Are you Anthropocentric or Biocentric?
brianlux
Posts: 42,047
This might make for interesting discussion. Using the following definitions, how do you view yourself in terms of your relationship to the world or even the universe as a whole?
Anthropocentric: 1: Regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence, especially as opposed to God or animals. 2. considering human beings as the most significant entity of the universe
Biocentric: : 1. The view or belief that the rights and needs of humans are not more important than those of other living things. 2. considering all forms of life as having intrinsic value.
Anthropocentric: 1: Regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence, especially as opposed to God or animals. 2. considering human beings as the most significant entity of the universe
Biocentric: : 1. The view or belief that the rights and needs of humans are not more important than those of other living things. 2. considering all forms of life as having intrinsic value.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.
Are you Anthropocentric or Biocentric? 16 votes
Anthropocentric
6%
1 vote
Biocentric
93%
15 votes
0
Comments
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
I'll back my vote by saying that to my way of thinking, biocentrism makes more sense than anthropocentrism because we are part of a larger whole and we are dependent on that whole but it is not dependent on us. A strong argument can be made that worms, ants, and bacteria are more important than humans because worms, ants, bacteria do not need humans to survive but humans need them to survive. Things are not always what we first assume. In my first year in the Human Services in college our instructor asked us to place in order (in the context of working for a counseling/human services agency) the importance of the client, the agency and ourselves as helpers. She called this order "trinity safety" and said that the agency comes first, then ourselves, then lastly, the client because without the agency we would not be there to serve the client and without ourselves (or someone like us) the client would not be served. So the idea is to support that which holds all together first. Thus my belief in biocentrism.
Yet, I would probably kill to protect the life of the ant I love and live with.
It's/we're all related, I think.
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Godfather.
Godfather.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
I'm just fascinated by the contrasts of these ways of seeing things. For me personally, I think it's a good exercise because it's really easy to at least subconsciously consider oneself to be god-like in some way and our instincts lead us to putting ourselves in the middle of our own universes- partly as a survival mechanism. Going back to the question of which relies on which for survival- humans or microbes- it's humbling to realize we are- in the big picture of things- less than dirt. The cool thing is that when we see ourselves as part of a bigger more important whole both us and all other life have a better chance for survival.
So I would also never put down someone for saying they are anthropocentic because we probably all are so, at least to some extent. It really feels good to see oneself as hot shit, right? Most everyone wants that at least sometimes. But again, if we move closer to biocentrism we might find ourselves back in alignment with the continuum.
Godfather.
So JP, Biocentric or Anthropocentric?
Godfather.