More-than-human ethics in design | Bulger Model

The text analyzes the limits of anthropocentrism in design ethics, pointing to the necessity of moving beyond human-to-human relations. The author contrasts the instrumental approach, where nature is merely a resource for humans (enlightened anthropocentrism), with non-anthropocentric currents. Biocentrism assigns intrinsic value to every living organism, while ecocentrism focuses on the integrity of entire ecosystems and ecological relationships. In the context of Jeffrey Bulger's model, the article poses a key question about the moral status of nature: whether it should be protected only for the benefit of humans or if it possesses an independent right to exist. These reflections lead to the conclusion that a functional technological equivalent is not always morally equivalent to a natural ecosystem.