Many environmental ethicists treat respect for nature as a value entirely distinct from concern for human welfare. Philosopher Mateo Salazar argues that this separation distorts ethical reasoning. In his account, treating respect for nature as a freestanding value misses the way human dependency on functioning ecosystems makes nature-respect constitutive of, rather than competitive with, concern for human welfare.
Which choice best describes the function of the third sentence in the text?
- A
It restates Salazar's objection in identical terms.
- B
It introduces a different philosopher.
- Ccheck_circle
It elaborates Salazar's objection by recasting two values as constitutive rather than separate or competing.
- D
It rejects environmental ethics altogether.
Explanation
Sentence three develops Salazar's claim by reframing the relationship as constitutive — neither freestanding nor opposed. B captures this nuanced elaboration.