RESOLVED: Anthropocentrism ought to be valued above biocentrism.

I negate the resolution, RESOLVED: Anthropocentrism ought to be valued above biocentrism. For clarification of this debate round, I offer the following definitions from the Merriam Webster's Dictionary: Anthropocentrism: considering human beings as the most significant entity of the universe Biocentrism: considering all forms of life as having intrinsic value Value: relative worth, utility, or importance I offer the next definition from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Intrinsic value: value that a thing has "in itself," or "for its own sake," or "as such," or "in its own right." My value for this round will be utilitarianism, defined by the Merriam Webster's Dictionary the theory that the aim of action should be the largest possible balance of pleasure over pain or the greatest happiness of the greatest number. The criterion with which I will be upholding my value is that of sustainability defined by he Merriam Webster's Dictionary as of, relating to, or being a method of using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged. This criterion is of paramount importance in this round because by ensuring sustainability, resources can be preserved for future generations, therefore achieving utilitarianism. Observation – The Negative must prove that anthropocentrism ought not to be valued above biocentrism. Contention 1: Anthropocentrism is not sustainable. A: Anthropocentrism has led to the destruction of natural resources, habitats and species. According to Ron Nielsen since 1947 one half of the world's mature tropical forest has been destroyed. (i) These forests are habitats for many known and unknown species. B. According to Alain Marcoux of the Sustainable Development Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the major cause behind the deforestation has been providing for expanding human population.(ii) C. According to Edward O. Wilson, by 2030 80% of the tropical forests that existed in 1947 will be destroyed. Of the remaining 20%, 10% of that will be in a degraded condition. (iii) D: This deforestation policy poses issues to the very community that initiated it for its own good, humans. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, deforestation accounts for 1/3 of the total anthropogenic carbon dioxide emission. Carbon dioxide emission is one of the largest contributors of global warming or climate change. (iv) Furthermore, Mike Bettwy of NASA, states that deforestation adversely affects the water cycle, by reducing the amount of precipitation, often leading to droughts or lack of adequate drinking water. (v) According to a North Dakota State University study, 99% of the water that is absorbed by roots in tropical forests transpires back into the atmosphere, forming rain clouds, producing clouds. (vi) In addition, according research by Dr. Lei Guangchen of the World Wide Fund for Nature, deforestation increases the chances of flooding as there are no tree litters and roots to intercept and absorb precipitation.vii Beyond this, deforestation causes the extinction of nearly 50,000 species a year. (viii) According to the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research many of these plants have medicinal value (ix) and therefore, humans are losing out on valuable medicines to advance their own ends. E: This evidence proves that anthropocentrism is not sustainable for humans and other species and therefore cannot be utilitarian. Contention 2: Biocentrism is sustainable. A. According to philosopher Paul Taylor and Biocentric Egalitarianism, "as animals, we are entirely dependent on ecological systems for survival". (x) We can therefore see that the anthropocentric thought process is detrimental to humanity as well as other organisms. B. Taylor further states that, "the long term ecological equilibrium is necessary for the continued existence of all individual living things" (xi), thus proving that our ecological equilibrium must be preserved. C. Biocentrism aims to preserve this balance and therefore is sustainable. Through its sustainability, biocentrism proves its utilitarianism. Through its premises, it aims to extend the existence of all living organisms, thus providing the greatest good for the greatest number. My case therefore shows that anthropocentrism cannot be valued above biocentrism because it is not sustainable and therefore cannot be utilitarian. Furthermore, biocentrism is sustainable and achieves utilitarianism. Therefore, I urge you to negate. ----------------------------------------------- i Nielsen, Ron. The Little Green Handbook: Seven Trends Shaping the Future of Our Planet. New York, NY: Picador, 2006. Print. ii Marcoux, Alain. "Population and deforestation." Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations . N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2010. <http://www.fao.org...;. iii Wilson, Edward O.. The Future of Life. New York: Vintage, 2003. Print. iv Climate Change 2007 - The Physical Science Basis: Working Group I Contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC (Climate Change 2007). 1 Har/Cdr ed. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Print. v Bettwy, Mike. "Tropical Deforestation Affects Rainfall in the U.S. and Around the Globe." NASA. N.p., 13 Sept. 2005. Web. 20 Mar. 2010. <http://www.nasa.gov...;. vi Scherer, Thomas F., Bruce Seelig, and David Franzen. "Soil, Water and Plant Characteristics Important to Irrigation." NDSU Extension Service and ND Agricultural Experiment Station. North Dakota State University, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2010. <http://www.ag.ndsu.edu...;. vii Casciani, Dominic. "China's floods: Is deforestation to blame?." BBC NEWS. N.p., 6 Aug. 1999. Web. 20 Mar. 2010. <http://news.bbc.co.uk...;. viii Taylor, Leslie. "Rainforest Facts." Wealth of the Rainforest. Raintree Nutrition, Inc, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2010. <http://www.rain-tree.com...;. ix "Medicine from the rainforest." BMBF: Bundesministerium fï¿½ï¿½r Bildung und Forschung. Federal Ministry of Education and Research , n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2010. <http://www.bmbf.de...;. x "Anthropocentric vs Non-Anthropocentric Environmental Ethics." Capilano University. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. <http://ocw.capcollege.bc.ca...;. xi "Anthropocentric vs Non-Anthropocentric Environmental Ethics." Capilano University. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. <http://ocw.capcollege.bc.ca...;.