Anthropocentrism

Anthropocentrism is a philosophy that argues that human beings are the central or most significant entities in the world. This is a basic belief embedded in many Western religions and philosophies that regard man as separate from and superior to nature, and believe that human life has intrinsic value, while other entities (including animals, plants, mineral resources, and so on) are resources that may justifiably be exploited for the benefit of mankind, rather than being regarded as entities with their own intrinsic value. Many ethicists find the roots of the instrumental view of nature common in Western societies (that the natural world has value only as it benefits mankind) and of man's superiority to nature in the Creation story told in the Book of Genesis ...