한국윤리교육학회

The purpose of this study is to clarify whether plant rights can be justified. To this end, first of all, I looked at our preconceived notions of looking at plants, and examined whether the rights of plants can be justified from four perspectives. In addition the limitations of these four perspectives were reinterpreted and illuminated by raising a fundamental question about ethics. Although the rights of plants have been sufficiently proven realistically and scientifically, we talked about the ethics of respect for life in order to justify this as it is a matter of human a priori judgment beyond fact that it is a matter of value. However, when the ethics of respect for life is regarded as a rule, guideline, principle, and law of conduct and judgment, it is not free from constant debate. That is why the respect for life ethic asks us to look at the virtue ethics of who we should be. If the right of plants can be justified, it is based on respect for life, and the ethics of respect for life are related to human attitudes, character, and sense of responsibility. This is because, after all, the subject of value judgment is humans, and only humans can think of the entire ecosystem, feel the sense of duty, and take responsibility. If we feel responsible for life-respecting attitude and character, we will see plants as living things like us, not simply as resources, and we will regard plants as companions living with us. Furthermore, I will be thinking about the legitimate rights of plants.