Paul Taylor on Egalitarian Biocentrism: Implications for Environmental Sustainability in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

Paul Taylor attempts to chart an alternative course for environmental philosophy by articulating biocentric egalitarianism as an ethical framework for enhancing and promoting an ideal, ethically balanced, and harmonious ecosystem based on his idea of respect for nature. This paper, therefore, examines the nature and character of Taylor’s biocentric ethics, noting its implications for mitigating Niger Delta environmental problems through the instrumentality of environmental sustainability. It explores the nitty-gritty of the attitude of respect for nature; the concept of the good of a being; and the concept of the inherent worth of both human and non-human living beings showing how they impact on environmental management in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria. It employs the method of textual analysis of both primary and secondary texts. It also utilizes hermeneutics to explore and interpret key themes in Taylor's environmental philosophy. It serves as a useful guide for the policy making process at all levels of governance in the Nigerian body-politic vis-à-vis pollution and other forms of environmental degradation in the region. It concludes that Taylor’s biocentric ethics which anchors and hinges on the background or foundation of respect for nature has authenticity and plausibility. It recommends that genuine efforts be intensified by the federal ministries of environment and Niger Delta Affairs to address the manifold challenges militating against the environment. It further recommends that multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in the region render their corporate social responsibility (CSR) to host communities to curb environmental problems in the said region.