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Eight Principles of Deep Ecology

This document outlines the 8 basic principles of deep ecology: 1) All life has intrinsic value independent of its usefulness to humans. 2) Biological diversity and richness contribute values that should be preserved. 3) Humans only have a right to reduce diversity to satisfy vital needs, not wants.

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Col. McCoy
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89 views9 pages

Eight Principles of Deep Ecology

This document outlines the 8 basic principles of deep ecology: 1) All life has intrinsic value independent of its usefulness to humans. 2) Biological diversity and richness contribute values that should be preserved. 3) Humans only have a right to reduce diversity to satisfy vital needs, not wants.

Uploaded by

Col. McCoy
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The Basic Principles of

Deep Ecology

George Sessions and


Arne Naess, 1984
1. Inherent value
The well-being and flourishing of
human and nonhuman Life on Earth
have value in themselves (synonyms:
intrinsic value, inherent value). These
values are independent of the
usefulness of the nonhuman world for
human purposes.
2. Diversity

Richness and diversity of


life forms contribute to
the realization of these
values and are also values
in themselves.
3. Vital Needs

Humans have no right to


reduce this richness and
diversity except to satisfy
vital needs.
4. Population

The flourishing of human life and


cultures is compatible with a
substantial decrease of the
human population. The flourishing
of nonhuman life requires such a
decrease.
5. Human Interference

The present human


interference with the
nonhuman world is excessive,
and the situation is rapidly
worsening.
6. Policy Change

Policies must therefore be


changed. These policies affect
basic economic, technological, and
ideological structures. The
resulting state of affairs will be
deeply different from the
present.
7. Quality of Life

The ideological change is mainly that of


appreciating life quality (dwelling in
situations of inherent value) rather than
adhering to an increasingly higher
standard of living. There will be a
profound awareness of the difference
between big and great.
8. Obligation of Action

Those who subscribe to the


foregoing points have an
obligation directly or
indirectly to try to implement
the necessary changes.

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