nature

About Nature: 

About Nature The place where in we dwell

Slide2: 

Nature Why consider it? .It is, or at least has been, the environment in which we conduct our lives. Arriving at an accommodation with the physical world has been a mark of our humanity. I suggest this as a “has been” because I’m not convinced that nature will continue to be part of our experience. We are simply increasingly alienated from nature: this has been called the death of nature

Our Alienation : 

Our Alienation We live apart from nature even to the extent that it is alien to us, something that is an intrusion, an inconveinience, a bother. Some writers go so far as to suggest that you, in your generation, will never have the opportunity to experience nature...a little extreme possibly We are missing something in our alienation from nature but we aren’t sure what. We know, we don’t like it, but don’t know what to do about it.

Slide4: 

Most of us no longer acquire our knowledge of nature through direct experience with it. We acquire our knowledge through instruction from the mass or pop culture FOLK CULTURE (rich in comment on nature) ELITE CULTURE POPULAR OR MASS CULTURE (that created and transmitted by the media) since ca 1920 film has been an increasingly important instructor of how we should and to understand NATURE

What is Nature: 

What is Nature The term is not at all clear: Many languages don’t have a word for nature at all Even in English it has many, many, many meanings— The essential qualities of a thing The creative and regulative power which is conceived of as operating in the physical world and as the immediate cause of all its phenomena--female The material world The features and products of the Earth itself as contrasted with the features of human civilization Everything external to the individual mind— a post modern view. We create nature.

Slide6: 

If you are less than comfortable with the meaning of this term, you aren’t alone. Your society doesn’t offer many explanations— Cosmology—a theory of the universe. You have three to choose from (sort of) and they are highly contradictory. And the most recent very incomplete and unsatisfying.

The classical view:how most everyone in the West has understood nature: 

The classical view: how most everyone in the West has understood nature Greeks Shared cosmology so strong that we could consider it cultural It was transmitted It was assumed (doesn’t have to be stated) Alternative was inconceivable View can be made clear by analogy to the human body (which is in fact where the idea come from) The body has many parts which are coordinated by the mind, So nature has many parts, coordinated by mind.

In fact, nature is permeated by mind and a female mind at that : 

In fact, nature is permeated by mind and a female mind at that Nature thinks for itself, it has purpose and intention Doesn’t tolerate change very well—“anything that changes can’t be explained”

Slide9: 

This is for us a very foreign concept but It lingers in the popular mind in various confused ways Remains something of the doctrine of the church Inherent in attempts revive in the Gaia Hypothesis—a concept that the planet is somehow alive almost at the level of an organism And if you try to do your science classes with this cosmology, you’re dead meat

Late Renaissance or gothic philosophy: 

Late Renaissance or gothic philosophy Analogy is that nature is like a machine, created and maintained by a creator Operates by “laws” that are knowable or at least discoverable Nature is not the idea of a Creator, it is not mental, it is radically mechanical and in fact alien to mind, mind’s other or opposite Transcendentalists: To Deists, nature is a source of instruction opposed to man’s intellectual sophistication Story, Jesus going to the desert is a miracle becomes Jesus goes to the desert for enlightenment

Slide11: 

View allows West to reconcile science and scientific inquiry with western religion Not well accepted in standard Christianity or in he popular mind—God is far removed and does no intercede with nature’s laws. Prayer doesn’t do much Not much room for change. God created nature, god will destroy nature and that is pretty much the end of it. You can readily do science with this cosmology, in fact much modern science is done exactly this way. In fact it is what allows many scientist to do their science without having to worry about evolution.

