Which philosophy argues for the intrinsic value of the natural world and seeks to balance human needs with ecological integrity?

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!

Valuing the natural world for its own sake and aiming to keep ecological processes functioning while meeting human needs is ecocentrism. It treats ecosystems—forests, rivers, soils, and the relationships among species—as having intrinsic worth, not just as resources for people. This leads to a holistic approach that prioritizes ecological integrity and resilience, guiding policies to protect the system as a whole even if that means limits on certain human activities. Biocentrism focuses on the value of individual living beings rather than the whole ecosystem; environmental ethics is the broader field that studies these ideas; and environmental justice concentrates on fair treatment and protection of people in environmental decision-making.