Final answer:
Susan Wolf's two conceptions of subject-independence of value include the intrinsic value of something valuable for its own sake and the value of richness and diversity in contributing to life's well-being and having value in themselves.
Step-by-step explanation:
Susan Wolf is a prominent philosopher in the field of ethics, particularly known for her work on the meaning of life and the nature of moral obligations. When discussing Wolf's two conceptions of subject-independence of value, we refer to her insights into what makes something valuable independently of a subject's (such as a person's) attitudes, interests, or beliefs. Subject-independence of value allows for the possibility that some things might be good or valuable without being contingent upon the appetites or wants of any individual.
Wolf's Two Conceptions of Subject-Independence of Value:
- Intrinsic Value: This is the notion that something can be valuable for its own sake, that is, not merely as a means to another end. To have intrinsic value is to have worth in and of oneself, like the value of beauty, truth, or justice.
- Richness and Diversity: Wolf discusses the idea that the richness and diversity of life contribute to well-being and thus have value in themselves. This implies that biodiversity and the complexity of ecosystems, for example, are valued not only for their utility to humans but also for their own sake.
Both conceptions challenge traditional anthropocentric attitudes that see value as strictly human-centered. They open up the ethical discussion to considerations of environmental ethics, where the natural world is seen as a possessor of intrinsic value alongside humans.
Moreover, Wolf's approach relates to broader debates in moral philosophy regarding consequentialist versus non-consequentialist theories, as well as discussions on monism and pluralism in the context of fundamental intrinsic values.