Environmental Ethics: Nature as Possessing Independent Value

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Environmental ethics: Nature as possessing independent value
Many environmentalists claim (or imply by their actions and arguments) that nature (certainly parts of it) possesses a value independent of any human value. Beyond that, such environmentalists implicitly or explicitly claim that this value has moral consequences insofar as it places limits on human behaviour. Over the next few pages, this essay will examine what may be considered the best theoretical foundation (the most plausible foundation) for this view: Darwinist philosophy combined with utilitarianism and even a dash of Rousseau. In the end, if one accepts that things which value things can value them without being sentient (and therefore are worthy of being considered in...

.....ism and even Rousseau, too.  
   
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