Anthropocentrism and humanism in modern society

Anthropocentrism is a teaching whose main idea is that the center of the universe, the goal of all occurring events is a person. Moreover, he himself is a microcosm, and reinterprets everything through the prism of his views, sharing truth and lies.

What is anthropocentrism?

Anthropocentrism is an idealistic view that proves that man is the concentration of the cosmos and the main goal of everything that happens in the world. From Latin it is translated, as a combination of words "person" and "center". What is anthropocentrism in philosophy? In antiquity, Socrates first formulated this term, later it was supported by the philosophers of modern times. It's about the fact that the value of life is balanced only by the value of another such life, and nothing else. In the modern world the word "anthropocentrism" is interpreted in several meanings:

1. Philosophical . Man - the highest goal of the universe.
2. Linguistic . Balance of values.
3. Ecological . Man is the master of nature, has the right to any of its blessings.

What is the difference between humanism and anthropocentrism?

Some identify anthropocentrism and humanism , but these are different things:

1. Humanism is a complex of theories that represents a person who knows how to think and act independently, to harmonize relations between themselves and the world.
2. Anthropocentrism is a doctrine by which man is the goal of all events, his phenomenon is opposed only to the phenomenon of life.

Anthropocentrism differs from humanism in that, according to this doctrine, the whole surrounding world should serve man. Anthropocentrist is a consumer who destroys living nature, as having the right to this, convinced that the whole world should serve only him. A humanist tries not to cause others harm, shows mercy, a desire to help and protect.

The principle of anthropocentrism

The features of anthropocentrism are formulated based on the basic principles of this doctrine:

1. The main value is a person , as a self-valuable creature, everything else in nature is evaluated according to the degree of utility to him.
2. The surrounding world is the property of people , and they can treat them as they see fit.
3. At the top of the social ladder is a person , on the second step - things created by him, on the third - objects of nature that have value for the person.
4. The ideas of anthropocentrism envisage: the connection with nature is manifested only in receiving from it the blessings necessary for people.
5. The development of nature must obey the process of human development, and nothing else.

Anthropocentrism and naturocentrism

The concept of "anthropocentrism" is often opposed to naturocentrism, but along with polarity, they are united by one feature: nature is seen as something external to man. We are talking about the main ways: ownership and existence.

1. Anthropocentrism asserts the human right to dispose of natural riches at will.
2. Naturocentrism is a teaching close to Buddhism, its main idea was formulated by Francis of Assisi: faith in good humility helps a person to occupy not a leadership but a democratic position in relation to nature. People have no right to interfere in the development of nature, only to help and multiply.

Christian anthropocentrism

Religious anthropocentrism presents the same ideas, only in a certain interpretation, taking into account Christian morality. The main principles of this trend are:

1. God is the personification of nature, as its Creator.
2. Only man is created "in the image and likeness of God," therefore he stands above all else created by the Lord.
3. God gave people control over the world of nature.
4. Since all objects of the world are not godlike, they are imperfect, they can be corrected.

Christianity considers the will of man as the highest good, striving to impart love and beauty. In the 21st century, the ideas of anthropocentrism are presented as principles of human harmony with nature:

• to study it, and not to conquer;
• save for future generations;
• carefully dispose of resources;
• minimize the harm that is done in the interests of improving technology.