On the value of endangered and other species |
| |
Authors: | Mark Sagoff |
| |
Affiliation: | (1) Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy School of Public Affairs, University of Maryland, 20742 College Park, Maryland, USA |
| |
Abstract: | This paper describes two frameworks—utilitarian and Kantian—society uses to make decisions concerning environmental management and, in particular, species protection. The utilitarian framework emphasizes the consequences of choices for prior preferences. A perfectly competitive market, on this model, correctly values environmental resources. The Kantian approach identifies rules appropriate to recognized situations given the identity of the decision maker. It relies on democratic political processes and institutions to provide the means by which citizens determine the identity of their community—its moral character and aspirations—and match appropriate rules to recognized situations. This paper argues that markets do not fail in any general way in measuring the economic value of plants and animals. Market prices, in general, correctly represent the marginal or exchange value of species. If society legislates against extinction, this must be understood as an exercise in Kantian decision making in view of the moral value of species, not as an attempt to correct a market failure or to promote social welfare or utility. |
| |
Keywords: | Biodiversity Endangered species Cost-benefit analysis Social choice Contingent valuation Kant |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|