The phenomenon of intrinsic value of nature
Keywords:
intrinsic value of nature, extrinsic value of nature, instrumental value, terminal value, moral status of nature, inherent worth, environmental ethicsAbstract
A study of the intrinsic value of nature was conducted. The relationship between the types of value (extrinsic and intrinsic) and approaches to its understanding (subjective and objective) was established. For the first time, a holistic concept was developed which defined the essence and characteristics of the intrinsic value of nature, identified the criteria for its detection, and formulated the definition of the concept of «intrinsic value of nature». The theoretical and methodological foundations of the intrinsic value of nature for living beings, inanimate components and ecosystems are presented. The need to establish harmonious and respectful relationships between humans and their moral partner, the natural world, is ethically substantiated. Recommendations are given for the practical application of the results of this study.
References
- Callicott JB. Intrinsic value in nature: a metaethical analysis. The Electronic Journal of Analytic Philosophy [Internet]. 1995 [cited 2025 January 27];3. Available from: https://ejap.louisiana.edu/EJAP/1995.spring/callicott.1995.spring.html.
- Steyn B. Nature’s intrinsic value: a taxonomy. Environmental Ethics: an Interdisciplinary Journal. 2024;46(2):107–130. DOI: 10.5840/enviroethics20245975.
- Елишев СО. Изучение понятий «ценность», «ценностные ориентации» в междисциплинарном аспекте. Ценности и смыслы. 2011;11(2):82–96. EDN: NYGXHB.
- Шелер М. Избранные произведения. Денежкин АВ, Малинкин АН, Филлипов АФ, переводчики; Денежкин АВ, редактор. Москва: Гнозис; 1994. 490 с.
- Тугаринов ВП. О ценностях жизни и культуры. Ленинград: Ленинградский университет; 1960. 156 с.
- Риккерт Г. Философия жизни. Киев: Ника-центр; 1998. 505 с.
- Deplazes-Zemp A. Beyond intrinsic and instrumental: third-category value in environmental ethics and environmental policy. Ethics, Policy & Environment. 2023;27(2):166–188. DOI: 10.1080/21550085.2023.2166341.
- Столович ЛН. И. Кант и проблема ценности. Кантовский сборник. 2009;30(2):2–31. EDN: KXTAFR.
- Тугаринов ВП. Теория ценностей в марксизме. Ленинград: Ленинградский университет; 1968. 124 с.
- Bradley B. Two concepts of intrinsic value. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice. 2006;9(2):111–130. DOI: 10.1007/s10677-006-9009-7.
- Кант И. Основы метафизики нравственности. Фохт Б, Соколов Н, переводчики. Москва: АСТ; 2023. 384 с.
- Moore GE. Philosophical studies. New York: Harcourt, Brace; 1922. 342 p.
- Moore GE. Principia ethica. New York: Cambridge University Press; 1903. 232 p.
- Борейко ВЕ. Краткий курс экологической этики. Киев: Киевский эколого-культурный центр; 2004. 72 с.
- Rokeach M. The nature of human values. New York: Free Press; 1973. 438 p.
- Bradley B. Intrinsic value. The International encyclopedia of ethics [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2025 January 27]. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781444367072.wbiee122. DOI: 10.1002/9781444367072.wbiee122.
- Швейцер А. Культура и этика. Москва: Прогресс; 1973. 343 с.
- Rolston H. Conserving natural value. New York: Columbia University Press; 1994. 259 p.
- Ермаков ДС. Об этике достоинства созданий природы. В: Апресян РГ, редактор. Этика и экология. Сборник научных статей. Выпуск 9. Великий Новгород: Новгородский государственный университет им. Ярослава Мудрого; 2010. с. 128–136.
- Fox W. What does the recognition of intrinsic value entail? The Trumpeter. Journal of Ecosophy [Internet]. 1993 [cited 2025 January 27];10(3). Available from: https://trumpeter.athabascau.ca/index.php/trumpet/article/view/379.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of the Belarusian State University. Philosophy and Psychology

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The authors who are published in this journal agree to the following:
- The authors retain copyright on the work and provide the journal with the right of first publication of the work on condition of license Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial. 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).
- The authors retain the right to enter into certain contractual agreements relating to the non-exclusive distribution of the published version of the work (e.g. post it on the institutional repository, publication in the book), with the reference to its original publication in this journal.
- The authors have the right to post their work on the Internet (e.g. on the institutional store or personal website) prior to and during the review process, conducted by the journal, as this may lead to a productive discussion and a large number of references to this work. (See The Effect of Open Access.)