Are Humans Part of Nature?

As we become more and more attuned to environmental concerns and various land ethics, there is this lingering question -- is mankind a part of nature? At first the question seems simple enough, yes of course man is a part of nature. Then we pause and think a bit -- what was it that Paul said about the natural man being an enemy of God? So maybe we are supposed to be a part of nature.

So if we are God-fearing does that mean all of our acts and products are not a part of nature. Well, no I doubt anyone wanted to go quite that far.

But if man is a part of nature, then why do we in environmental parlance talk about natural processes being destroyed or interrupted by man? If man is a part of nature, does it not follow that everything mankind does is natural? Well, yes, if you put it that way, but what other way is there to put it? None.

So what we need to start doing is not juxtaposing nature and humans against each other, and start talking about what the proper role of humans is in the natural world -- our world. At that point it is no longer man against nature, and nature against man -- but rather what our stewardship is with respect to the other denizens and flora of the planet. And, in environmental terms (and possibly spiritual terms) what is man's role. Other members of the living world around us, already know instinctually what it is they are supposed to be doing. But man, man doesn't seem to be driven by instinct so much anymore -- and probably that is a good thing. But if man is not driven by instinct, we have to be very careful about what is in fact driving mankind

Comments: 8

Gorgeous Gabby, a Gather Geeky Gal, and The Giz Jul 20, 2007, 3:15pm EDT

If we're not part of nature, then what are we part of?

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George H W. Jul 20, 2007, 7:08pm EDT

WE ahve lost our original instructions in our chase for power and riches. WE are gardeners gone mad. If we live by the law of love and apply it to the natural world around us where does that lead...... I was told God is all in all by my grandfather, Hindus think the same that all the physical world is a manifestation of Gods thought. The Romans made it into domination of the natural world but that is not what Jesus taught. LIVE BY THE LAW OF LOVE APPLIED TO ALL CREATION. Very simple.

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George McNaughton Jul 20, 2007, 8:05pm EDT

I think that it makes a difference as to how we look at thing environmentally. We need to quit thinking of nature as something other than human. I posted an article a long time ago on Gather which referred to the fact that some of the non-contact islanders instinctively knew that the tsunama was coming and headed for the hills and as a result were not washed away like so many people were. There was a suggestion that they had some type of sense (as in the five senses) that has atrophied among modern homo sapiens. I think it is possible that we lost the instruction manual somewhere along the way to modernity and we may have to retrace some of our steps to find it again.

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George H W. Jul 21, 2007, 1:07pm EDT

Interesting. Check out Lynn McTaggarts :The Field for up to date research on the nature of human consciousness and our latent mental abilities.

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Karl Leuba Jul 21, 2007, 1:40pm EDT

We are part of nature, that is we are natural, but it is a stretch to say the internal combustion engine is natural. Bubonic Plague is also natural, and it has been conquered. The cure comes from nature, the prevention comes from understanding nature, but neither cure nor prevention are natural, the cure is mass produced, and the prevention uses devices crafted by humans.
We are natural, and we depend on nature for all our necessities. And if we alter the natural world to the point that it cannot provide the necessities, we will starve.

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Pat V. Jul 21, 2007, 9:45pm EDT

I have thought along the same lines; thanks for bringing this out. We have a place in nature, but by our "superior" reasoning powers. we have a bigger responsibility toward it. Too often, we've ignore that responsibility, but on the other hand, we've often gone overboard in protecting nature, and acting as if we were aliens in this world. I don't think we have a very good grasp of what stewardship means.

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Chris W. Jul 22, 2007, 10:24am EDT

I have to come down on the side of "we are part of nature". Consider if you will the history of the Maya civilization or the collapse of Easter island culture. Both those events involved human groups exceeding the carrying capacity of their natural systems. Yes, on Easter Island they actually cut down the last tree on the island and ended up eaching each other for food. Our planet is not categorically different from an island- it is just Bigger.
If you think we are separate from nature, try eating your computer. Food for thought is nice, but it makes a very poor lunch.

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Sheryl O. Jul 23, 2007, 11:16am EDT

We are really only a small part of the larger web of life on this planet. We are not even aware of many of the other living things on the planet - we have knowledge of a small percentage.

The fact that we evolved enough to be able to do harm to other parts of this life web is the concern. Other species are also capable of destroying their environments, but are smart enough to not do that, whether they lack the conscious ability to choose, or just don't destroy by instinct.

Do we act responsibly, or irresponsibly? And if we choose to be irresponsible, then we must realize that we are hurting ourselves, too, as we destroy the other parts of the web. We are only beginning to understand the complex connections among the parts of the web. We are doing much more damage to it than we even can imagine.

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Are Humans Part of Nature?

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