What does biocentrism mean?
Biocentrism is the view that living organisms have intrinsic value and deserve moral consideration in their own right, rather than being valued only for their usefulness to humans. The idea is especially influential in environmental philosophy, where it challenges human-centered accounts of nature and supports protecting biodiversity, ecosystems, and other species. In practice, biocentric arguments can be used to question practices that treat the natural world merely as a resource. The term is related to but not identical with ecocentrism, which places ecological wholes such as ecosystems at the center of moral concern. Biocentrism is primarily a formal, specialized term, and its use usually signals an ethical or philosophical debate about humanity’s relationship with the living world. Its importance lies in expanding moral consideration beyond human interests and encouraging a more responsible relationship with other forms of life.
nounBiocentrism is an ethical and philosophical view that all living organisms have intrinsic value, with humans having no exclusive moral claim to superiority over other forms of life. In environmental philosophy, it is commonly used to describe approaches that prioritize ecological well-being and the preservation of biodiversity.
- The ethical and philosophical view that all living organisms possess intrinsic value and deserve moral consideration, without humans being granted exclusive priority over other life.
"The conservationists defended the wetland on biocentric grounds, arguing that its value should not be reduced to its usefulness to people."
"Environmental philosophers frequently contrast biocentrism with anthropocentric accounts of nature."
"Her biocentric approach led her to support policies that protect endangered species and ecosystems."
The plural is uncommon and is used mainly when referring to different versions or formulations of the view.
"The article compares two biocentrisms that assign different degrees of moral consideration to individual organisms."
Biocentrism asks a radical question: if a forest has value beyond its usefulness to us, what does that mean for the way we live?
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does biocentrism come from?
The modern term emerged in twentieth-century philosophical and environmental discourse. It combines the prefix bio-, from Greek bios, meaning “life,” with centrism, a formation based on center, from Latin centrum and ultimately Greek kentron, meaning “point” or “center.” Its development reflects the expansion of moral and philosophical attention from human-centered perspectives toward living organisms and ecological systems.
Related word forms
How biocentrism is actually used
The term is formal and chiefly associated with philosophy, environmental ethics, ecology, and related academic or political discussion. It is often used with words such as ethics, philosophy, worldview, and values, and it may describe either a general ethical orientation or a particular theoretical position.
Easily confused with biocentrism
Biocentrism gives intrinsic moral consideration to living organisms generally, whereas anthropocentrism places human interests and human-centered values at the center of moral concern.