Towards a Philosophic Appraisal of Plants: Their Metaphysical and Moral Significance

Abstract

Plants pose an intriguing challenge to philosophy, both in terms of ontology and ethics. They occupy a zone of affinity with other animals and human beings, but they are radically alien to these other forms of life. So taking metaphysical account of the vegetal kingdom is, to say the least, a tricky endeavour. Nonetheless, I will attempt to do just that, providing an ontological explanation of botanical beings’ quasi-worlded status. Moreover, I shall mount a campaign to canvass plants’ place in the moral order. We will see that they have a proto-considerability when it comes to illuminating their ethical standing. This means that their interests count for more than the non-considerable properties of stones but can be outstripped by those of other animals. In what follows the range of matters treated is wide, as befits the breadth of vegetal philosophy.