the many values of biodiversity

what are the three value systems for looking at nature

intrinsic values, instrumental values, and relational values

what are the intrinsic values

intrinsic values are nature for nature’s sake. its value systems are: moral , ethical, and religious

what is instrumental value

nature for goods and services that support human needs and desires

what are the instrumental value systems

direct use, indirect use, option value, and non-use values

what is direct use value?

Value of market goods and products that nature provides

ex: crops

what is indirect use value

Value of the services nature provides to people

ex: flood control

what is option value

Value of natural assets when used in the future

ex: medicines

what is non-use value

Value of leaving nature intact for future generations

what are relational values

NATURE for relationships that foster a sense of identity, social responsibility, and emotional well-being. based in Eudaimonia
Prominent in many traditional societies (e.g. North American Indigenous groups), Eastern philosophies (e.g., Confucian, Buddhist) and social movements (e.g., Buen Vivir – the “good living” in Latin American countries).

what is Eudaimonia

Philosophy that human fulfilment requires both hedonic happiness (ability to achieve pleasure and avoid pain) and eudaimonic happiness (emotional well-being, self-realization, sense of purpose)

Originated with Aristotle who stressed that feeling good is not enough to have a good life. Rather, human potential and true happiness are only realized when one achieves a sense of purpose, experiences personal growth, and attains self-acceptance.

what are the relational value frameworks

personal and cultural identity, social responsibility, history and education, biophilia, and aesthetic

what are the 3 ethical world views used in conbio

anthropocentric, biocentric, ecocentric

what is anthropocentrism

ethical worldview that considers human beings to be the primary holders of moral standing. Nature is viewed in terms of its value and benefit to humans

what are extremes of anthropocentrism

Human exceptionalism: espoused by certain creation “science” organizations (e.g., Discovery Institute), which teach that humans are biologically and morally superior to all other organisms. Often taught as a backlash to Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection.

Technocentrism: environmental philosophy that argues humans should dominate nature through technology to control all aspects of the global environment so as to meet human needs and maximize human prosperity.

what is biocentrism

extends inherent value and moral consideration to all living beings. Humans are not inherently "superior" to other organisms in a moral or ethical sense.

Philosophical arguments

Albert Schweitzer's 1969 Reverence for Life and Peter Singer’s 1975 Animal Liberation -- being a member of Homo sapiens is an arbitrary way to assign morality. Sentience (the capacity to feel, perceive, or experience) is a better criterion for assigning moral importance to organisms.

Paul Taylor’s 1986 Respect for Nature: A Theory of Environmental Ethics -- espoused that humans are members of a community of life that, along with all other members of other species, are morally and ethically equal. Each individual organism is inherently "good" and "valuable.”

what is ecocentrism

extends moral consideration to transorganismic entities like

species, biotic communities, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Recognizes Earth’s

living and non-living systems as a whole, rather than just the value of individual organisms (biocentrism).

has religious foundations

Modern ecocentrism usually credited to Aldo Leopold, who espoused that Homo sapiens are a part of nature, not separate from it. However, because Homo sapiens is a moral species, capable of ethical deliberation, conscientious choice, evolutionary kinship, and good citizenry, any changes we impose on nature should be ethically evaluated with respect to their impacts on other species, and with respect to how those changes will impact the ecological processes that are required to sustain life – not just human life, but all life.

how can we incorporate values

Recognizing/Respecting values and institutions was clearly VERY important in success.

-Includes understanding inter- and intra-group differences in values!

Local and traditional ecological knowledge are KEY!

-inform intervention, adaptive mgmt, improved efficacy