Biocentrism (ethics)

Biocentrism is an ethical model that an ethical eigenvalue assigns all " living". If this eigenvalue is the same for all entities, ie without gradation, one speaks of a radical egalitarian biocentric biocentric or otherwise of a hierarchical or weak biocentrism. For the purposes of general ethical theories, especially theories of animal ethics, he is often discussed in the context of comparative approaches of Pathocentrism and anthropocentrism on the one hand, and holism on the other.

If the question of who benefits from moral rights agreements, reversed and after any exclusion or discrimination asked questions touched you kontraktualistischer theories. A comparison of such paradigms from this perspective tries about Martha Nussbaum, Frontiers of Justice (2006). Mark Rowlands suggests starting from such alleged discrimination in Animals like us (2002) a possible opening of John Rawls shear contract and theories of justice to non-human animals in front of. The extent to which the proposal will still satisfy the Rawlsian model, is discussed.

A critique of biocentrism can be passed from a utilitarian point of view so that ethical criteria must have influences on the concrete well-being of individuals. Following about Peter Singer's arguments, you get so normative to a less inclusive Pathocentrism. However, there are also utilitarian representative of biocentrism, such as Jean -Claude Wolf.

From deontological positions argue against the biocentric about modern Kantians, that is Anthropozentriker, with reference to the formulations of the categorical imperative, which would correspond to the Empire - the - purposes - or autonomy - formula. Julian Franklin ( himself no Biozentriker ) criticized this approach by remarking these formulations relate to the source of morality. Between those individuals who are affected by moral judgments, and those who create them, must be distinguished. An analogous distinction represents Tom Regan, by distinguishing between the amounts of Moral Agents and Moral Patients (about moral agents and moral Treated ). Bernd Ladwig takes the same approach, but is in contrast to normative Regan, mainly for pragmatic reasons, to a hierarchical theory of law.