To Swat or Not to Swat

Environmental Ethics 18 (2):165-180 (1996)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

A central thesis of biocentrism is that all living things have intrinsic value. But when conflicts arise between the interests of humans and other organisms, this claim often has counterintuitive consequences. It would be wrong, for example, to swat pesky flies. Some biocentrists have responded by positing a taxonomy of interests in which human interests justifiably supersede those of other living things. I express doubts about whether this maneuver can succeed, and suggest that even if it does, it then commits biocentrists to the claim that it is wrong not to harm living things, when doing so is necessary to advance nonbasic human interests, a position which runs counter to the biocentric attitude of respect for nature. As a result, biocentrists must adopt either a highly counterintuitive position or one that is contrary to their general outlook. I show that the introduction of the supererogatory may resolve not only this biocentric dilemma but other quandaries in environmental ethics.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,593

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

To Swat or Not to Swat.Mark A. Michael - 1996 - Environmental Ethics 18 (2):165-180.
A Biocentrist Strikes Back.James P. Sterba - 1998 - Environmental Ethics 20 (4):361-376.
A biocentrist strikes back.James P. Sterba - 1998 - Environmental Ethics 20 (4):361-376.
Two Arguments against Biological Interests.Aaron Simmons - 2010 - Environmental Ethics 32 (3):229-245.
Just-War Theory and the Role of the Police Sniper.R. J. Connelly - 2000 - International Journal of Applied Philosophy 14 (2):175-189.
Optimizing Hope: A Response to Nolt.Trevor Hedberg - 2015 - In Andrew T. Brei (ed.), Ecology, Ethics and Hope. New York: Rowman & Littlefield International. pp. 65-82.
Humanity, holism, and environmental ethics.Lawrence E. Johnson - 1983 - Environmental Ethics 5 (4):345-354.
Humanity, Holism, and Environmental Ethics.Lawrence E. Johnson - 1983 - Environmental Ethics 5 (4):345-354.
St. Francis, Paul Taylor, and Franciscan Biocentrism.John Mizzoni - 2004 - Environmental Ethics 26 (1):41-56.

Analytics

Added to PP
2013-11-02

Downloads
30 (#459,346)

6 months
4 (#319,344)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Citations of this work

Self-regarding supererogatory actions.Jason Kawall - 2003 - Journal of Social Philosophy 34 (3):487–498.
Reverence for Life as a Viable Environmental Virtue.Jason Kawall - 2003 - Environmental Ethics 25 (4):339-358.

Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references