Abstract

Should biodiversity be protected also for the sake of science, as is sometimes suggested? I argue that it should not. First, I explain the “science argument”, as I call it, which says that biodiversity should be protected for scientific purposes, as an object of science. Second, I give reasons against this argument. I argue that the science argument contradicts our understanding of the natural sciences. In addition, I show that science does not depend on biodiversity. However, since biodiversity research depends on biodiversity, I then explore whether biodiversity research is important for science. I argue that the investigation of biodiversity is exclusively valuable for scientists personally and for humankind generally, as it shows us to what extent biodiversity is useful – but not for science. Therefore, the science argument does not convince.