Friday, August 27, 2010

Our relationship to the natural world: Some initial thoughts

1.

Our relationship to the natural world is ambiguous. On the one hand, we are drawn to landscapes. We love to visit national parks; we like to build lakefront homes surrounded by woods; and even an overwhelmingly urban space such as New York needs Central Park. The biologist Edward Wilson has a term for this: biophilia.

What is behind the instinct? One possible explanation – Wilson’s, not mine – is that humans, for hundreds of thousands of years, were inextricably part of the natural world: it is where we evolved. Our survival demanded an intimate and practical knowledge of the flora and fauna around us. We probably developed our innate fear of snakes, aggressive carnivores and heights then; these reactions are still hard wired in us. We developed also an appreciation for the environment. That too is still with us; that is why excessive development at the expense of forests and the wilderness provokes a reaction.

But even as hunter gatherers, we were always constantly tinkering with our habitats, trying to figure out ways to use it more effectively: controlled burning, deliberately dispersing certain seeds, slow attempts to tame certain animals. Around ten thousand years ago – and this seems to have happened independently within a few millennia in different parts of the world – we developed or “chanced upon” agriculture.

Agriculture fundamentally changed our relationship with the natural world. We no longer needed to be jointly involved in the process of creating food. The farmers were there to do that. We could follow other passions – the arts, the sciences. The time we gained for these pursuits has brought “progress”, to where we are today. But we still are very much part of the natural world. It is just that we don’t look at it that way. We feel the environment is something on the outside, to be enjoyed during walks or excursions.

2.

Cultures interact in distinct ways with the environments they inhabit. The United States is famous for its stunning national parks. The dedicated rangers, caretakers of these parks, are passionate about their work. They convey their wonder of the natural world, but their curiosity is mainly scientific. The ranger will likely be excited about the park's geology, botany and details of what might have happened during the Paleolithic era.

Then there are the trekkers, the mountain climbers, the campers. Their motivation comes from the need to experience nature up close or to get away from the world of work and stress, or the thrill of a daring feat.

In this sense, the American relationship to the natural world is “secular”. Religion resides not in nature but in the church, synagogue or mosque and their associated communities. That is understandable: Christianity is after all a Middle Eastern religion; and the Middle East is where all the holy places are.

Contrast this with how American Indians looked at the land. For them, the connection was much deeper, inextricable. I don’t mean this in a shallow, “hippie” way; neither do I think there was something consciously “environmental” about it. Rather, the land was part of their origins as a people. The mountains, rock formations, rivers, the birds, the animals, waterfalls and natural landmarks were sacred. Stories about them were relayed across generations through oral tradition.

This aspect is not unique to American Indians of course. Plenty of cultures where the religion is homegrown and old have it too. But India is perhaps – to me at least – the most illustrative modern example. Hinduism is about as homegrown and diverse as any religion can be; and it is intimately connected to the land. While traveling through Tamil Nadu last year, I was struck by how temples were used to commemorate natural landmarks – be it the Cauvery River, or a cave, or a hilltop.

If the Grand Canyon had, by some accident of geology, been in India, it would have been a national park, yes, but it would also be a sacred place, where millions of pilgrims might visit a certain time of the year.

Perhaps, in the beginning, all human religions were necessarily religions connected to the earth. Agriculture led to an increase in societal complexity, and paved the way for the more social religions: the world conquering monotheisms of the Middle East. And in recent centuries, economic ideologies and science have created their own worldviews. We seem, in the process, to have lost the instinctive spiritual connection we once had with the earth. Now, the environmental conservation and biodiversity movement is trying, using the framework of science, to make us aware of what we are losing. That may be the correct way in this time and age. But who knows; we’ll just have to wait and see.

52 comments:

Khalil Sawant said...

1.
Hunters-->Gatherers-->Agriculture-->Pottery/Carpentary/Masonary-->Metal-Mining-->...
Humans have indeed progressed, but the primitive people would be wise not to over-abuse nature. Even today fishermen do not oer-fish.

2.
Associating religious emotions to Habitat must have been a common phenomenon, across world-history.

saban_arslan21 said...

Divx online noktafilim.com film izlemek harika. ucuz bitkisel zayıflama hapı burada. Anlık bölgesel zayıflama hapı resmi satış sitesi. Kilo vermek sağlıklı zayıflama hapı le daha kolay. cildinizi kozmetik ürünleri ile gençleştirin. Hızlı nöbetçi eczane arama. Haydi stop ter le hayata tutun. Düzleştirin çatlak kremi ile cildinizi. Gücünüze güç katın jinsei kolye ile. Kaliteli sağlık ürünleri resmi sitesi. Hızlı diyet hapı le kilo verme. Yaşamınızı elektronik market ürünleriyle kolaylaştırın.

Anonymous said...

I would certainly commit 10 on 10 for such incredible cognition.
Ansaf 10 Tips And Tricks

Unknown said...

I feel ecstatic I found you website and blogs.
food network

Unknown said...

Thumbs up guys your doing a truly terrific job. Tips by Shchilian

Unknown said...

Your blogs are totally worth gift quantify and liveliness.
Boston Place Website

Unknown said...

