Which belief centers human beings and human affairs, placing humans above other beings?

Prepare for your Environmental Science Exam 1 with our interactive quiz. Test your knowledge with various question types featuring detailed explanations. Start today and ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which belief centers human beings and human affairs, placing humans above other beings?

Anthropocentrism centers human beings and human affairs, valuing the natural world mainly for its usefulness to people. In this view, the worth of animals, plants, and ecosystems is judged by how they affect human welfare, economic interests, health, or enjoyment. For example, forests are valued for timber, watershed protection, or recreational opportunities, rather than for any intrinsic rights of other beings. This perspective contrasts with biocentrism, which assigns intrinsic value to all living beings, and ecocentrism, which emphasizes the value of entire ecosystems and processes rather than individual organisms. Environmental ethics is the field that studies these moral viewpoints. So the belief described is one that centers on humans and their interests above others.

Anthropocentrism centers human beings and human affairs, valuing the natural world mainly for its usefulness to people. In this view, the worth of animals, plants, and ecosystems is judged by how they affect human welfare, economic interests, health, or enjoyment. For example, forests are valued for timber, watershed protection, or recreational opportunities, rather than for any intrinsic rights of other beings. This perspective contrasts with biocentrism, which assigns intrinsic value to all living beings, and ecocentrism, which emphasizes the value of entire ecosystems and processes rather than individual organisms. Environmental ethics is the field that studies these moral viewpoints. So the belief described is one that centers on humans and their interests above others.

More practice questions