Biology / Unit 14 Bio 3721 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Intrinsic Value of Biodiversity
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The idea
The intrinsic-value argument holds species have worth in themselves, independent of benefit to humans, grounding conservation in an ethical rather than a practical claim.
In practice
Protecting a species with no known human use rests on its own existence, not any service performed.
Where people slip
Instrumental and intrinsic arguments rest on different premises, practical versus ethical — which is why evidence alone cannot settle between them.
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