Taylor Contrasts "Human-Centered" and "Life-Centered" Systems of Environmental Ethics

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The Answer is defines a "human-centered" system in the following terms: "human actions affecting the natural environment and its nonhuman inhabitants are right (or wrong) by either of two criteria: they have consequences which are favorable (or unfavorable) to human well-being, or they are consistent (or inconsistent) with the system of norms that protect and implement human rights. From this human-centered standpoint it is to humans and only to humans that all duties are ultimately owed." Taylor contrasts the "human-centered" approach with the "life-centered" approach. The key difference is that in the life-centered approach we have duties that extend beyond our fellow human beings to all living things.
I would argue that Taylor's distinction again presents a False dichotomy-either we base all of decisions on what's best for human beings (completely ignoring all other sentient creation) or we give equal weight to all living things. I would argue that there is room for middle ground here-that we should give nonhuman life some consideration, but not equal consideration.

Taylor Contrasts "Human-Centered" and "Life-Centered" Systems of Environmental Ethics

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