LCP4805 Assignment 1 Semester 1 2023
,Table of Contents
QUESTION 1........................................................................................................... 2
Provide a detailed explanation of each of the following aspects............................2
(a) Anthropocentrism........................................................................................... 2
(b) Biocentrism.................................................................................................... 3
(c) A definition of environmental law...................................................................5
QUESTION 2........................................................................................................... 6
Does the local ratepayer’s association, in terms of South Africa’s Constitution,
have legal standing (locus standi) to challenge the decision to grant authorisation
to build the desalination plant in a competent court? (Briefly describe the
concept of locus standi in your answer)
...............................................................................................................................
6
Bibliography......................................................................................................... 10
, QUESTION 1
Provide a detailed explanation of each of the following aspects:
(a) Anthropocentrism
Anthropocentrism is a philosophical perspective that views human beings
as the central or most important entities in the universe. In an
environmental context, anthropocentrism is the view that humans are the
most important factor to consider when making decisions about the use
and management of natural resources.
Anthropocentrism places a high value on the welfare and interests of
humans, often at the expense of other living organisms and ecosystems.
South Africa has a mixed approach to anthropocentrism and ecocentrism
in its environmental laws. While the Constitution of South Africa
recognizes the right to a healthy environment for all living things, it also
acknowledges the importance of sustainable development and economic
growth. The National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and its
accompanying environmental laws attempt to balance the interests of
economic development and environmental protection by requiring
environmental impact assessments, pollution prevention and control
measures, and the sustainable use of natural resources.1
According to some proponents, the Bible supports an anthropocentric
approach to nature, where humans have dominion over the natural world,
and nothing else has intrinsic value or moral importance. This allows
humans to act as they please with respect to nature, as long as they are
serving human interests. In this approach, the benefits of human
activities are weighed against the costs to humans alone, without
considering the right of natural assets, such as frog species, to exist in
their own right. This approach is implicit in the legal system, including
emerging environmental
1 National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998.
,Table of Contents
QUESTION 1........................................................................................................... 2
Provide a detailed explanation of each of the following aspects............................2
(a) Anthropocentrism........................................................................................... 2
(b) Biocentrism.................................................................................................... 3
(c) A definition of environmental law...................................................................5
QUESTION 2........................................................................................................... 6
Does the local ratepayer’s association, in terms of South Africa’s Constitution,
have legal standing (locus standi) to challenge the decision to grant authorisation
to build the desalination plant in a competent court? (Briefly describe the
concept of locus standi in your answer)
...............................................................................................................................
6
Bibliography......................................................................................................... 10
, QUESTION 1
Provide a detailed explanation of each of the following aspects:
(a) Anthropocentrism
Anthropocentrism is a philosophical perspective that views human beings
as the central or most important entities in the universe. In an
environmental context, anthropocentrism is the view that humans are the
most important factor to consider when making decisions about the use
and management of natural resources.
Anthropocentrism places a high value on the welfare and interests of
humans, often at the expense of other living organisms and ecosystems.
South Africa has a mixed approach to anthropocentrism and ecocentrism
in its environmental laws. While the Constitution of South Africa
recognizes the right to a healthy environment for all living things, it also
acknowledges the importance of sustainable development and economic
growth. The National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and its
accompanying environmental laws attempt to balance the interests of
economic development and environmental protection by requiring
environmental impact assessments, pollution prevention and control
measures, and the sustainable use of natural resources.1
According to some proponents, the Bible supports an anthropocentric
approach to nature, where humans have dominion over the natural world,
and nothing else has intrinsic value or moral importance. This allows
humans to act as they please with respect to nature, as long as they are
serving human interests. In this approach, the benefits of human
activities are weighed against the costs to humans alone, without
considering the right of natural assets, such as frog species, to exist in
their own right. This approach is implicit in the legal system, including
emerging environmental
1 National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998.
