What Is Broad Anthropocentrism?

Imagine walking through an area where you could comfortably breathe the air without worrying about the constant emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Now, imagine only being able to breath in this fresh air because American families wanted more financial support in order to pursue needs of their own. Boyce writes “The Carbon Dividend” in The New York Times in order to convey the concern of “broad anthropocentrism” ideals in American society, but more specifically in Amherst, Massachusetts. He explains “that the government is telling [society] how to live today in the name of those who will live tomorrow” (Boyce 2014). By doing this the government can ensure the protection of the environment while also making sure the community of Amherst is satisfied with the result of “more money in the pocket of American families” (Boyce 2014). Less importantly, it will lead to the emission of “less carbon in the atmosphere” (Boyce 2014). This concept of “broad anthropocentrism” …show more content…
In other words, broad anthropocentrism explains the ideology of taking responsibility for nature only because it will be beneficial to future generations. Light and Rolston’s opinion on the extent to which one is responsible for nature differ, but they agree “that environmental ethics prospers only with critical exchange, with deep probing, with argument…” (2). This, in fact, is why there are several ways to express the extent to which one should take responsibility for nature. Human carbon dioxide emission in Amherst, Massachusetts has negatively impacted the air quality. In order for these citizens to secure the well-being of future generations, they feel obligated to economically invest in air quality protection. However treating this non-human nature in the way we expect to be treated is just as important because nature has value in and of