Ecology’s parts-rights logic extends egalitarian movements to endangered species

Evidence

By pointing up the essential role of every part of an ecosystem, that if one part is removed the system is weakened and loses stability, ecology has moved in the direction of the leveling of value hierarchies. Each part contributes equal value to the healthy functioning of the whole. All living things, as integral parts of a viable ecosystem, thus have rights. The necessity of protecting the ecosystem from collapse due to the extinction of vital members was one argument for the passage of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The movement toward egalitarianism manifested in the democratic revolutions of the eighteenth century, the extension of citizens’ rights to blacks, and finally, voting rights to women was thus carried a step further. Endangered species became equal to the Army Corps of Engineers: the sail darter had to have a legal hearing before the Tellico Dam could be approved, the Furbish lousewort could block construction of the Dickey-Lincoln Dam in Maine, the red-cockaded woodpecker must be considered in Texas timber management, and the El Segundo Blue Butterfly in California airport expansion. — Carolyn Merchant, The Death of Nature, 1080

Categorization

• XREF: Ties ecology to the law/institutions thread of the polyad — species gaining legal standing parallels the colonial/civil law cases in other texts. — connects to: Justice can attach to viable populations of species rather than to individuals — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice:…, 395; Ecological justice extends all four justice components to nonhuman nature — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice:…, 549; A logic of domination justifies ruling nature via culture-nature hierarchy. — Rebecca A. Martusewicz, Jeff Edmundson, and John Lupinacci, EcoJustice Education: Toward Diverse,…, 511 (+2 more)
• ADDENDUM: Supports the trees-as-infrastructure essay’s argument about legal personality and plants as infrastructure actors deserving standing.
• DEFINE: Shows how ecological interdependence translates into rights language — foundational ecofeminist/multispecies vocabulary.

Broader Connections

• Ecological justice extends all four justice components to nonhuman nature #expands (0.85) — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 549
• Justice can attach to viable populations of species rather than to individuals #expands (0.80) — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 395
• A logic of domination justifies ruling nature via culture-nature hierarchy. #responds-to (0.75) — Rebecca A. Martusewicz, Jeff Edmundson, and John Lupinacci, EcoJustice Education, 511
• Liberalism is organically embedded in the racialized nature-value hierarchy #complicates (0.70)