A Philosophical Interpretation of Nature’s Intrinsic Value

Grounded in the Marxist theory of value and Xi Jinping's thought on ecological civilisation, this paper systematically explores the core question of whether nature possesses intrinsic value. The article first critiques the theoretical limitations of the traditional instrumentalist theory of value and uni-dimensional ecocentrism, pointing out that under the subject-object relational model of value, maintaining human subjectivity does not necessarily deny nature's intrinsic value. By introducing a relational expression of value, the paper demonstrates the equal status of nature as an object within the value relationship, revealing the logical possibility of nature's intrinsic value. Secondly, integrating the labor theory of value with the theory of innovative labor, the paper analyses the roles of land, machinery, and high-tech production in value creation. It points out that nature's creativity and human creativity possess an inherent unity, and that the latent intrinsic value of nature is actualised through human practical activities, transforming into an «endogenous use value.' On this basis, the article explores the unity of «is' and «ought' from an ontological perspective, elucidating how the creativity of ecosystems intrinsically connects factual judgements with value judgements. Ultimately, centred on the scientific proposition that «lucid waters and lush mountains are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver,» it demonstrates the dialectical unity of ecological and economic values and proposes a philosophical foundation for building a «community of life' between humanity and nature, thereby achieving a dialectical transcendence of both anthropocentrism and ecocentrism.