Converging vs. Reconstituting Env Ethics (Norton)
— Minteer, Nature in Common 2009

"Converging versus Reconstituting Environmental Ethics." Pages 97-117 in Ben A. Minteer, ed., Nature in Common: Environmental Ethics and the Contested Foundations of Environmental Policy (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2009).
Online at: http://hdl.handle.net/10217/37187

Evaluation of Bryan G. Norton's "convergence hypothesis." Bryan Norton's "convergence" initially implies starting from differing points and reaching the same state, as with convergent evolution. The convergence of anthropocentrism and non-anthropocentrism comes by Norton's drawing back from any intrinsic value in nature. Yet his ever more enlightened anthropocentric goals come increasingly to coincide with what nonanthropocentrists also desire. This is reconstituting environmental ethics. He can win only by moving the goal posts.