Modern Cosmology: 

Modern Cosmology Nature is old, very old, disturbingly old. Nature changes, in fact it is nothing but change We generally understand that change is random, non-directive, purposeless Minority view: change is purposeful, directive (reassuring but still inconsistent with western religion)

Slide13: 

Cosmology has its origins in Darwinism. We’ve documented change We have no explanation of why there is change Little ability to express this change in social terms The one attempt (Herbert Spencer) was crude, primitive and socially disasterous Popularly: we are evolving toward something. Evolution is progress. Change is good

Slide14: 

While this is a young cosmology and may yet develop into something that is satisfyingly explanatory: At the moment it can’t even be talked about very easily The church and religion remains more or less opposed to evolutionary concepts To enter into the conversation the modern cosmology or the nature of chance sounds like an attack on evolution which feeds the enemy Quickly enters into areas that are not “politically correct.”

Slide15: 

So while we need a lot of philosophical conversation on our modern cosmology of nature, we aren’t getting it… So, for now you are stuck with weak, contradictory explanations of the physical world and little guidance on how to regard nature And the modern cosmology tells you little more than that you are alone in a vast, ancient physical universe that is utterly indifferent to you and is without morals or ethics—it takes a lot of courage to face this universe

Slide16: 

Without an explanatory cosmology, you will have to tolerate in your careers a lot of silliness—romanticism, transcendentalism, rampant development and endless growth and a fair number of stupid statements like: “We can’t let nature run rampant” {Gov. of Alaska} Fires in Yellowstone and hurricanes in the Everglades are “natural disaster” Without an explanation of the physical world, you will face: Increased alienation, increased indifference to nature, increased ignorance

Slide17: 

A Cosmology is a vast statement about the nature of the universe It is most important to science As “modern” you are apparently going to have to function without a satisfying cosmology But science isn’t the only area of human endeavor to need generalization about nature So let’s see if the humanities might have something to offer us by way of an explanation of nature

Romanticism and Transcendentalism: 

Romanticism and Transcendentalism

Slide19: 

Many artistic and literary movements have been dominated by a “world view” For us the two most important are: Romanticism and Transcendentalism And to understand either you need to know something about Classicism You have met these, most likely, in your English classes as “burdensome” poetry of “high” or “elite” culture However, they have drifted into the popular culture and mass culture drips with these ideas. Most of you are probably to some degree both Romantics and Transcendentalists

Classicism : 

Classicism -18th Century artistic and literary movement -attempt by Europeans (and Americans) to emulate how they thought the ancient Greeks & Romans saw the world and did things fundamental characteristic: emphasis on form and structure over message poetry: rhyme and meter is primary, comprehension secondary art and architecture: balance, symmetry music: a prescribed pattern of movements in given keys and patterns Overall then classicism is dominated by form and rules then more form and rules Runs roughly parallel to gothic science

So what did Classicists think of nature?Ans: Not much : 

So what did Classicists think of nature? Ans: Not much Wilderness is a dark, evil thing. Mountains are barriers separating civilized places. The object of human life is to be human, a humanist practicing the humanities and you can’t do that in the jungle. The habitat of man (the city) is contrasted against the haunts of beasts.

The classical garden: a metaphor : 

The classical garden: a metaphor How a civilization builds its gardens tells us a lot about what they think about nature The Classical Garden: Entirely a human creation Formally structured Symmetrical Nothing allowed to grow on its own Many references to Greek and Roman mythology (generally beyond our knowledge, comprehension and understanding)

Romanticism An 18th and 19th centuries reaction to rule bound Classicism: 

Romanticism An 18th and 19th centuries reaction to rule bound Classicism Not exactly free form, there are still lots of rules, but their importance is reduced There is an appeal to the emotions—the author or creator is often seen in the art Appreciation of the unpredictable, the random, the uncertain Nature is seen wild, grand, irregular, larger than life The wild side of man is elevated—noble savages and peasant cultures emphasized Human expectations often transferred to animals The rustic and rural is loved Man “visits” nature for inspiration, contemplation and instruction

However:: 

However: There still isn’t much regard for real wilderness—the truly wild and savage

Slide25: 

The romantics Encouraged nationalism and national movements (ex. Ireland, Bohemia) Recorded and stabilized minority languages (ex. Gaelic, Czech) Recorded popular folk tales (ex. The Brothers Grim) Integrated folk music in to classical music (Dvorak, Copeland)

