The Biophilia Hypothesis and Anthropocentric Environmentalism

Bibliographic Data

ID11266870
AuthorsSanford S Levy (corresponding author)
Year2003
Volume25
Issue3
Pages227-246
Publication date2003-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueEnvironmental Ethics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0163-4275 • E-ISSN: 2153-7895
PublisherPhilosophy Documentation Center (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.5840/enviroethics200325316
OpenAlexW1982584879
LanguageEN
Citations received6

Much anthropocentric environmental argument is limited by a narrow conception of how humans can benefit from nature. E. O. Wilson defends a more robust anthropocentric environmentalism based on a broader understanding of these benefits. At the center of his argument is the biophilia hypothesis according to which humans have an evolutionarily crafted, aesthetic and spiritual affinity for nature. However, the “biophilia hypothesis” covers a variety of claims, some modest and some more extreme. Insofar as we have significant evidence for biophilia, it favors modest versions which do not support a particularly robust anthropocentric environmental ethic. A significantly more robust environmental ethic requires the most extreme version of the biophilia hypothesis, for which there is the least evidence

Anthropocentrism · Biology · Environmental ethics · Environmentalism · Epistemology · Political science · Sociology · Climate Change and Geoengineering · Environmental Philosophy and Ethics · Law · Philosophy · Religion, Ecology, and Ethics · Ecology

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