From Instrumental to Intrinsic: Rolston’s Theory of Natural Value and Moral Obligation

Abstract

This article takes Rolston’s environmental ethics as the research object, aiming to analyze the theory’s criticism of the traditional instrumental value theory and the construction logic of the intrinsic value theory, explore the intrinsic connection between the intrinsic value of nature and human moral obligations, and propose practical measures for moral obligations, thereby providing a new research perspective for contemporary environmental ethics research and ecological governance practice.