Anthropocentrism is an idealistic teaching, according to which Man is considered the center of the universe. In addition, it is Man who is the goal of all events taking place in the world. This philosophical view is based on the error formulated by the Greek thinker Protagoras and stating that "The individual is the measure of all things."
Anthropocentrism is the opposition of the human phenomenon to all other existing phenomena. A similar principle underlies the specific attitude to nature, when the concept of consumption is considered the most important concept. Such a teaching was designed to justify the harsh exploitation of various life forms, as well as in some cases their complete destruction. Nevertheless, it is believed that humanism and anthropocentrism are a sane look at the methods and objects of human cognition.
It should also be noted that the history of the desired concept covers a significant period. However, the greatest flowering was observed in the Middle Ages, when Christianity was considered the main religion. Everything here was built around a person. The modern concept of “anthropocentrism” is an integral feature of the human character. Each individual manifests himself in everything, no matter what he does. The way of thinking, the system of perception and understanding of what is happening in the world around us - everything is strictly individual and based precisely on this view.
The concept of “humanistic anthropocentrism” was considered the most important characteristic of the Renaissance. In contrast to the Middle Ages, when religion occupied the main place, the period described above concentrated the attention of thinkers on the problem of the existence of man, the meaning of his stay in this world.
However, there are some differences depending on the field of activity. According to social cognition, anthropocentrism is the opposite of sociologism. It is emphasized that the desired concept expresses not only the independence of the individual, but also the freedom of his choice, as well as the responsibility for the deeds committed. Moreover, since Man is the pinnacle of creation, his obligations are the greatest.
In the political sphere of activity, the concept of “anthropocentrism” is sufficiently realized in the principle of liberalism. Thus, the priority of each person’s personal interests over the needs and needs of any community is recognized. In this regard, the observance of strict social attitudes, as well as large-scale social designing, is alien to such a way of thinking, since all this subordinates the interests of the individual to the representation of the project, therefore, Man becomes only an integral part of the system, one of its “cogs”.
Thus, the doctrine of anthropocentrism, although it is unscientific, clearly defines the boundaries of the influence of power on the life of each individual, and also establishes certain requirements that describe the proportionality of human transformations represented by society.
