Biocentric Egalitarianism and Land Ethic Term Paper

Biocentric Egalitarianism and Land Ethic - Term Paper ExampleBiocentric egalitarianism advocates for the repute of non-human beings based on chaste principles and values. These views reflect similar arguments that mankind depend on nature to survive and thus the earth would be a better fix without humans (Jonge 23). However, a critical analysis suggests that the moral duty to respect nature can conflict other moral duties. Kantian Moral Philosophy adept example where duty to respect can conflict other moral duties is the application of Kants guess about animal rights. Kantian moral ism asserts that animals argon mere instruments, which may be used for human purpose (Korsgaard 3). harmonise Korsgaard, Kants point of view about legal rights is not to comfort human interests, but to enable each citizen to act justly and for what is good. Kants moral philosophy underlines that non-rational animals lack the kind of freedom that rights protect. In particular, it is because human b eings are rational beings that they are able to choose how they want to live (5). However, Kants philosophy extends the rights held by human beings to include property rights. According to Kant we keep up the moral obligation to claim property including animals, and the legal status of such animals is the direct correlate of their moral status as mere means (instruments) (5). Further, according to Kant, we have no moral duty to animals. In contrast, biocentrism upholds the need to make moral consideration towards non-human species. From this perspective, the conflict mingled with Kants moral philosophy and the duty to respect nature as maintained by non-anthropocentric ethical position remains apparent with regard to animal rights. To resolve the conflict between Kants theory and biocentrism regarding animal rights, it is important to address the interpretation problems associated with the existence formula. This is especially because faced with such a situation would require one to decide to follow the humanity formulary as applied by Kant or to stick with the rationality formulary defined in biocentrism. Libertarianism Another example of a conflict between non-anthropocentric ethical position about duty to respect nature and other moral duties is the issue of forest justice as seen in the lenses of libertarianism. According to libertarianism, forests and thus biodiversity, has value only to the extent that it contributes to the expansion of individual freedom (Holsinka 3). The forest justice can be illustrated by attempts by governments to transfer property rights to local anesthetic communities to enable them benefit from forest resources. In anthropocentric ethical philosophy, human beings are viewed as separate identities based on self-interest and altruistic humanism. According to Kopnina, anthropocentrism grants intrinsic value to human beings. On the other hand, biocentrism emphasizes on the intrinsic value for ecosystems including humans, plant an d animal species. This disconnect represents a broader inconsistency deep down the fields of environmental conservation. The main concern is that support for environmental conservation appears to be motivated by utilitarian and instrumental ethics. Just like biodiversity, we place value on forests because we think we might need it, we like it or we ought to. Non-anthropocentric ethical position would emphasize on the instrumental value of forests-that