IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/envval/v29y2020i5p605-624.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Aesthetics at the Intersection of the Species Problem and De-Extinction Technology

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Aaron Lindquist

Abstract

De-extinction technology aims to bring extinct species back into existence, often with the goal of releasing created organisms into natural environments. In this paper, I argue that there are aesthetic reasons to avoid engaging in de-extinction and release projects, even if they pass moral permissibility criteria. The strength of these reasons depends on conclusions regarding species authenticity – a problem that arises at the intersection of de-extinction technology and the ‘species problem’ in the philosophy of biology. Since species authenticity affects the perceived naturalness of ‘natural’ environments, and thus the aesthetic judgments thereof, I contend that there will be negative aesthetic consequences of de-extinction efforts that ought to be further explored before such projects move forward.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Aaron Lindquist, 2020. "Aesthetics at the Intersection of the Species Problem and De-Extinction Technology," Environmental Values, , vol. 29(5), pages 605-624, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envval:v:29:y:2020:i:5:p:605-624
    DOI: 10.3197/096327120X15868540131260
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3197/096327120X15868540131260
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.3197/096327120X15868540131260?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:envval:v:29:y:2020:i:5:p:605-624. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.