Explore Anthropocentrism’s Impact on Philosophy and Ethics

Anthropocentrism is a philosophical doctrine that places humans at the center of the universe, prioritizing human needs and interests above all else. This perspective views humanity as the primary measure of value and reality, asserting its dominance over other life forms and natural resources.

What is Anthropocentrism?

Anthropocentrism defines itself as a philosophical doctrine that positions human beings at the central point of interest in reality. Consequently, it establishes an ethical and moral framework that consistently places human interests above all other considerations. This perspective subordinates other living beings to the needs, benefits, and overall well-being of humanity. Furthermore, anthropocentrism establishes humans as the reference point and the measure of all things within the realm of epistemology. This philosophical current is largely credited with the proliferation of universities, aiming to disseminate its humanistic intellectual model and expand its influence.

Key Characteristics of Anthropocentrism

This section briefly explains some fundamental characteristics of anthropocentrism as a doctrine.

1. Reason Over Faith

Under anthropocentrism, rationality gains significant prominence, applied to the study of all subjects. Reason aims to comprehend the world through an analytical perspective grounded in observation and empirical studies. This anthropocentric viewpoint, rooted in reason, directly challenged the theological propositions of theocentrism.

2. High Importance of Science

From an anthropocentric perspective, science holds particular value, leading to the emergence of various scientific branches like biology, physics, anatomy, and astronomy. The increase in the number of universities further facilitated the expansion of knowledge transmitted across these scientific disciplines.

3. Placing Humans at the Center of the Universe

As previously mentioned, anthropocentrism places the human being at the universal center, moving away from the theocentric ideas that positioned a deity in that role. Therefore, anthropocentrism conceives of humans as capable of transforming and dominating nature, fostering an unquestioning confidence in all human inventions and creations.

4. Strong Interest in Knowledge and Discovery

During this era, there was a surging desire to gain more knowledge about the world from diverse perspectives. This fueled the paramount importance of science, the proliferation of universities, and the drive to discover new territories, which in turn spurred commercial relations and economic growth.

5. Rejection of Divine or Supernatural Beliefs

The anthropocentric doctrine includes a rejection of anything that cannot be empirically studied and verified, thus setting aside all theological propositions.

6. Importance of Social Prestige

Anthropocentrism assigns great significance to power, fame, and wealth, which collectively bestow social prestige upon individuals possessing them, elevating them above those in lower social strata.

7. Classicism Movement

With anthropocentrism and humanism, the Greco-Roman tradition was revived through Ancient Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, and classical writers such as Tacitus, Ovid, Virgil, and Homer. This rich array of classical authors led to epistemological relativism, shifting from a single, universal knowledge to considering diverse currents of thought and knowledge. The return to Greco-Roman classicism also profoundly impacted art, where religious themes were replaced by Greco-Latin subjects, notably exemplified by Sandro Botticelli’s painting “The Birth of Venus.”

8. Impulse for Art

The era coinciding with the emergence of anthropocentrism also witnessed an artistic explosion supported by patronage from powerful and wealthy families and individuals interested in collecting art.

9. Different View of Life

Anthropocentrism offers a distinct view of life compared to theocentrism. It conceives of earthly life as a transient journey where individuals should seize every opportunity and strive to enjoy each moment as much as possible.

10. Relationship with Humanism

This intellectual movement and the doctrine of anthropocentrism are founded on shared premises. Both consider the human being as the center of the universe, believing that human actions enable the domination of nature and the construction of one’s own destiny. Humans are considered masters of their fate, possessing fundamental qualities like reason, freedom, and will. Other common aspects include the revival of classicism from ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Due to these and other shared aspects, humanism and anthropocentrism are often seen as interconnected.

Brief History of its Development

What is known as anthropocentrism originated in the early Modern Age (16th century). The transition from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age also marked a shift in doctrinal perspective. While theocentrism, which placed a deity at the center of the universe, was dominant in the Middle Ages, the rise of anthropocentrism brought about a shift of power towards human beings. This change in doctrinal perspective, spurred by anthropocentrism, impacted various levels: moral, ethical, philosophical, social, and judicial. It’s also important to note that despite humans being considered the center of the universe, religion was not completely abandoned and continues to hold relevance today.

1. Renaissance

The Renaissance era marked the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Modern Age. This cultural movement, originating in Italy in the 15th century, influenced various artistic modalities such as architecture, painting, and sculpture. Its name reflects the revival of Greco-Roman style in the works produced during this period. By embracing classical Greco-Roman themes, artists meticulously focused on the proportions of represented figures and gave special prominence to the depiction of the human body, thus adhering to an anthropocentric vision.

2. Humanism

This intellectual movement emerged in Italy during the 14th century, developing across various disciplines (philosophy, theology, literature, and history). It is closely linked to the cultural movement of the Renaissance and the doctrine of anthropocentrism. The strength anthropocentrism gained during that period, by rescuing Greco-Roman tradition, inherently involved a primary focus on studying human beings.

Criticisms of Anthropocentrism

Anthropocentrism has faced considerable criticism, primarily concerning its premise that everything on Earth exists on a hierarchical level inferior to human beings, implying that nature and other living creatures are merely at humanity’s disposal. Conversely, opponents of anthropocentrism’s central idea—that humans are the center of the universe—argue that humans should not be considered superior to other beings, advocating for equal rights for all living things. Other movements also disagree with the notion that humans have an inherent right to exploit environmental resources at will for their own benefit.

This led to the emergence of biocentrism in the 1970s, a movement that asserts all living beings deserve moral respect, with no single life form considered superior to another, prioritizing the fundamental right to life for all beings. It is crucial to recognize that perspectives are not always black or white; there are intermediate positions where different movements share common ground. All these perspectives have contributed valuable insights and knowledge that persist today, enriching our cultural, scientific, and biodiversity heritage.