Moral Standing in Environmental Ethics
Definition
Moral standing
Moral standing refers to the idea that an entity (whether living or non-living) has moral significance and should be considered when making decisions about how we interact with it.
To ask if something has moral standing is to consider whether it should be morally respected or whether it has a claim on human actions and behaviors.
Different Perspectives on Moral Standing
Ecocentric View
- Ecocentrists believe that all living things have moral standing because they possess intrinsic value.
- This includes not only individual organisms but also entire ecosystems, such as forests, rivers, and landscapes.
- Ecocentrism extends moral standing beyond humans and focuses on the health and stability of the entire biotic community (all living organisms and their interactions).
Aldo Leopold's Land Ethic argues that:
- "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community."
- "It is wrong when it tends otherwise."
Leopold suggests that the land, animals, and plants within it all have inherent value and deserve to be respected, regardless of their utility to humans.
Extension to Non-Living Entities
- Some ecocentrists extend moral standing to non-living entities in nature, such as rivers, rocks, and landscapes.
- They argue that these elements also have intrinsic value and are deserving of protection and moral consideration.
