had Acknowledgment of intrinsic Principle 1 to “increase growth” while value internationally Principle 3 was to “conserve and enhance About the authors The intrinsic value of nature has had a the resource base” for humans (WCED, Haydn Washington is an environmental scientist, mixed history in terms of international 1987b). The Rio Declaration (see https:// writer and activist based recognition. The Stockholm Declaration of is.gd/TJjVAS) from the Earth Summit of at the PANGEA Research 1972 (see https://is.gd/89WDc2) noted that 1992, similarly, had Principle 1 stating: Centre, UNSW, Sydney, ‘natural resources’ must be safeguarded “Human beings are at the centre of concerns NSW, Australia. for future human generations. The World for sustainable development.” Bron Taylor is Professor Conservation Strategy (International Union The Earth Charter was finalized in 2000 of Religion, Nature and for Conservation of Nature and Natural (www.earthcharter.org) and was proposed Environmental Ethics at Resources, 1980) also took an anthropocentric for United Nations endorsement at the World the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA, and a approach, with three objectives: Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) Fellow of the Rachel Carson n maintaining essential ecological processes in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002. It Center for Environment and for human survival; strongly advanced an ecocentric worldview, Society, Munich, Germany. n preserving genetic diversity for the urging in Principle 1a that we: Helen Kopnina is protection of human industries that use an environmental living resources; Recognize that all beings are interdependent anthropologist at Leiden n ensuring the sustainable utilization and every form of life has value regardless of University, Leiden, and The of species and ecosystems for rural its worth to human beings. Hague University of Applied Science, The Hague, communities and human industries. the Netherlands. This visionary document expresses Paul Cryer is a In contrast, the World Charter for Nature in compassion for humanity and nature as conservationist for the 1982 was underpinned by strong ecocentric a whole, and urges justice for both. It is Applied Ecology Unit, principles, stipulating that humanity and probably the best international document African Conservation Trust, culture are part of nature: “Every form we have to help demystify sustainability Hillcrest, South Africa. of life is unique, warranting respect (Soskolne, 2008; Washington, 2015).1 John J Piccolo is regardless of its worth to man, and, to Although it was mentioned positively Associate Professor accord other organisms such recognition, in some speeches at the WSSD, the final in the Department of Environmental and man must be guided by a moral code of Johannesburg Declaration (see https:// Life Sciences, Karlstad action” (United Nations, 1982: preamble). is.gd/Ve0Lnq) did not endorse the Earth University, Sweden. Whilst the inherent nature of the Charter of Charter. Likewise, The Future We Want, an 36 The Ecological Citizen Vol 1 No 1 2017 www.ecologicalcitizen.net Why ecocentrism is the key pathway to sustainability output of the Rio+20 Earth Summit, also of an anthropocentric approach in failed to endorse the intrinsic value of government thinking and, indeed, the nature (see https://is.gd/vh5KQ0). However, anthropocentrism prevalent among the Point 39 did recognize that many people world’s religious traditions (Taylor et al., do have such moral sentiments (our 2016). It highlights the need for academics to “We maintain that emphasis): speak in support of ecocentrism. nature and life on We recognize that the planet Earth and its Intrinsic value free Earth is inherently ecosystems are our home and that Mother from human valuation good. That is to say Earth is a common expression in a number We maintain that nature and life on Earth nature has intrinsic of countries and regions and we note that are inherently good. That is to say nature value, irrespective of some countries recognize the rights of has intrinsic value, irrespective of whether whether humans are nature in the context of the promotion of humans are the ones valuing it. It is true sustainable development. We are convinced that, as far as we know at present,
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