自然的价值与价值的本质—自然辨证法研究 (Studies in Dialectics of Nature) 1999

自然的价值与价值的本质, 自然辨证法研究 (Studies in Dialectics of Nature) 15, no. 2 (February, 1999): 42-46.

"Value in Nature and the Nature of Value." Reprinted, translated into Chinese, "Ziran de jiazhi yu jiazhi di benzhi (Value in Nature and the Nature of Value)," Zi ran bian lun fa yet jiu (Studies in Dialectics of Nature) 15(no. 2, February, 1999):42-46. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Institute of Philosophy, Beijing. ISSN 1000-8934. Translated by Liu Er.
Online at: http://hdl.handle.net/10217/37458

Value is often thought not to exist in wild nature; it is bestowed on nature by human preferences. This prevailing account is too anthropocentric. In nature, animals value their lives; they too can have their preferences satisfied. Plants have vital needs. Species are historical forms of life defended over generations. Ecosystems are "able to generate value," as occurs with the evolution and ecological support of organisms, animals, and humans. Earth, taken as earth, dirt, seems of little intrinsic value; but Earth, the home planet, is systemically valuable, the ground of all value.

Invited conference address, Royal Society of Philosophy, Annual Conference, University of Wales, Cardiff, July 18-21, 1993.

Originally published as: "Value in Nature and the Nature of Value." In Robin Attfield and Andrew Belsey, eds., Philosophy and the Natural Environment (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), pages 13-30.

Originally published in Robin Attfield and Andrew Belsey, eds., Philosophy and the Natural Environment (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), pages 13-30.