Justice can attach to viable populations of species rather than to individuals
Evidence
Baxter extends the community of justice to what he calls ‘merely living’ species, or those nonsentient and ‘too lacking in individuality for it to make much sense to attribute the rights to individuals of the species’ (Baxter 2005: 127). In these species, as no individual member possesses ambitions or interests that differentiate it from other members, there can be no moral differentiation between those individuals. This does not mean that the individuals in this species are totally devoid of moral standing. Baxter suggests we admit not just individuals and species to the community of justice, but ‘viable populations’ (p. 128) of species as well. Ecological justice, he insists, defends the claim that viable populations of merely living organisms have a right to environmental resources necessary for those populations to exist and survive (p. 131). — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 395
Categorization
- XREF: A group-level (not individual) subject of justice parallels the recognition-justice collectivities discussed in earlier chapters (ch33: capabilities realized in groups). — connects to: Extending moral consideration to nature need not imply equality with humans — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice:…, 391; Interest-based accounts of justice to nature fail to cover rivers, mountains, and clouds — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice:…, 399; Ecology’s parts-rights logic extends egalitarian movements to endangered species — Carolyn Merchant, The Death of Nature: Women, Ecology,…, 1080 (+5 more)
- DEFINE: Defines ‘merely living species’ and the shift from individual to population as the bearer of justice claims.
Broader Connections
- Ecological justice extends all four justice components to nonhuman nature
#expands(0.85) — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 549 - Justice to nature can rest on shared qualities without erasing difference
#expands(0.80) — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 449 - Collective action rather than individual effort defines justice.
#qualifies(0.75)