environmental ethics (and religion)

Monotheistic religions are said to be anthropocentric, giving pride of place to humanity and making it possible ‘to exploit nature in a mood of indifference’. On the other hand, ideas of purpose and value are said to have been diminished by the industrial revolution because nature was then no longer seen as creation, ie. analogous to a work of art having intrinsic value.

This definition is abridged from A – Z of tree terms: A companion to British arboriculture.
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