Your Relationship with the Natural World - Coursework Example

Your relationship with the natural world Introduction Human beings and the natural world have an obvious and close relationship. Many people have held a view that human beings are merely the custodians of the natural world. The relationship between human beings and natural world closely relates to physical and material purview. In this regard, the natural world is viewed to provide materials and condition necessary for survival of the human beings and other animals. However, different human beings have different perceptions and interpretations regarding their relationship with the natural world. Thus, the relationship between the two is attributed as complex interplay that obscures contemplation of the social as well as cultural facets in relation to the currently existing relationship between the human beings and the natural world. At the same time, the continuous advancements in technologies and rapid industrialization followed by increasing urbanization have reduced the direct dependence of human beings on the natural world. The reduced direct dependence of human beings on the natural world is further evident from the fact that interaction between human beings and the natural world has diminished considerably than it was earlier. Notably, the continuous advancement in the domain of technology is seen as a ‘double-edged sword’ influencing the growth and wellness of human beings. There has been growing evidence advocating the existence of a positive relationship between the health of the human beings and their interaction with the natural world. More specifically, human survival is dependent on the natural world such as air and water without which survival of human beings is impossible. Thus, it would be folly to think of human life to be outside the natural world. Thesis Statement The role of technology in the current era can be considered as pervasive without which it is quite hard to think of the human life. People in the current globalized era are reliant on sophisticated technologies for numerous aspects. However, one of the potential problems with the growing technological nature and increasing dependence of human beings on the same is that whether the technological nature suffices the benefits yield by the natural world to human beings, and what cost does the human beings have to suffer due to changing relationships with the natural world. Summarizing The people in different societies have varied interpretations and perceptions regarding their relationship with the natural world. I believe it is the culture prevails within any particular society that interacts differently with the natural world. Historically, people irrespective of the society in which they inhabit have been engaged in the exploitation of the natural environment. We have been increasingly dependent on the natural world for food and other necessities such as air and water for our survival. Thus, our relationship with the natural world can be ascertained as ambiguous. The human beings, since their evolution has been engaged in abusing the natural environment for their own benefits, which have negatively impacted the balance of natural environment. Thus, I believe that this change is not in favor of the humans in the long run. The relationship between human beings and the natural world can further be considered as dynamic because, the understanding of the human affiliation to nature has been continuously changing over the period. The changing lifestyle of the human beings also has a significant influence on our relationship with the natural environment. Our interaction with the natural world is reducing as technologies that are more sophisticated are evolving continuously. Notwithstanding, I conceive that the natural rhythms of our body, which involves breathing, walking, and heartbeat, are closely influenced by the rhythm that are external to us. In other words, the natural world plays a considerable role in determining our rhythm. With the continuous advancement in technologies and its transition in the lifestyle of human beings, I construe that we have transformed ourselves to be mechanistic and rational. As a consequence, a significant change in our relationship with the natural world has evolved. Unlike, in the earlier century, we have set ourselves apart from the natural world. At present, we view the natural world as a pool of resources, which we exploit to make different commodities and make use of technology to retrieve unprecedented benefit at the cost of the natural world. Several technologies are strongly embedded in the process of environment such as dairy technology and biotechnology among others. Thus, natural world, if viewed in an in-depth manner, not only be ascertained as a source of raw materials fulfilling our requirements but also as a source that provides new ideas amid us for inventing new technologies. Thus, technologies in the contemporary era can be considered as an outcome that results as part of the consequences of human and natural world relationship. Reflecting A profound impact can be claimed to lay by the natural environment on the overall growth and development of an individual. I remember my childhood experience that can shed considerable light on my relationship with the natural world. I believe play is an important part of any child’s life. However, unlike children of the last century, I have very few opportunities to play outdoors. I was availed with lesser opportunities in contacting with the natural world since my childhood life was confined within the closed doors of my house. As a child, I was provided with necessary playing gadgets and entertainment devices such as gaming console and others. All this equipment offered secondary interaction with nature, but failed to provide me with the real experience of interacting with the natural world. My parents were obsessed by my safety concern. It was not allowed for me to spend time playing outdoors with my friends. In other words, I was availed with very less freedom to contact with the natural world. Since our house was located in one of the most crowded locations