If all living beings have moral value, does this make us equal, or do some have more value than others? Think about what the implications would be if we said that a cow has just as much value as a human being. How on earth would we justify eating parts of it? Moreover, is it possible that we cannot even be justified in killing bacteria or any other non-conscious living being?
If there is a form of hierarchy between species, how should we then measure it? Intuitively one might claim that humans with their rational abilities are the most valuable, those able to feel pleasure and pain come in as second, whereas those with no consciousness possess the least amount of value.
Intuition however, is usually not sufficient within philosophy. So, by what means should we justify this imagined hierarchy?
Interests and satisfaction
Biocentrists have different views in this regard. Gary Varner appeals to the amount of happiness in the world, which all living beings have needs and interests, and the satisfaction of these needs and interests creates value and more happiness.
He argues that humans have a higher amount of interests, and are able to make life long plans and have long term desires; becoming a doctor, winning an Olympic medal, a family etc. These are again composed of many short term desires and interests; passing exams, winning tournaments, finding a partner and an income.
When these are satisfied it may bring more value to the world than the satisfaction of animals that only have short time desires; a cat desiring to go outside, a dog desiring to play with its toy, and so on. Other living beings give even less happiness to the world because they only have biological interests and no desires at all (Varner 2002).
Equal
By equality Sterba means that none are superior to others or have the right to dominate others. How does he justify this? By arguing that no difference in traits substantiate the superiority of one being to another, and that just as we say that humans are equal while we treat people differently, so can we say that living beings are equal while we treat them differently. (Sterba 1998a, 1998b, 2005).
References
- Varner, Gary 2002 “ Biocentric Individualism” From David Schimdtz and Elizabeth Willott eds., Environmental Ethics: What really Matters, What really Works Oxford University Press 2002
- Sterba, James P. 1998a JUSTICE for HERE and NOW US: Cambridge University Press Taylor,
- Sterba, James P. 1998b ”A Biocentrist Strikes Back” Environmental Ethics 20 (4):361-376 (1998) Philosophy Documentation Center
- Sterba, James P. 2005 «How to achieve global justice», Routledge: Journal of Global Ethics,1:1, 53-68
Pictures
- Rabbit and carrot: JosephSardin, (CC BY 2.0)
- Olympic games: cliff1066™,(CC BY 2.0)
- Jack Russell Terrier with ball: Emery Way, (CC BY 2.0)
- Interview with bird: JosephSardin, (CC BY 2.0)
Environmental ethics 