The biocentric idea
Biocentrism says everything that's alive deserves consideration. Its supporters say every living thing has a good of its own, because it thrives under certain conditions and dies under others. A plant grows with water and light and wilts without them.
The problem
From the fact that something thrives under certain conditions, it doesn't follow that it matters to the plant itself whether it's in one situation or another.
Think of a car: it runs well with fuel and stops without it. Nobody says the car "suffers" or is "harmed" without gas. It just stops working.
For something to be harmed or helped, there has to be someone for whom things are good or bad.
Everyday language is misleading
Sometimes we say:
- "the plant likes water";
- "that was good for the species";
- "nature wants balance";
- "the fungus wants moisture."
These are figures of speech, not literal descriptions. The plant doesn't "like" anything; it reacts to water. Using these expressions doesn't prove plants value things.
In short
- Thriving under certain conditions isn't the same as being helped.
- To be harmed, there has to be someone for whom things matter.
- Expressions like "the plant likes" are figures of speech.