What do we mean by the intrinsic value and integrity of plants and animals?
Date
2002
Authors
Rolston, Holmes, 1932-, author
Ifgene, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
There is integrity in any life that has a good of its kind and is good in its kind of place, with a biological identity sought, conserved, reproduced in species lines, and fitted into its niche in an ecosystem. Ecosystems are places of value capture and transformation. When humans appear, the only animal able critically to evaluate its options in behavior, such value capture can require justification. Humans may and must capture and transform natural values genetic, organismic, specific, ecosystemic. This is both permissible and required, but it requires justification proportionately to the loss of integrity and value in the natural world as this is traded for value gain integrated into richness in culture.
Description
Includes bibliographical references.
Rights Access
Subject
GMO's
nature and culture
ecosystems
integrity
intrinsic value
good of its kind
biological identity
value capture
genetic modification