ANIMALS AND INTRINSIC VALUE
All animals are important , whether they are endangered or not . All animals play a role in their ecosystem , when they do not play that role , the ecosystem is disrupted and ecosystem health suffers . When we ask why an animal matters , we tend to answer this question by describing their ecosystem role . However , regardless of an animal ’ s role in an ecosystem , they matter intrinsically . This is the less simple , philosophical , answer to why animals matter . All animals have intrinsic value . This means they are good in themselves , not just good for something else .
As humans we have a habit of relating the value of other species to our own wants and needs . From this perspective , an animal is good for the integrity of their ecosystem , which provides ecosystem services ( fresh air and resources ) to humans . They are also good to us in aesthetic terms ; we appreciate them being around for us to see . In addition , we consider an animal ’ s value for what we can learn from them about us . Each of these ways of valuing animals is self-centered at the species scale ; this is known as anthropocentrism . Stepping outside this self-centered perspective , we open ourselves to seeing animals as intrinsically important and valuable , as individuals and a species . If humans don ’ t exist , animals are still important . Their value and ethical status is not tied to ours .
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