The following may be of interest with respect to the prospects of
reconciling anthropocentric and biocentric values in forestry:
Bryan Norton addresses the prospects of the reconciliation between
anthropocentric and non-anthropocentric positions with his ‘convergence
hypothesis' vis-a-vis environmentalists. Note that Norton restricts
'convergence' to the policy level. The following is the most recent
formulation of this view:
"The convergence hypothesis, which I have offered as an alternative to the
traditionally divisive characterisation of environmentalists as split
between "shallow," anthropocentric, resource managers and "deep,",
non-anthropocentric, environmental radicals, states that provided
anthropocentrists consider the full breadth of human values as they unfold
into the indefinite future, and provided nonanthropocentrists endorse a
consistent and coherent version of the view that nature has intrinsic value,
all sides may be able to endorse a common policy direction." (Environmental
Ethics, vol. 19, p. 87, 1997).
Although Norton uses the work 'may' in this formulation his other writing
indicates that he is optimistic about the prospects of convergence (see for
example his book "Toward Unity Among Environmentalists" (Oxford: U.P.,
1991)).
Marc
---------------------------------------------
Marc Saner, Ph.D.
Carleton University (M.A. Student)
Department of Philosophy
Dunton Tower 2127
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6
T: (613) 520-3824
F: (613) 520-3962
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