THE DERIVED CONSEQUENCES OF THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN ANTHROPOCENTRISM AND BIOCENTRISM IN RELATION TO THE RIGHTS OF THE NATURE IN ECUADOR (2008-2015)

Abstract

The Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador of 2008 had not only modified the organization of the state, the law was also changed significantly. Among the many innovations introduced, one that has been most discussed are called the Rights of Nature. Under this assumption it has recognized the nature or the Pacha Mama as a subject of rights, granting it a different legal status to which had been giving. The aforementioned constitutional text repeatedly refers to the nature, its importance, its protection, and it is especially placed in a position of equally respect with the humans. The fact of adopting a biocentric vision has a number of implications that must be analyzed. However, this view is not the only one that permeates the Constitution, the right of individuals to live in a healthy environment is also introduced, postulated that shows an anthropocentric vision. Although the rights of nature and the right to live in a healthy environment may look similar, they are not the same and its content is different. In this paper are examined the two views mentioned above in order to initiate from the correct conception and then analyze the whole representation concerning to the nature, embodied in the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador and the consequences.

Keywords: biocentrism, anthropocentrism, rights of the nature.