Slide26: 

The Romantic Garden Though still highly manicured, it is naturalized compared to the classical garden Wild flowers, some actually allowed to do their own thing Trees and shrubs, though planted, allowed to grow more “as they will” Not us structured Use of naturalized water falls and brooks as opposed to fountains Classical references removed Center piece often an abandoned mill, peasants house or church Rustic and rural emphasis

Slide27: 

While somewhat discredited, Romanticism is still alive and well in the USA Almost everything Disney has ever done (Bambi, Snow White to A Far Off Place) Dances with Wolves Rob Roy You might conclude it permeates our popular culture—and you are right It is prevalent among females, particularly young girls, but… But lots of guys have the disease too A girl might say of a guy: “Oh, he’s such a romantic!” and don’t necessarily take it as a compliment

Transcendentalism: 

Transcendentalism While Romanticism was immensely popular in 19th and early 20th centuries America: There was only so far Americans could go as Romantics Reason: They were having an experience with nature which was just plain hard to romanticize. They faced a frontier and beyond the frontier, the wilderness: which was full of real savages who stunk of bear grease, bears and snakes out to kill and a lot of hard, dangerous work

Americans needed something to explain this : 

Americans needed something to explain this And Transcendentalism did it.

Slide30: 

R. W. Emerson (1803-1882) expressed the idea that man contains a glimmer of the holy, a reflection of God. In the quest for the divine you need look no further than yourself. Thou art IT. Man is perfectible. As an aside, this is rank heresy

What keeps us from realizing our divine nature?: 

What keeps us from realizing our divine nature? Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) answers the question in Walden (1854): It is all the trappings of civilization, particularly urban civilization that corrupts us and denies us our divinity (look how far we have come)

Slide32: 

And the best way to realize our divinity is to return to nature, the wilderness Well, sort of: Walden Pond was really little more than a suburb and Thoreau really didn’t think much of real wilderness But Other transcendentalists did: Particularly, for example, John Muir (1838-1914)

Slide33: 

Transcendentalism is an almost uniquely American idea Most people of the world (except Australians) think we, as Transcendentalists, are “kind’a strange” We think we need to go out, sleep on the cold ground eat bad food every now and then just to make us fully human (well particularly men have this idea) There is little evidence that anyone else in the world needs this And most of the rest of the world thinks we are a little nuts for it

Slide34: 

Like Romanticism, you don’t have to go to school to become a Transcendentalist--you get it through the popular culture. James Fillmoor Cooper (Last of the Mohicans) The Boy Scouts John Wayne (the Transcendental role model for several generations of Americans) Crocodile Dundee The Transcendental Role Model: Knows himself, honest, soft-spoken, man of action and few words, comfortable in nature and know how to use it, defends himself but is not violent, moderate, self-confident, “can-do” sort of guy actually he is sort of a jerk

Slide35: 

Note: our use of the masculine pronouns: Romanticism has been a female thing Transcendentalism sort of a male thing Can you think of any female Transcendental Role Models?

Slide36: 

Transcendentalism remains very important in American though At the heart of almost every argument to create designated wilderness, parks and/or open space, one can find transcendentalism If you have gotten nothing else from Transcendentalism, it is probably a thorough going distrust of: urban environments (even though you are probably urban to the hilt) an all-consuming and insane desire to own a large house on large acreage in the suburbs or beyond and in fact our transcendent IRS will reward you well for following this compulsion

Slide37: 

Though a fundamental American idea that is alive still in America, we have to wonder about its health. As we become increasingly alienated from nature we have to wonder if experience in nature will remain relevant to our social and personal development. Evidence: Boy Scout leaders who complain increasingly about lack of interest in or even willingness to participate in things like backpacking Increasing use of recreation vehicles and equipment that keep us separated from nature even when we venture forth to experience it Changes in how we understand and appreciate qualities of “maleness” In the age of team play, society may have little need for rugged individualism

