Biocentrism

Switzer provides a good insight into biocentrism to those who are new to Environmental ethics. It shows that we should care for the environment and animals because they are living just as we are. The quote on pg 81 says "I am a life which wants to live amid a community of life that wants to live." One does not see the purpose of a dog or a lobster, but they do see the dog or lobster as living. They want to live just as we do. This is how Switzer explains reverence for life as not wanting to exclude anything it applies to all living organisms.

Switzer also says that he wants to almost become one with the world. He would like to be in tune with nature. He believes that no matte what little or big effort he puts into helping nature, it is going to be beneficial. He believes that him saving a fly from drowning makes an impact on nature and helps to create a sense of unity with nature.

Paul Taylor gave rules that we must have to achieve in a biocentric world. One is that morals are good if only coupled with respect toward nature and all of the creations. Also Taylor says that it would only work if you could make this universal to all living organisms, not just say the U.S.

There are four biocentric convictions but i only wish to talk on the last, and that is that human superiority is a form of racism among the universe. Humans see themselves above all and feel that they can treat another creature like dirt, just cause they feel like it. We keep dogs and cats as pets, where as they used to be free and live in the wild. When i see dogs in kennels, i see humans in cages. That is how i see racism every day.