Biology without conservation: an environmental misfit and contradiction in terms
Date
1989
Authors
Rolston, Holmes, 1932-, author
Oxford University Press, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Every biological organism is per se a conservationist, defending its life. Nonconservation is death. Although not moral agents, organisms are normative systems that value life intrinsically, for what each individual life is in itself, without further contributory reference beyond conserving that kind. An ecosystem is thus a systemic web of intrinsic values defended and instrumental values captured. Humans can and ought to use their environment resourcefully, conserving their own kind of life. But, as the sole moral agents among Earth's millions of species, humans ought also to conserve Earth's biological processes of value, processes that precede and exceed the human presence. Conservation goals, although cultural attitudes, ought not to be merely cultural attitudes, but ought to conserve nonanthropocentric biological values present. Biology without conservation is a contradiction in terms, as well as misfit in its environment.
Description
Includes bibliographical references.
Rights Access
Subject
biodiversity
conservation
intrinsic value
instrumental value
humans
moral agents
moral responsibility
environmental ethics
nature and culture
nonanthropocentrism