Authors: Atira Schulte
Mentors: Michael Popich
Insitution: Westminster College
We live in an environmental crisis caused by mass overconsumption and non-sustainable practices of humans- issues rooted in anthropocentric beliefs that humans may use all other life to our benefit with no regard for consequences. Animals and ecosystems have the right to exist and flourish, they have intrinsic worth, so they ought to have moral standing. This research aimed to build a new ethical theory that would extend the same rights humans are widely considered to have to other animals and ecosystems; especially citing Martha Nussbaum, James Sterba, and John O’Neill. The age-old desire to dominate nature must be replaced with a newfound respect and wonder for non-human life and the environment; Reframing our methods of thinking and moving towards more sustainable methods of living. Only by changing the mindset of humans, from one of domination and exploitation to stewardship and coexistence-even friendship, can we resolve this environmental crisis.