An environmental worldview is an individual's beliefs about their role in the world, what constitutes right and wrong environmental behavior, and how the world works. These worldviews can differ between individuals based on their assumptions and values. There are several types of environmental worldviews including egocentric, anthropocentric, and life-centered/earth-centered views. Life-centered and earth-centered views see intrinsic value in all life forms and nature, not just their usefulness to humans. These viewpoints believe humans have a responsibility not to cause species extinction and that we are part of the larger Earth community.

1. What is an Environmental Worldview? It is an individual’s belief about: What ones own role in the world should be What is a right or wrong environmental behavior (environmental ethics) and . . . How the world works Because of differing worldviews, 2 people might interpret the same environmental data and reach different conclusions. This happens because the 2 people start with different assumptions and values .

3. What is your ecological identity? To determine our ecological identities, an Environmental educator has suggested we ask ourselves the 4 basic questions below: 1. Where do the things I consume come from? 2. What do I know about the place where I live? 3. How am I connected to the earth and other living things? 4. What is my purpose and responsibility as a human being on this planet?

4. Egocentric Worldview Egocentric Worldview: is a belief based on the view that oneself should do everything what supports one`s own interests and profit. According to Egocentric worldviews: Only oneself has intrinsic value. Other human & nature have instrumental value. Any action is based on one´s personal wealth.

5. Anthropocentric Worldview Anthropocentric Worldview: is a belief based on the view that some tree, a wild species or the biosphere has value only because of its usefulness to us. According to Anthropocentric worldviews: Humans have intrinsic value. The rest of nature has instrumental value. We are in charge of the earth and can act as masters or caretakers to other species.

6. Basic beliefs of Human-centered Worldviews We are the planet’s most important species and also in charge of the rest of nature. The earth has an unlimited supply of resources. Even if there are shortages, we can find substitutes. We can solve environmental problems with our technology Our success on earth depends upon how well we can understand, control and manage earth’s life-supporting systems. The potential for economic growth is limitless and more economic growth is always good.

7. Limits of human-centered worldviews We do not have enough knowledge about the earth to become its managers We are not aware of the total number of species on earth much less the roles the species play in maintaining ecosystems. Free-market system won’t save the earth because profit maximization takes precedence over loses of earth’s capital Human-centered views focus on short-term economic benefits regardless of environmental consequences Spaceship view won’t work because human constructs of the earth are often over simplified.

8. Life-centered and earth-centered environmental worldviews Main Beliefs: These viewpoints see an intrinsic value in all forms of life, irrespective of their potential or actual uses to humans. Nature exists not only for humans but for all of the earth’s species

9. Major life and earth-centered environmental worldviews 1) Life-centered (biocentric) school: believes that humans have an ethical responsibility to not cause premature extinction of any species Every organism has an inherent right to survive as well as having a potential economic good for human use. Every organism is capable through evolution of adapting to changing environmental conditions.

10. Life and earth-centered environmental worldviews 2) Earth-centered (ecocentric) school : is devoted to preserving the totality of earth’s biodiversity and the functioning of its life-supporting systems. Main beliefs: We are part of the community of life and the ecological processes that sustain life. We should not only preserve individual organisms but a species in a functioning ecosystem.