Paper Example on Anthropocentrism and Ecocentrism

Introduction

Over the decades, the ecosystem has continued to experience recurrent climate changes, a matter that has attracted global attention. The concern is prevalent with some issues becoming evident due to the increasing human activities that have resulted to degradation of biodiversity, diminishing sea levels, ocean degradation and more prominently, a deteriorating climate (United Nations 2008). That has posed a grave concern on the noting the increasing human activity in all parts of the world, which continue to present an enormous danger to the planet and the limited base of resources. This factor has, in turn, affected the wellbeing of the human race and other species. The effect is more prominent in the third world nations where industrialization is at its peak levels.

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Overview of Anthropocentrism and Ecocentrism Approaches

In the wake of reality, environmental stakeholders have continued to develop environmental ethics that include the debate between the need for ecological sustainability and social, economic interests. They are two main conflicting methodologies of how we should view nature with relations to human beings (Norton 1982, p.26). Anthropocentrism places the interests and needs of human beings as the central part of how the environment should be sustainable to other living organisms (Thompson 1994). Therefore human beings are considered superior of all other creatures. On the other hand, ecocentrism views every animal needs and interests as equal with no special creature above other living things in the entire universe. Anthropocentricism view dominates how on how we think of our environment it will end up not valuing the biodiversity of our healthy ecosystem and its practice favors more of human self-interests financial goals (Gatson 2005). This paper focuses on one of America's most famous Tennessee Valley Authority vs. Hill case, which portrays how the use of both Anthropocentrism and ecocentrisim ideologyand their application in shaping the environment. Ecocentricism is the best environmental approach that should be used when balancing social economic interests with environmental interests.

TVA vs. Hill Case

The case involved the Tellico dam project of the Tennessee Valley Authority against concerned individuals advocating for the protection of the habitat of an endangered fish species known as snail darter fish. In 1967, the Congress assigned Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to construct the Tellico Dam. On December 1973, Congress passed a bill known as the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which its primary objectives were to provide federal protection and recovering of any listed living thing whose existence is at a threat or endangered. Only those animals and plants that are listed under the act as endangered or at a threatened the ESA act will ensure federal punishment is given to anyone that will want to interfere with its existence (Plater 1981, p.747). This law resulted to snail darter fish categorized under the endangered species where the area under Tellico Dam is a habitat for these types of species (Fisher Lange and Scotford, 2013). Any human activity that will interfere with their existence will be considered unlawful under the ESA act. Therefore the ongoing construction of the Tellico Dam has to be halted since it interferes with the snails' darter habitat, but almost two-thirds of the construction had already been completed. The snail darter fish was discovered by an an ichthyologist professor from the University of Tennessee, when he was compiling a biological report of the rive before the construction of the dam changes the biological and chemical properties of the river. The snail darter fish grows to only about three inches tall and can only survive in a river environment since the snails it eats are mostly found alongside the river soil. Therefore, the construction of the proposed Tellico dam would definably alter with the aquatic environment. The reason as to why the snails darter fish are endangered to extinction is because of the TVA's aggressive dam policy that has affected the entire Tennessee river basin. A law student Hiram Hill with the help of his environmental law professor Plater filed a case against TVA arguing that the ESA concept has the power to stop the ongoing construction of the Tellico dam. During the court rulings, the TVA attorneys argue that they should be made an exceptional case since the ESA act was affected some years after two-thirds of the project had already been completed. They also argued that it would not make any economic importance if they withdraw completing the project since the Congress had already spent more than $100 million taxpayers' money on the project (TVA v Hill). Finally, the story concludes with the Congress prevailing the Supremes' Court Decision, and TVA was directed to continue to complete the rest of the project notwithstanding the ESA act regulations on our ecosystem conservation.

Why Ecocentrisim Is the Better Approach in the Fight for Saving Endangered Species

The perspective that human beings are superior to any other living creatures has a greater influence on justifying ourselves on how we interact with other living creatures. This methodology has no limits to what kind of violence or how cruel humans handle other organisms, especially during agricultural and medical researchers. This has resulted to humans exploiting any resourceful nonhumans species in which ends up to degradation and sometimes even worse will lead to extinction as it has occurred with the dodo, auk, and other extinct animals. The Tellico dam project is a good example here; its construction is a guaranteed degradation of the snail darter fish of which in some years to come the fishes will finally be non-existent due to effects of industrialization pollution of activities that will be brought about after the completion of the dam. Ecocentric viewpoints are operative in drafting policies that will guide decision makers. They will also guide in balancing social-economic interests; with those touching the ecosystem as they are taking actions consistent with their attitude towards environmental conservation. Again, the study showed that those of the contrary mindset were less likely to involve themselves in environmental protection and had apathy for ecosystem issues.

