ARTIFACTS AND FUNCTIONS - A NOTE ON THE VALUE OF NATURE

This paper examines and compares the ontological and axiological chara cter of artefacts - human creations - with nonhuman natural entities. The essential difference between artefacts and natural entities is tha t the former are always the result of human intention and design, whil e the latter are independent of human purpose. Artefacts have function s; natural entities do not. The connection to human intentional purpos e implies a different kind of value for artefacts. Artefacts are evalu ated solely by their instrumental (and anthropocentric) use, while nat ural entities can be appreciated for their independent and autonomous existence. This distinction has normative implications, especially for environmental policy and the development of an environmental ethic. I ntervention in natural processes, even to 'improve' nature, must be li mited, for human action changes natural entities and systems into arte facts. A moral imperative requires respect for the autonomy of nature and resistance to the human domination of nature.