8/19/2019 Random Anthro Card

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Anthropocentrism cards

Anthropocentrism is absurd and allows for abuse of the

defenseless

M. Alan Kazlev, 2k (Bio: https://en.wikipedia.or/wiki/!ser:"#Alan#Kazlev , source of evidence:http://kheper.net/topics/worldviews/anthropocentrism.html$

However you look at it, anthropocentrism is more than a little absurd. The idea that

one little species on some speck of dust in the infinite universe should be the most

important entity around really reminds me of the old Ptolemaic cosmology, with the

sun and all the planets revolving around the Earth. Indeed, Anthropocentrism is

nothing but a modern and socially and intellectually acceptable version of

geocentrism. We know of course that the Earth revolves around the sun, not the other

way around (although there are apparently a few crazy flat-earthers out there

somewhere). But we can still see our own species as superior to everything else. It

gives us a bloated sense of self-importance in the infinite cosmos, panders little egos

and allows insensitive individuals to abuse and destroy other life-forms on this globe,which brings us to the dark side of Anthropocentrism. The dark side of

Anthropocentrism is similar to the dark side of chauvinism. Any beings that do not

belong to the human race are devalued, abused, oppressed, murdered or tortured for

the slightest human whim, whether for fashion, palate, or simply sport. All of the

ugliness of man's treatment of nature comes from the arrogant assumption that man

has a God-given right to do as he wishes. Interestingly there is a tendency among

some worthy Christian theologians (e.g. Matthew Fox and others) to see man as the

care-taker of nature, who has responsibilities to God to ensure that nature is well cared

for. But this laudable approach is still unfortunately very much the minority position

in the general religious consciousness. I actually find it curious that some of the worst

abusers of nature and animals are the secular scientists. One would think that their

understanding of evolution and biotic phylogeny, which shows that man is nothing

special on the great Tree of Life, would lead them to a greater humilty and respect for

non-human life. But this sadly is not the case, as indicated by innumerable cruel

experiments performed for the sake of "science". Ultimately I think it all comes down

the egotism and the insensitivity of those involved. To continue with anthropocentric

chauvinism therefore is to deny both the real discoveries of science, and the

compassion of the Heart. But when we acknowledge these things, our perspective

shifts from Anthropocentrism to Biocentrism, and empathy with all life.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:M_Alan_Kazlevhttp://kheper.net/evolution/evolution.htmhttp://kheper.net/topics/science/index.htmlhttp://kheper.net/evolution/evolution.htmhttp://kheper.net/topics/science/index.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:M_Alan_Kazlev