The aesthetic pleasure of watching spring flowers in full bloom is pl…

The correct answer is Option (2) → Broadly utilitarian argument

NCERT gives three groups of reasons for conserving biodiversity: narrowly utilitarian, broadly utilitarian and ethical. Under the broadly utilitarian argument, after ecosystem services such as oxygen and pollination, it lists intangible benefits: the aesthetic pleasures of walking through thick woods, watching spring flowers in full bloom or waking up to a bulbul’s song. NCERT asks whether we can put a price tag on such things, but it still places them under this argument.

Option (1) Ethical argument — Incorrect. The ethical argument is about what we owe to other species: every species has an intrinsic value, and we have a moral duty to care for it. It is not about the pleasure we get.

Option (2) Broadly utilitarian argument — Correct. Aesthetic pleasure is one of the intangible benefits that nature gives us. NCERT lists it with ecosystem services under the broadly utilitarian argument.

Option (3) Narrowly utilitarian argument — Incorrect. The narrowly utilitarian argument covers direct economic products such as food, firewood, fibre, industrial products and medicines. The sight of flowers is not such a product.

NCERT Extract:
Why Should We Conserve Biodiversity? – “… What will be the costs of accomplishing pollination without help from natural pollinators? There are other intangible benefits – that we derive from nature–the aesthetic pleasures of walking through thick woods, watching spring flowers in full bloom or waking up to a bulbul’s song in the morning. Can we put a price tag on such things?”
Why Should We Conserve Biodiversity? – “… The broadly utilitarian argument says that biodiversity plays a major role in many ecosystem services that nature provides.”