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Convergence, Noninstrumental Value and the Semantics of 'Love': Comment on McShane

Environmental Values 17(2008): 5-14. doi: 10.3197/096327108X271914

ABSTRACT

Katie McShane, while accepting my 'convergence hypothesis' (the view that anthropocentrists and nonanthropocentrists will tend to propose similar policies), argues that nonanthropocentrism is nevertheless superior because it allows conservationists to have a deeper emotional commitment to natural objects than can anthropocentrists. I question this reasoning on two bases. First, McShane assumes a philosophically tendentious distinction between intrinsic and instrumental value - a distinction that presupposes a dualistic worldview. Second, I question why McShane believes anthropocentrists - weak anthropocentrists, that is - cannot 'love' or 'feel awe' toward natural objects. Her argument, that is, only works against strong anthropocentrism, which I never advocated.

KEYWORDS

Anthropocentrism, emotions, convergence

REFERENCES to other articles in Environmental Values:

The Pragmatic Power and Promise of Theoretical Environmental Ethics: Forging a New Discourse J. Baird Callicott

Anthropocentrism vs. Nonanthropocentrism: Why Should We Care?.Katie McShane

CITATIONS in other Environmental Values articles

Convergence, Noninstrumental Value and the Semantics of 'Love': Reply to Norton.Katie McShane

Reasons and Values in Environmental Ethics. Lars Samuelsson

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