Respect for nature in animal welfare ethics includes which belief?

• A. All living things have inherent value (telos)
• B. Humans are inherently superior to other species
• C. Only humans have moral status
• D. Environmental ethics is separate from biocentric ethics

Answer: (A)

Respect for nature in animal welfare ethics is grounded in the idea that all living things have intrinsic value simply because they exist, not because of their usefulness to humans. This biocentric or ecocentric view recognizes the inherent worth of each being and its own telos—the inherent nature or purpose of the organism. It means we consider animals and other life as deserving moral consideration in their own right, rather than as resources for human ends.

This stance rejects the notion that humans are inherently superior or that only humans have moral status. It also connects environmental ethics to biocentric thinking, showing that valuing nature isn’t separate from valuing individual beings; nature’s value is not solely about human use. So the belief that all living things have inherent value best captures respect for nature.