of the city, with significant rush everywhere, I could hardly get any chance to interact with the natural world. Like the lifestyle prevailed for children in the historical context where they used to play in the nearest wild place, I had to stay home in my room and spent my time playing games and watching television. I had no access to natural spaces where I can play and respond to the natural environment. I would ride in a bus from my house to school and school to house and the same continued to exist monotonously on a daily basis. My childhood was particularly limited to indoor games. Correspondingly, my relationship with the environment when I was a child was limited largely. I hardly get time to analyze myself from an environmental point of view. In this regard, Louv (2013) asserted that ‘alienation from nature’ could cause severe mental, physical, and spiritual health issues. This statement of the author can seem to lay strong affiliation with my childhood experience. As I grew older, my interaction with environment began to reduce significantly. Now I had a greater responsibility to shape my career and act towards achieving certain personal goals. In other words over the years of my growth, my relationship with the natural environment has changed to a considerable manner. In the past when I was a child, although I had little interaction with the environment, but now in course of my growth as an individual, it is quite hard for me to adjust time to establish contact with the natural world. The changing lifestyle and social responsibility have further created an immense pressure for engaging oneself in activities that drives personal and national development. Comparing It is evident that my relationship with nature has been quite confusing and never been as I have desired. In other words, I have never been able to create a mature relationship with nature. Over the years, I have witnessed human beings abusing nature for gaining self-benefits. Besides, I have been significantly reliant on the use of technologies, which I believe are unable to suffice the need of relationship between the human beings and the natural world. I believe technology is a product that is derived from the relationship of human beings with the natural world. Moreover, it is apparent that in the present day context, our activities have resulted in dismantling the balance of nature. Thus, with this concern, I intend to build symbiosis relationship with the nature where our basic needs are met while preservation of environments is sustained. In addition, I firmly consider that creating a sustainable relationship with nature is extremely important for survival of the humankind as well as ensuring healthy lifestyle of the present as well as future generation. Analyzing The concept of sustainable development is not a new one indeed. Numerous scholars have advocated building a sustainable relationship with the natural world. In this regard, Morelli (2009) noted the sustainable relationship “as a dualistic relationship between human beings and the ecosystem they inhabit”. Accordingly, building a sustainable relationship with natural world must ensure ‘clean air’, ‘clean water’, and ‘clean and productive land’. Similarly, Vlek & Steg (2007) postulated sustainable relationship as reducing the adverse impact of human activities on nature and improving the environment for human living. In other words, Vlek & Steg (2007) claimed for making efficient use of natural resources without damaging the nature. In this regard, building a strong sustainable relationship is extremely essential for preserving natural assets and securing the benefits provided by environments for a longer period. Furthermore, the concept of sustainability must control consumption pattern a well as production tendency. Arguing The thesis statement drawn in the essay considers the argument ‘whether the technological nature suffices the benefits yield by the natural world to human beings, and the cost human beings have to suffer due to changing relationships with the natural world’. Nevertheless, technology in the present day context has become an indispensable element of everyday life. It is quite difficult to perceive the world without the use of technology. Regardless of the importance of technology to human beings, the role of the environment is immeasurable. It can be argued that the natural world provides basic amenities for our living, without which it is impossible to survive to a larger extent. It is thus crucial to build a sustainable relationship with the natural world to ensure existence of life on this earth. Technology in this regard can be viewed as a secondary requirement, which is rather an outcome of the relationship between human beings and the natural world. Conclusion It has been observed from the discussion that relationship of the human beings with the natural world has been diminishing due to technological advancements and lifestyle related factors. The natural world is ascertained to provide basic amenities essential for the survival of human beings such as air, water. However, people over the centuries have been constantly engaged in the unwarranted exploitation of natural resources. The interaction between the human beings has been gradually reduced. Children in the contemporary era are hardly provided with natural spaces where they can play and interact with the nature. The continued exploitation of environmental resources using advanced resources has dampened the relationship of human being with nature. It is crucial for human beings to build a sustainable relationship with nature that would ensure environmental preservation as well as contribute towards security of future generation. References Louv, R. (2013). Last child in the woods: saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. London: Atlantic Books Ltd. Morelli, J. (2011). Environmental sustainability: a definition for environmental professionals. Rochester Institute of Technology, 19-27. Vlek, C., & Steg, L. (2007). Human behavior and environmental sustainability: problems, driving forces, and research topics. Journal of Social Issues, 63(1), 1-19. Read More