antianthropocentrism
|an-ti-an-thro-po-cen-tri-sm|
/ˌæntiænθrəpəˈsɛntrɪzəm/
against human-centeredness
Etymology
'antianthropocentrism' originates from Greek and modern English formation: the prefix 'anti-' (Greek 'antí') meaning 'against', the combining form 'anthropo-' from Greek 'ánthrōpos' meaning 'human', and the suffix '-centrism' ultimately from Greek 'kéntron' meaning 'center' via Latin/French formations.
'anthropocentrism' was formed in modern philosophical discourse by combining 'anthropo-' + 'centrism' (late 19th–20th century usage); 'antianthropocentrism' arose later by prefixing 'anti-' to denote opposition, especially in environmental ethics and posthumanist writings in the late 20th century.
Initially the roots described a 'against-human-centered' notion in a literal morphological sense; over time the compound evolved into a technical term used in ethics, ecology, and philosophy to denote a sustained critique or alternative to human-centered thinking.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the position or doctrine opposing anthropocentrism — i.e., a view that rejects placing humans at the center of moral, philosophical, or ecological consideration and instead emphasizes the moral significance or centrality of non-human entities, ecosystems, or intrinsic values beyond human interests.
Antianthropocentrism challenges the assumption that human interests are inherently more important than those of other species or ecosystems.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/15 09:12