Rethinking

Rethinking of Nature

From a rationalistic perspective, nature has been considered as mere resources to be used and exploited. Human beings are basically different from other creatures on earth because of the possession of reason. We have been encouraged to achieve the ultimate conquest over nature. But we already know, this idea is not only impossible, but also definitely wrong. We need another approach to nature.

"A new type of thinking is essential if humankind is to survive" Albert Einstein
(Information from http://www.ecology.com)

Following quotations are from Peter Marshall, Nature's Web: Rethinking Our Place on Earth (Paragon House: New York, 1994).
As reviewing diverse perspectives about nature, we can find out what is the best way to recover the broken relationship between human and nature and where is the right place for human beings in the whole natural world.

Buddhism

"Sitting quietly, doing nothing, Spring comes, and the grass grows by itself." p 51

"Humans are thus simply beings among other beings in the natural world."
"The wind brings fallen leaves enough to make a fire." p 53

Taoism

"What is natural? The answer is simple: whatever exists prior to man's imposition. ... The wise person will not interfere with nature, but let it be." p 17

"The Taoist natural philosopher is receptive and observant, not imposing his conceptual grid on nature, but aware that he is part of what he is observing." p 18

Hinduism

"Once a person realizes that he or she is not separate from the rest of the creation, there is no longer any ground to fell threatened or alien in the world. Explicit in the Hinduism teaching of unity is the notion of non-injury. To harm other things or beings is to harm oneself." p 33

Early Greece

"Gaia was the Greek word for the earth goddess. It is from the name Gaia or Ge that we derive the root geo as used in words like geography. Gaia today has come to be considered in the West as a nurturing and loving earth goddess." p 65

The Green revision of Christianity

"God is green" p 119

"The most substantial green revision of Christianity has been to interpret man's God-given dominion over nature not in terns if control but of stewardship. This interpretation can partially be supported by God's placing of Adam into the Garden of Eden in order to dress it and to keep it. The dominion of Genesis from this point of view is interpreted as a form of trusteeship: man was thus directed to take care of the rest of God's creation, not to conquer and exploit it." p 119

Modern Ecological Sensibility

"The economy in an ecological society would turn away from maximizing profits to minimizing harm. It would be concerned not with for ever producing more goods to consume, but whit satisfying vital need." p 453

"We humans have no right or skill to become managers of the cosmic process and govern evolution" p 459

"Ecological sensibility will see the human cell as a microcosm of man and man as a microcosm of the cosmos. Humans cannot get outside the egg of nature. The world is their body." p 461