Preserving nature for the benefit of all sentient individuals

Páez Conesa, José Ezequiel

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.51291/2377-7478.1551

Preserving nature for the benefit of all sentient individuals

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Citation

Paez E. Preserving nature for the benefit of all sentient individuals. Animal Sentience. 2020;(27):18. DOI: 10.51291/2377-7478.1551

Abstract

I agree with Treves et al.’s proposal for a preservation ethics based on the principle that nonhuman well-being is a matter of justice and compassion. In this commentary, I advance two objections. First, only sentient beings, rather than all life, belong in the moral community. Second, given that nature is probably harmful overall for sentient individuals, preserving it for the benefit of future human and nonhuman generations requires us to modify it as far as practicable.