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44 REFLECTIONS ON THE ACT how natural things are of value, not just what other humans value. We have to ask whether animals, plants, species, and ecosystems count morally. The Endangered Species Act laments the lack of "adequate concern" for vanishing species. But neither politicians, nor sci- entists, nor ethicists have fully realized how developing this concern requires an unprecedented mix of politics, biology, and ethics. To some extent, an act forged in a pluralist democracy needs only to recognize a consensus that we ought to save- endan- gered species; it need not detail the reasons why, on which we may not be agreed. Nevertheless, injunctions coupled with rea- sons are more likely to succeed, especially if the injunctions are prohibitive. As the act- takes on history, Congress, agencies, courts, and citizens must think through the logic of an adequate concern. In so doing, three areas are of primary concern: natural values versus economic values, evolving concepts of private property as they relate to endangered species, and distinguish- ing moral concern for species from that for individuals. NATURAL VALUES VS. NONECONOMIC VALUES The Congress finds and declares that: 1. Various species of fish, wildlife, and plants in the United States have been rendered extinct as a consequence of economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation. 2. Other species of fish, wildlife, and plants have been so depleted in numbers that they are in danger of, or threatened with, extinction. 3. These species of fish, wildlife, and plants are of esthetic, ecologi- cal,educational, historical, recreational, and scientific value to the Nation and its people.z All three clauses contain value judgments mixed with facts. (1) Extinction is a fact; inadequate concern is a value judgment. (2) Danger of extinction is both a fact and a negative value. (3) Many citizens value these species; that fact reports what such persons value. Do the values defended in clause (3) supplement or consti- tute the values in (1) and (2)? Clause (3) is integral to this act of