Mr. Espinoza has misinterpreted our view. Nowhere do we assert that intrinsic and instrumental values are incompatible, are mutually exclusive, or must compete. At one point, we do suggest that an irreconcilable tension may exist between the emotional appeal of intrinsic value and the trade-offs required by conservation decisions. Given that our argument concerns only what decisionmaking requires, Mr. Espinoza's letter seems to illustrate this tension. We contend that instrumental value is a much more effective basis for conservation decisionmaking than intrinsic value, and we reject the pessimistic view that “humankind's anthropocentrism” means that no basis for conservation is likely to be effective. It is also not our intention to claim that the idea of intrinsic value is worthless; our focus is the inadequacy of intrinsic value as a basis for conservation decisions. As Mr. Espinoza's letter says, our piece alludes to the motivational nature of intrinsic value, and we explicitly mention its inspirational appeal. Of course, some instrumental values are similarly inspirational.