Deep Ecology

The following are the eight basic principles of deep ecology. These were originally posited by philosopher Arne Naess and have now spread to become the essential doctrine of the deep ecology movement.

1. The well-being and flourishing of human and nonhuman life on Earth have
value in themselves. These values are independent of the usefulness of the
nonhuman world for human purposes.

2. Richness and diversity of life forms contribute to the realization of
these values and are also values in themselves.

3. Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to
satisfy vital needs.

4. The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with a
substantial decrease of human population. The flourishing of nonhuman life
requires such a decrease.

5. Present human interference with the nonhuman world is excessive, and the situation is rapidly worsening.

6. Policies must therefore be changed. The changes in policies affect basic
economic, technological, and ideological structures. The resultant state of
affairs will be deeply different from the present.

7. The ideological change is mainly that of appreciating life quality
(dwelling in situations of inherent worth) rather than adhering to an
increasingly higher standard of living. There will be a profound awareness
of the difference between big and great.

8. Those who ascribe to the foregoing points hace an obligation directly or
indirectly to participate in the attempt to implement the necessary changes.