Ecocentrism reflects the idea of interdependent of both humans and other living organisms for a stable ecosystem that our nature provides (Thompson &Barton 1994, p.150). Therefore continuing embracing anthropocentrism view on issues affecting our environment will not guarantee a sustainable ecosystem for the coming generations since humans will always possess a higher intrinsic value and dominance over nature than any other species. Due to the high rates of humans' population increase will reach a point where the earth will have fewer resources for the survival of all living creatures, the need for ecocentrism approach will be essential in ensuring that all living creatures have equal rights of care and existence. When the ecosystem is flowing in a balanced manner, there will be a guarantee of reduced environmental degradation and species extinction.

The Tellico Dam project was set primarily for entertainment, recreational services since it had minimal impacts on flood control, and power generation as the community expected it. The area that floods would have covered around the newly built Tellico Dam was almost utilized by agricultural activities that involve relatively small-scale farmers that supported over more than 300 families. The dam had covered more than 33 miles part of the entire river that could have been used for fishing for trouts where also the residents used that part for recreational activities an sports such as family boat rides. It also interfered with historical and other archaeological sites. The project used 38,000 acres of land of which only 13,500 acres were needed for the reservoir on the Tennessee River. The jury could weigh the case considering both the benefits and the negative implications of the project to the society around in accordance to equal interests of all living things in the surrounding could not have allowed the Congress to win the case. Viewing it in an ecocentrism perspective the completion of the dam's negative implications are worse and outweigh its benefits since it does not support environmental sustainability of other species. In ethical terms, ecocentrism advocates for moral purity from the selfish view of your interests but also appreciate the interests and needs of fellow humans as well as of other living creatures.

It is also important to highlight that the eco-centric school of thought is not entirely successful without borrowing a few ideas of the anthropocentric approach while developing environmental policies. Anthropocentric view allows for the human ability to utilize natural resources in a way to maintain and improve the state of our environment. For example, assume that floods that happened around the Tellico river could make more than the 300 families homeless, the depth and strength of the river is a threat to the fishermen's lives, therefore, constructing a dam there could have helped or stopped all those risks(Cocks & Simpson, 2015 p.222) . Despite being a threat to the snail darter species, the dam could have created more positive impacts on the other living organisms surrounding the dam. The production of electricity and the probability of using the dam for irrigation purposes could have made the lives of Tennessee river residents more favorable than it was, therefore making the anthropocentric view importance outweighing the ecocentric view. Both ideas should be weighed about the subject matter at hand, but the diversity and benefits of our ecosystem should be prioritized(Kellert 1985, p.522).

Conclusion

Ecocentrism benefits can be viewed in two different perspective; the original meaning and secondly is by the implications it has for our understanding of environmental sustainability. Appreciating the ecocentric approach will be the first step in avoiding ecological disasters as well as an effective way of conserving our environment for the future generation of species. Conclusively, it is evident that the world is shifting its focus from the anthropocentric approach to an ecocentric mindset in formulating policies to guide policymakers make decisions that will achieve environmental sustainability as well recognize human interests. Abandoning anthropocentrism and ecocentrism should not be seen as unorthodox but as a way of distinguishing our nature consumption outcomes and engage in it where survival is critical. Making the right ethical decisions may be tough, but jurisdictions must adopt policies that are harmless to the environment and nature in general.

Bibliography

Cocks, S. and Simpson, S., 2015. Anthropocentric and ecocentric: an application of environmental philosophy to outdoor recreation and environmental education. Journal of Experiential Education, 38(3), pp.216-227.Eckersley, R., 1992. Environmentalism and political theory: Toward an ecocentric approach. Suny Press.

Fisher, E., Lange, B. and Scotford, E., 2013. Environmental Law: Text, Cases & Materials. Oxford University Press. Gaston, K.J., 2005. Biodiversity and extinction: species and people. Progress in Physical Geography, 29(2), pp.239-247.

Kellert, S.R., 1985. Social and perceptual factors in endangered species management. The Journal of Wildlife Management, pp.528-536.Kortenkamp, K.V. and Moore, C.F., 2001. E...