Consciousness and the Preservation of the Environment: A Panpsychist Perspective
Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae July 20, 2025 Festus Chukwunweike Ogonegbu
Recognizing consciousness as fundamental throughout the universe—a position known as panpsychism—can reshape environmental ethics by challenging the sharp Western divide between conscious humans and non-conscious nature. This philosophical paper argues that panpsychism provides grounds for acknowledging the intrinsic value of natural entities, not merely their usefulness to humans. When combined with Indigenous knowledge systems that have long recognized agency and personhood in nature, panpsychist principles offer holistic approaches to environmental challenges. The paper concludes that such a perspective can foster reciprocal relationships with natural systems based on mutual recognition rather than exploitation, addressing both the metaphysical and practical dimensions of the environmental crisis.