Speciesism, Science, and Society

Abstract

AbstractSpeciesism is to species as racism is to race. The tenets of both are baseless on all grounds. Although our consciousness is currently raised toward the latter, the former remains persistent and infectious. Speciesism begins with how we view ourselves in relation to the natural world, and leads to behavior that challenges our future on this planet. Our naïve exceptionalism has repercussions for ecology, ethics, conservation, law, culture, and the energy and resource base that powers human society. We are merely a part of the natural world, though we have behaved for centuries through a myopia of perceived dominion. By our actions, we are now pushing against a significant number of planetary boundaries, such as threats to natural resources, climate, biodiversity, and the ecological networks that keep humanity afloat. With each passing day, the distinction blurs between the anthroposphere and the ecosphere, between humanity and the earth-system. As transformers of this planet’s environment, we are one of the greatest ecosystem engineers the earth has ever seen. Yet we remain dependent upon nature, and how we behave over the next few decades will determine our prosperity on this planet and beyond.