Anthropocentrism

We are not above or below the rest of the community of life

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[SunBeamsan]

huh?

What about when a hippo or a lion attacks african peasants? It's survival of the fittest. Nature is a non-think irrational entity which follows its course regardless of feelings and emotion. All animals in the animal kingdom act in their own interest. Why should humans be excluded?

[AdamHintz]

Lions don't wipe out all of the peasants and hippos don't destroy the africans foodsource. When a society sees humanity as separate and superior to competition it doesn't bat an eye at unnecessary slaughter. To end this way of thinking is a step towards a sustainable way of life. Thanks for commenting.

[SunBeamsan]

@AdamHintz I agree that killing for no reason is irrational. And i don't think thats morally acceptable in any way. I just find it amusing that you point out such an obviously biased argument like that, and appeal to emotion. Rather then logic.

Nature, the wild, is not a pretty place of happiness and LOVE. It's an extreme place, where the name of the game is survival. The fact that have trumped all other species, means we are the fittest. We therefore have more value.

[AdamHintz]

It seems like you're assuming I'm not aware of the way the world works. I don't know where you got the idea that I think nature is a place of happiness and LOVE. Have you ever heard of evolutionarily stable strategies?

[LessthanJake14]

@AdamHintz Hello, question. Why do you imply that anthropocentrism necessarily leads to exploitation of the environment?

I'm sorry but you will always approach EVERYTHING with human values. Instead of trying to deny being human and going in to a slump of depression about being inadequate, learn to accept the rational and instinctual part of you. With this new-found confidence surely that only gives responsibility to preserving nature, rather than a right to exploit it.

[AdamHintz]

@LessthanJake14 Thanks for the comment. Anthropocentrism is the belief that man is separate from and superior to the rest of the ecosystem. This is a cultural belief not a human value. I hope you can see the distinction.

I'm assuming your trying to say one can never approach anything without having some sort of cultural bias. To an extent, I agree.

Seeing things in a ecocentric way shouldn't lead one to feel inadequate. Since being human is being apart of an ecosystem. Love your username.

[LessthanJake14]

@AdamHintz And thank you for the respect. :)

[LessthanJake14]

@AdamHintz I understand the reasons behind an ecocentric viewpoint but it is simply not a natural progression. We are stuck in the human perspective. We cannot live an existence where we debase the value of humanity. Instead of trying to fight it, why not accept it? Accept our rational and instinctual side, the logical and the emotional. I know this branches on the almost irrelevant now, but we need to accept who we are before we understand what we can do to protect nature.

[LessthanJake14]

@AdamHintz "Anthropocentrism, noun: an inclination to evaluate reality exclusively in terms of human values"

That's what I'm referring to. You cannot live 'according to nature', and viewing the world from an ecocentric is in itself unnatural.

As you've already demonstrated with your comment concerning "unnecessary slaughter" and "guys with big guns taking on defenceless animals", the ecocentric viewpoint tries to debase what it is to be human.

[SunBeamsan]

@SaganAppreciationSoc yes. Indeed there are people who have no morals. The criminally insane lack emotion, and thus any form of ethics. There are people with these types of mental illnesses who have a predatorial thirst for blood. Children or not, they are prey.

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

@SunBeamsan

>"ethics did come from a vacuum"

Actually no. We know that ethics started with concern for offspring. Then it was concern for those related closely. Then it as for the tribe or troop or pod.

>"When a male lion kills the cubs of another, the concept of morals and ethics is human fabrication"

Using this strange argument one could point to humans killing their own children and say humans are without morals. So what's your point?

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

@SunBeamsan

>"Yes, it's called bestiality, and zoophilia"

{Eyeroll}. No, we're talking about the many cases where animals take an interest in others who are not members of their own species. Whether that's a hen who decides to brood on puppies, or a cat that nurses a baby squirrel, or dolphins that help humans in trouble.

PS Don't bring a knife to a gunfight.

[SunBeamsan]

@pohjalo perhaps. The desperate strive for survival is not always successful. And biology has shown that time and time again. But to hold other species to an equal or higher value, "bio-centrists", is an logical and suicidal act. Indeed and species who behaves in this way, deserves to go extinct.

[SunBeamsan]

@SaganAppreciationSoc- "And we now often see sign of trans-species affection"

Yes, it's called bestiality, and zoophilia. And yes it has happened, but it is not an biological trait. This is a very rear phenomena indeed. It 'usually' only takes place where conscience men are around to foment it.