Under One Canopy: Environmental Ethics and the Tree of Life

Humanity's technological achievements have enriched our lives immeasurably, andhelped underscore what a unique species we are. Yet, these advances have distanced usever further from our fundamental, biological nature, obscuring our kinship with the rest ofthe Earth's biodiversity. Peeling away just a few of these layers reveals a world rich inconnections that show just how deeply enmeshed in nature we are. Every cell in ourbodies and every impulse we experience are testaments to our fundamental unity with allother life on Earth. Human exceptionalism has narrowed our view of environmental issues like climatechange and loss of biodiversity as threats primarily to our own livelihoods, denying anymoral responsibility toward our evolutionary brethren. Yet, the recognition of our inherentbiology should prompt deep reflection on the ethical status of other species. As our senseof kinship grows, our sense of obligation should expand accordingly. Under One Canopy challenges readers to confront their biological selves. I arguethat acknowledging our kinship with non-human lives demands a radical reimagining of ourresponsibilities as a society. Humanity must figure out how to prioritize the sustainability ofthe Earth's living systems, for our own descendants and for those of all other members ofour extended evolutionary family.