Waooow!!! Magnificent blogs, this is what I wanted to search. Thanks buddy
Relationship Advice by Alp Pictures

zacharyrizzuto said...

The quality of your articles and contents is great.
Relationships by Deco En Bois

Unknown said...

Superb way of explaining, and great blog to get wonderful information.
http://www.frankingdeals.co.uk

Unknown said...

I’m reading the stuff of your site continuously n I have got really a lot of the things that’s very important. You have put the great effort here.
payday loans online same day

Unknown said...

The Info in the blog is out of this world, I so want to read more.
Relationships by Vuln DB

Avocet Steel said...

Your articles make complete sense out of each topic.
ppi

Unknown said...

Your articles make whole sense of every topic.
car accident claim

Unknown said...

Good blog along with the excellent quality stuff and I’m sure this will be greatly helpful. ppi claims

Unknown said...

Thanks for compiling such nicest information in your blogs. Articles are very informative and hope again I’ll find more like that. online payday loan

Big show said...

You guys present there are performing an excellent job. ppi reclaim

Unknown said...

I love all details that you give in your articles. Click Blog PTR Link

Anonymous said...

Your blogs are totally worth gift quantify and liveliness.
ppi reclaim

Anonymous said...

I have been getting a lot of useful and informative material in your website.
Advice by Luggage Marker

Unknown said...

I like your articles guys keep it up.
Ride French River Tips

Anonymous said...

Your place is for sure couturier bookmarking.
Tips by Canada Sheraton

Micheal Hussey said...

Hi I was searching for the blogs for many times, now I have reached at the right place.
infographic design

Unknown said...

If you should be opting for finest contents like me, just visit this blog site daily because it provides the feature contents, thanks.
infographics design

Unknown said...

Ahaa, it’s nice conversation on the subject of this post at this place, I actually have read all that, therefore at this time me additionally commenting at this place.infographic design

Unknown said...

The stuff you are penning blows out my mind.
infographic design

Unknown said...

Personally I think overjoyed I discovered the blogs.
payday loans washington

Unknown said...

The quality of your blogs and conjointly the articles and price appreciating.
whole life insurance prices

Unknown said...

I’m sure you will provide the more awesome blogs like these blogs that I’ve enjoyed a lot.
a1c chart

Anonymous said...

These are actually wonderful some ideas in the blog. You have touched good quality points here. In whatever way continue writing.
whole life insurance quotes

Cool boy said...

I read your blogs regularly. Your humoristic way is amusing, continue the good work!auto insurance

Anonymous said...

I have sent your articles links to all my contacts and all of them liked it including me as well.
Get the facts

Unknown said...

It feels awe-inspiring to read such informative and distinctive articles on your websites.
online tutoring for free

Unknown said...

This blog has very distinct features. Thanks
New York accident attorney

Unknown said...

Your write-ups are far more than wow!
How many solar panels do I need

Unknown said...

It's not my very first time to visit this blog; I’m visiting this daily and acquire superb info from here day by day.
Dear Friday Website Design Art Mark Dixon Perth Western Australia

Unknown said...

I’m trampled for the blogs writings and also blogs.
payday advance

Unknown said...

This is one of the most important blogs that I have seen, keep it up!
zip password

Micheal Hussey said...

I'm dotty for your best article writings and contents auspiciously.
talktalk phone number

Unknown said...

I know this is quality based blogs along with other stuff.
online cash advances

Unknown said...

I would be glad if all WebPages provided such type of best articles.weight loss supplements for women

Anonymous said...

The information you have given in the blog really marvelous and more interesting. free tutoring online

Unknown said...

I know this is quality based blogs along with other stuff.
pirater un compte facebook

Anonymous said...

I think I have really come on the right place for getting the perfect info. restaurants in schaumburg

Anonymous said...

You people have actually provided the best blogs that are easy to understand for the folks. personal trainer Winnipeg

Anonymous said...

I know this is quality based blogs along with other stuff.
pirater un compte facebook

Anonymous said...

It’s really such nice information to get advantage from.

central booking bronx

only one said...

You have shared the best blog. This is what I really need immediately.

best free ftp client

Unknown said...

Amazing information in this blog here that is truly glancing over the every aspects of topic.
vietnam holiday

Unknown said...

I have sent your articles links to all my contacts and all of them liked it including me as well.
vietnam tour

Unknown said...

These are truly amongst the wonderful informative blogs..
vietnam holiday

Unknown said...

Hi Dear, have you been certainly visiting this site daily, if that's the case you then will certainly get good knowledge.exposed skin care reviews

DP said...

John Jahrmarkt, Esq. is the owner injurylawyersgroupla and managing partner of Jahrmarkt & Associates. John has more than 20 years of experience handling all kinds of personal injury claims – from complicated catastrophic injuries to garden variety “soft tissue” pain. John knows how the insurance industry works and the steps their adjusters can take to protect their profits. All of our accident and injury claims are managed by John, experienced in fighting back against any low-ball insurance offers. Jahrmarkt & Associates is a skilled and experienced law firm that focuses only on representing injured individuals. We have been fighting aggressively for the rights of those who have been injured in accidents or by the negligence of others.