Paracentrism

Paracentrism is a term used in philosophy and environmental ethics to describe a stance that seeks to extend moral concern beyond a strictly human-centered focus without committing to a full ecocentric or biocentric framework. The prefix para- signals “beside” or “beyond” the conventional center of moral consideration. In practice, paracentrists may prioritize the interests of certain groups—such as future generations, nonhuman animals with particular capacities, or specific ecosystems—while still maintaining a central role for human welfare and autonomy. The approach aims to reconcile concerns of justice, welfare, and sustainability by employing pluralistic criteria rather than a single central criterion.

Philosophical articulation varies: some define paracentrism as a decentered or multipolar framework that assigns moral weight in a non-uniform way, or as a methodological stance for balancing competing duties. It is often presented in debates between anthropocentrism and ecocentrism as a middle path or compromise position, rather than a fixed doctrine. Proponents may emphasize the practical need to weigh diverse values and interests, rather than applying a uniform rule to all beings or systems.

Criticism centers on ambiguity and the potential lack of clear guidance for policy and action. Critics argue that the term can obscure concrete ethical commitments by overlapping with established positions like biocentrism or multispecies ethics, and that without precise criteria it risks inconsistency across cases.

See also: Anthropocentrism, Biocentrism, Ecocentrism, Multispecies ethics, Environmental ethics.