Moral standing means that an entity must be considered morally when people decide how they ought to act toward it. If an entity has moral standing, its interests or well-being matter in their own right, rather than only because the entity is useful to humans.
This concept belongs to HL.c Environmental ethics and is HL only. Deciding which entities have moral standing establishes the boundaries of the moral community: the group of beings or entities toward which humans recognize ethical duties.
Different ethical perspectives draw this boundary differently:
| Perspective | Entities likely to receive moral standing | Basis for consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropocentric | Humans, including present or future generations | Human rights, welfare and justice |
| Animal-centered | Sentient animals as well as humans | Capacity to experience pain or pleasure |
| Ecocentric | Species, ecosystems, rivers or the biosphere | Ecological relationships and the integrity of natural systems |
For example, an ecocentric argument may claim that a forest has moral standing because it possesses intrinsic value and should be protected for what it is. An anthropocentric argument may protect the same forest mainly because it provides instrumental value, such as timber, recreation, climate regulation or cultural benefits.
A common misconception is that moral standing is identical to legal status. It is not. Legal personhood gives an entity recognized rights within a legal system, whereas moral standing is an ethical claim about what deserves consideration. New Zealand's Whanganui River received legal personhood in 2017, reflecting Māori perspectives that view the river as an interconnected living whole, but people may recognize a river's moral standing even where no law grants it rights.
In an IB ESS response, define moral standing precisely, identify which entities are included, and justify the ethical boundary used. For an evaluate or discuss question, compare contrasting perspectives, use a named example, and reach a supported conclusion rather than merely stating that nature should be protected.
