Position

Ecocentric Holism

The biotic community as an ecological whole is an object of direct moral concern, and preserving its integrity can outweigh the interests of individual members.

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Classification

Position level: specific
Domains: Ethics , Philosophy of Nature

Overview

Ecocentric holism treats relations, systems, and communities as morally important in their own right. This can put the health of a species or ecosystem ahead of an individual organism when the two conflict, while still including human beings within the biotic community.

Position on

Moral Standing in Nature

References

Aldo Leopold, 'The Land Ethic', in A Sand County Almanac (1949)
J. Baird Callicott, 'Animal Liberation: A Triangular Affair', Environmental Ethics 2 (1980), pp. 311–338