Slide38: 

Existentialism, postmodernism and other contemporary bits of popular culture Most of these place emphasis on personal development or becoming Consequently they have little to say about nature or how we see or use it Some argue that we are in fact the creators of an irrelevant physical environment They are not so much hostile to nature as indifferent to it. This may be inherent to a modern viewpoint or simply mean that a contemporary doctrine of nature is yet to be found

Political Philosophy: 

Political Philosophy If cosmology fails to explain nature If the artist’s creative vision fails us Possibly Our Political philosophies have some to offer

Two views of man’s place in nature: 

Two views of man’s place in nature Man, in a state of nature, lived in either a kind of savage hell or and Eden. The difference is kind of important because it says something, eventually about our civil society The two extremes are represented by: Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) who managed to make everybody mad at him. And John Locke (1632-1704), classical British empiricists (all knowledge derives from experience).

Hobbes vs Locke: On the Human State of Nature: 

Hobbes vs Locke: On the Human State of Nature Hobbes Nature is characterized by scarcity Every organism obeys laws of individual survival Altruism is just a bad idea, it is impossible Egoism, far from being immoral, is the only show in town Every act is the object of some good to self Only natural right is to defend your life Locke Nature is characterized by abundance Bestowed with natural rights: life health liberty possessions

Hobbes and the political state: 

Hobbes and the political state Human life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short” Every man is enemy to every man You and I can agree to stop stealing from each other but: I have no reason to trust you and you have no reason to trust me. Therefore we have find a third party to enforce the peace--this is the “social contract.” But the third party is motivated by the same greed as you and I. The sovereign will inevitably abuse this power, but whatever the abuse it is better than living in A STATE OF NATURE

Locke’s Political State : 

Locke’s Political State Natural rights (life, health, liberty and possessions) are God given. Possessions derive from whatever we have “mixed our labor with.” Possessions subject to qualifications: one may accumulate all the property one can use so long as: it does not spoil in its accumulation, enough has been left for others, its accumulation is not harmful to others Obviously accumulation of gold and silver is ok which is good for a capitalist society.

Slide44: 

Function of the state is to protect natural rights a good state guarantees and maximizes natural rights a bad state fails to do this and an evil state assaults natural rights The social contract--citizens consent to be governed as long as natural rights a guaranteed and maximized That failing, citizens have the right, even the duty to overthrow government. Locke provides a philosophy justifying revolution and establishment of government by consent which defends property. Does this sound familiar? It should. ‘cause america is just one big lockean experiment

Us and Nature in the Hobbes/Lockean Dichotomy : 

Us and Nature in the Hobbes/Lockean Dichotomy We are Locke’s Children to the extent that we have incorporated his very words into our most fundamental documents We believe in Eden at least to the extent that: we believe in nature’s abundance we believe in the right, even duty, to turn nature into property governments duty is to defend property We don’t like portraits of man in nature as brutish and uncivil Religion aside, Darwinism is questionable because Darwin sounds too much like Hobbes

Something of summary and conclusion: 

Something of summary and conclusion We live in a real physical world and we can call “nature” for want of something better We live in it less certainly than did our ancestors of only 50 years ago We will live in it less certainly in the future as our world becomes more humanized and engineered We may suspect that we are missing something but we are not certain what it is or how to get it back More than ever we need some form of a cultural explanation of “nature” Right now none are adequate to the situation None is likely to come along soon I certainly can’t tell you how to think about nature but good citizens will have to think about it

Slide47: 

As Americans, however, you have probably picked up some cultural things about nature that will affect your future judgement You are confused about the nature of the universe: it is alive or not? Mechanistic? Changing or stable? You tend to be romantic and view other living things as human like, even if your science profs tell you this isn’t allowed You are probably pretty certain that you are a good critter living in an abundant environment and will resent “environmentalists” who tell you otherwise.