The Politics of the Environment: Ideas, Activism, Policy, 2nd Edition

Environmental philosophy

This observation resonates with the ‘convergence thesis’ outlined by Nor-
ton ( 1991 ).^20 He argues that the differences between opposing wings of
theenvironment movement are more apparent than real; in particular,
although ecocentric and anthropocentric defences of the non-human world
may come from different starting points and apply different value systems,
theycan end up producing more or less similar solutions. Norton empha-
sises the importance of anthropocentric arguments that act in the interests
of future generations (see Box3.4):

introducing the idea that other species have intrinsic value, that humans

should be ‘fair’ to all other species, provides no operationally recogniz-

able constraints on human behaviour that are not already implicit in the

generalized, cross-temporal obligations to protect a healthy, complex, and

autonomously functioning system for the benefit of future generations

of human beings. Deep ecologists, who cluster around the principle that

nature has independent value, should therefore not differ from longsighted

anthropocentrists in their policy goals for the protection of biological

diversity. (Norton 1991 : 226–7)

The policy convergence that Norton perceives between ecocentrics and
future-generation anthropocentric perspectives provides a good illustration
of value eclecticism in practice. From this perspective, rather than regarding
ecocentrism as an attempt to replace conventional human-centred moral
principles with a new framework that encompasses the natural world, it
might be regarded as a newsupplementarydimension that can contribute to
aricher,moreinformed moral synthesis.

Critical question 4
Is ‘value eclecticism’ a firm basis for a green political theory?

◗ Conclusion: Breaking down the

anthropocentric--ecocentric divide

One of the distinguishing features of ecologism is the view that humans
are not necessarily seated at the top of the ethical hierarchy. Holistic argu-
ments that draw attention to the interdependence of ecosystems have forced
political philosophers to reappraise the human–nature relationship and to
think seriously about the duties we owe to the natural world.
Yetithas been argued here that all ecocentric accounts ultimately employ
some form of anthropocentric argument – the idea that human needs and
interests are of highest, and even exclusive, value and importance. Attempts
todevelop an ethical code of conduct based on the existence of intrinsic
value in nature have struggled to apply traditional ethical concepts to unfa-
miliar entities and categories, such as species and ecospheres, and they