Anthropocentrism vs Ecocentrism: An Insightful Analysis

Anthropocentric is the traditional values obtained from the industrial revolution. These values are the conviction that people are preeminent in the chain of creatures and that spending the Earths assets is the only way to accomplish human prosperity. Despite the way that Anthropocentric focal points the thriving of humanity, it is also causing critical detriment on nature. Ecocentrism, Deep Green is the most sensible methodology for the environment. Ecocentrism focuses on the Instrumental value of nature and contains moral concerns for the environment. The film “Dominion” effectively demonstrates the gruesome reality behind humanity’s actions and the threat that they have towards the ecosystem. This is an “Anthropocentrism” essay which examines how anthropocentric view and what the difference between it and ecocentric viewpoints. 

The industrial society must comprehend that the Earth has a finite set of resources. “Humans are connected to the natural environment chemically, physically, and biologically”. Thus, this demonstrates that individuals in society must take action and make changes on their ecological footprint and use these “finite” sources more efficiently.

There are three main contrasts between Anthropocentric view and Deep Green view. Deep Green believes that society must become one with nature. Moreover, This will enable one to sustain nature and understand the consequences of social actions. Deep green also believe that causing harm to the environment is similar to causing harm to an individual because there is the conviction that nature has sentiments. Anthropocentric views that the Earth is there for humans and they have an unrestricted right to exploit and use up as much of its resources. Thus, they believe that humans are not interconnected with the environment and that nature is robust. Consequently, there is a significant change in the environment, society is facing global issues of an unprecedented scale.

There has been an increase in the population of the world and has contributed to a significant rise in the exploitation of resources and the increase of environmental issues such as climate change. ”Climate change has resulted in potentially irreversible consequences for our planet”. In order to overcome these issues, society must understand the negative impact that their ecological footprint has on the environment. Educational institutions are making education on environmental issues more prominent. “The central role of education in achieving sustainable development has been internationally acknowledged and successfully promoted”. Thus, improvements in education will have the potential to substantially increase societal living standards.

The views of anthropocentrism are causing consequential harm to the ecosystem. The living life forms that rely on the earth are significantly diminishing because of the ecological footprint caused by humankind. “Various species of birds and frogs are now threatened by encroaching civilization”. Humanity has managed to dominate the Earth that most species persist or perish only at the pleasure of human beings. Human activities affect climate which in turn affects biodiversity over a wide scope of geographic districts. Hence, This statement reinforces that anthropocentrism is not the best option for a healthier future.

The similarities between the deep green view (ecocentric) and anthropocentric are that the two perspectives underly ecological frames of mind. Deep green esteems nature for the wellbeing of its own, while Anthropocentrism esteems nature in light of the material or physical advantages it can accommodate people. The film “dominion” is a stark imagery of the appalling reality of anthropocentrism. It successfully catches new points of view and analyzes the extensive context of creature misuse on the scene inside society. The consequences of societies actions on the environment have impacted on other living organisms and may potentially cause risks on the ecosystem. “Humans are dependent on other species in nature...without other species, human existence is not possible'. Deep green views that an individual’s identity is forged by their relationship with the environment. Thus, it further emphasises that the relationship is fundamental to personal growth however this perspective is not common in western society. “Several studies reveal that many young people leave humans out of their conception of the environment and are unclear about the meaning of environment”.

In conclusion, in Ecocentrism the human wellbeing is connected to the absolute health of nature. Deep Green perspectives contend that anthropocentrism neglects to represent numerous things that issue or give an ethic adequate to tending to the environmental crisis. Anthropocentric’s concern of nature as an 'asset' to be abused for human delight, have neglected to keep up the wellbeing and integrity of the ecosystems upon which the whole network of life depends. Deep green perspectives look to reclassify the connection between people and nature by surrendering the anthropocentrism of much contemporary lawful hypothesis for an eco-centric point of view. This contrast disputes the whole idea of anthropocentrism. “Efficiency is the governing ethical norm, the more economic pie is always better”. The “Efficiency' of anthropocentrism is characterized as 'misusing assets to gain 'value”. Thus, this demonstrates that anthropocentric views will expand the use of earth resources to reach their ultimate goal of human fulfilment. Unfortunately, “the ecocentrism here is stark and unabashed”.

Reference List

  • Alexander, S. (2010, April). Earth jurisprudence and the ecological case for degrowth. The Journal Jurisprudence, 131
  • Pointon, P. (2014). 'The city snuffs out nature': Young people's conceptions of and relationship with nature. Environmental Education Research, 20(6), 776-794.
  • Fehlner, W. (2019).Educating for Sustainability: The Crucial Role of the Tertiary Sector, Journal of Sustainable Development, 12(2), 18-25.
  • Arvanitakis, J. (2016). Sociologic: analysing everyday life and culture. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press, pp.3,12, 99,101-2,103, 139-144,.
  • Dreher, J. H. (2011). Evolution and the goal of environmentalism. Forum on Public Policy: A Journal of the Oxford Round Table, Forum on Public Policy: A Journal of the Oxford Round Table, Summer, 201.  
10 October 2022
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