Unity between Human and Nature - Essay Example

?Saleh Alhawal B.Russo RPW 110 06 December Unity between Human and Nature In this document, efforts have been employed to understand nature and the collective environment. In everyday situations, humanity’s relationship with nature or the slightest lack of it influences how people live. It has been proven that humanity depends on nature and the surrounding environment for its survival and upkeep. In this era of development of technological advancements, humanity’s survival requires serious shifts in transformation where humanity reunites with nature. There have been scholarly attempts and terms that come from study of nature. For instance, nature-deficit-disorder is a term, which has been coined to describe the increasing gap between nature and modern day children/adults (Louv, 42). This has caused emergence of mixed reactions where a section of world adults have spoken in tones of heartfelt emotions, others have spoken in anger tones and others have spoken out about the loss they have experienced because of the growing gap between humanity and nature. A natural world is crucial to human spirit, well-being, health, and general survival. This has been put in perspective in the Nature Principle, a book by Richard Louv which describes categorically uniting theories in addition to reconciliation of old truths (Louv, 45). The Nature Principle will therefore form part of the underpinning argument in this paper. The perspective that Nature principle proponents have adopted, seek answers to scenarios that portray people adopting and embracing dearly technological developments at the cost of nature. This has led to creation of efforts that would contribute to creation of a life-enhancing world, a real world that is not characteristic of the imaginary future but a world that humanity upholds and respects nature. To show the magnitude of humanity’s shift from nature to technological developments, research conducted in 2008 revealed that half of the world’s population resided in cities and towns. Traditional and conservative ways that embraced nature and experienced by humanity before are gradually vanishing along with the aspect of biodiversity (Louv, 42). Technological development and advancement has been embraced and believed to the core by modern day society and this portrays a venture with no limits where humanity is gradually drifting towards a circuitry sea. The world media has transformed a vast number of people into consuming creations of artificial life, combination of human DNA and bacteria; microscopic technological machines premeditated to enter human anatomies to counter biological intruders or to create and move deadly war clouds across areas experiencing conflicts and war. The issues of realities based on computerized-augmentation and futuristic household structures surrounded by virtual realities transmitted from variant walls have emerged (Louv, 44). There are a number of futurists and inventors who have tried to reverse humanity’s embrace on nature and therefore proposing that humanity should adopt technological developments and life. Ray Kurzweil an American author, inventor, scientist, and a futurist who forecasts an era of transhuman/posthuman where humanity will be enhanced optimally by technology. He has been involved in fields that include recognition of Optical character (OCR), synthesis of text-to-speech, technology on speech recognition and electronic-based key board instruments. Kurzweil has authored various books like Artificial Intelligence, futurism, and Technological singularity and these form the bases of his technological arguments (Louv, 43). Other personalities that have embraced futuristic thinking include Dick Steven of NASA who describes the post-biological universe where a large chunk of the intelligent life is budding and continues to evolve beyond the usual blood and flesh intelligence (Louv, 44). Steven is NASA’s chief historian and has been involved in numerous NASA projects in aeronautics, spaceflights, and Robots. This paper is not against the concepts of these futuristic proponents-proponents who devote to development and use of technology by ethical means in the quest to spread out human capabilities. This paper is arguing that humanity is yet to realize fully or rather, is yet to study and analyze empirically the spread-out process of human capabilities through power bestowed upon nature. The Nature Principle counters the futuristic proponents by suggesting that in the era of hasty environmental and socio-economic transformations, the future belongs to those who are nature-smart –families, individuals, businesses, and leaders in political spheres who build up deeper and concise meaning and comprehension of nature and who balance the real with the artificial/virtual. In relation to the environmental confrontations, facing humanity at present, humanity has been on a steady shift towards the most creative/inventive period in history. This period is characterized by the goal to expand yester-years’ environmentalism and to budge beyond sustainability to the reconstruction of human life. My position on this topic is that religion has played a major role in protecting and maintaining the environment. Many changes are occurring in religion and ethics way understanding of the environment. They have similarities and differences on perception of nature and environment. They use the Quran as their holy book that guides them on what to do. The Quran has very good information about environment and advises people to on how to guide and take care of the nature. Man has his own responsibility and is given the responsibility to take care of the nature and what exists in it (Quran 459). I agree with idea because man is granted with more intelligence than other living things. The theory perspective encourages people to take full responsibility to take care of the environment from being destroyed. Islam is related to ecology that discusses how human beings adapt to the normal life and relate to the environment surrounding them. The religion emphasizes that nature is sacred and needs to be respected since it is a precious thing from God. In my point of view, I agree with the reasoning since environment is used by other cultural activities to worship their believed spiritual gods. Conversely, other people have a conflicting view about this insight; they believe that the religion facts are just believes rather than facts. According to them, they do not deem religious guidelines but I advices them to believe on the environmental is closely related to spirituality. Scientific and ecological view on environmental nature is that it evolved and from simple organism to more complex organism (Taylor, 13). I agree with the scientific facts since they are proven with evidence. Science explains the concept of nature through deep research and study; since there are several experiments done. Ecology and environment are much related in terms of the perception point of view. The environment is related by the scientific facts to the theological believes. “The ecology is significant topic that discusses environment and their beliefs are almost similar to the scientific concepts about the environment” (Xie, Zhenglei et al, 1). On the contrary, science has failed to show to prove all things pertaining with environment. However, scientists believe that they have covered all areas by providing the necessary environment (Taylor, 13). The environment should appreciate the existence of the female gender in the society since they are people who are bringing new living thing in the society. The environment grows and expands because of the feminist existence such as Wangari Maathai, the noble prizewinner. (Taylor, 13). I agree with the perspective that the environment has improved and grown because of the existence of female. The theory majorly shows the existence of female gender in the environment, their originality believes, and roles they have on the environment. The environment is taken care by the females since they have the humble nature of protecting the young and undeveloped living things. Conversely, some people believe that the feminist theory perspective does not pose equality. This is because the theory tends to consider and value female gender in the society. The male genders is not considered, but also play a major role in to maintain the environment. The theology shows the ethical perspective on environment and humanity should strive to protect it through good ethical values (Taylor, 2). Ethics guides people to be responsible in maintaining the environment and the nature. In addition, the historical theory shows the information that was gathered during the past on how they perceived the environment and what roles they played in ensuring it is protected (Louv, 41). Moreover, the animal theology perspective highlights how animals are significant in the environment, how they control their overall population through predating on each other (Louv, 41). The perspective shows the benefits of having animals in the environment. The animals control the nature population through predating on each other, therefore, balancing the ecology. Nature and environment is a topic that is discussed and debated in many international conferences. Several theories and theologies describe the significance and origin of nature. Some of the discussed theories are animal, feminist, religious, science, and technology. Therefore, people should learn to take care of the environment and maintain its nature. When they do that, they will reach the unity between humanity and nature, which would allow them to strive more. Works Cited Louv, Richard. Reconnecting to Nature in the Age of Technology. The Futurist. 2011. Web. December 1, 2011. Available at: Taylor, Bron. Gaian Earth Religion and the Modern God of Nature. 2011. Web. December 1, 2011. Available at: Xie, Zhenglei et al. Evaluating Habitat Change and Boundary Adjustment of a Nature Reserve in Coastal Wetlands: Case Study of Beidagang Nature Reserve, China. Journal of Coastal Research. 2011. Web. December 1, 2011. Available at: Read More