Emily Anstett (11/9/22) Article Reflection

 https://theconversation.com/humanity-and-nature-are-not-separate-we-must-see-them-as-one-to-fix-the-climate-crisis-122110 

This article argued that the climate crisis began much earlier than the Industrial Revolution.  The crisis began when humans started seeing themselves as separate from nature.  In particular, the emergence of the prominent Western Religions and their different interpretations, including Christianity and Judaism, told humans that God gave them dominion over the earth.  This placed humans outside of nature, as a separate and distinct entity.  This is problematic because it makes humans believe they can do what they want with nature.  The article argued that humans need to reorient humanity within nature to resolve the nature-human divide.  I think it is interesting to consider the true roots of human exploitation of the environment.  Usually, it is traced back to the Industrial Revolution but in reality, there are certain values and beliefs that perpetuated how humans interact with nature and the ways humans believe that nature fits into their lives.  I agree with the article’s solution that humanity must be integrated into the natural world.  I think the issue is how to properly integrate humanity that is founded on its exploitation of the natural world? This problem requires reframing how people think of the natural world as well as how they see themselves.  Humans need to think of themselves as a part of the natural world, not the center of it or above it.  In particular, humans need to view themselves as a part of a greater, interconnected world.  Additionally, humans need to consider the intrinsic value of nature that exists beyond what it can provide humans.  


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