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CULTURE-NATURE (Sarah Whatmore)
CULTURE-NATURE (Sarah Whatmore)
NATURE – refers to the entire bio-physical environment 2. Eastern Religion = Nature is equal with Man
on earth. Also known as the environment, ecosystem, • Hinduism- The universe is a cosmic person with
ecology, mother nature. consciousness; every part of the universe has
consciousness, everything is connected. Deities,
Truth on Man’s Perception of Nature Karma, Dharma, Reincarnation.
• How man interacts with the environment is largely • Buddhism – People and nature are one. Negative
based on his perception of nature. thoughts lead to negative actions and negative
• Perceptions of nature are based on stories, ideas & consequences. Implies that the use of natural
images that society feeds him. These perceptions are resources should be limited to satisfying basic needs
shared from one generation to another. such as food and clothing. Animals should not be
• Different societies have different perceptions of killed and plants should be harvested only to meet
nature, therefore different persons has different essential food needs. Views that nothing exists in and
perceptions of nature. of itself and everything is part of a natural complex
• Recognizing different perceptions can help to and dynamic totality of mutuality and
understand why different people & different societies interdependence.
interact with the environment in different ways. • Taoism – Nature is mysterious beyond
comprehension. People do best by changing nature
Perceptions of Nature as little as possible, fitting with nature’s rhythms and
• Everyone has his own image or stories about himself, flows and tapping into nature’s energy instead of
society or the environment. This make up one’s trying to dominate or control it.
worldview • Confucianism – emphasizes social relationship – the
• Perceptions shape the interpretation of information need for people to develop and refine their mutual
when it enters a social system from an ecosystem & responsibilities. Humans are children of nature, the
perceptions shape the decision-making processes proper attitude for nature is filial piety (respect for
that leads to affecting the ecosystem. elders)
• Different people have different perceptions of how the
environment works due to culture. 3. Western Religion = Man over Nature
• Judaism – God chose humans as representatives to
Different perceptions of Nature: maintain God’s wisdom on earth while using and
a. Nature perceptions by different religions managing the earth to meet their needs. The earth is
b. Nature perceptions by different societies sacred but their idea of managing the earth for God
c. Common Perceptions of nature was not to leave everything completely natural.
d. Environmental Philosophies & Political Views on nature • Christianity – Similar to Judaism. Monotheistic belief
that holds that only man has soul. Man is the steward
of nature.
A. Religious Attitudes Toward Nature • Islam – Heaven and earth were created to serve
human purposes – that humans are sovereign over
Religion: offers moral codes- guidelines about right and the rest of the creation but authority over nature is not
wrong and rules of behavior- that are particularly effective an absolute right but as a test of loyalty, obedience
because they are reinforced by emotionally compelling and gratitude to Allah. People should not use more
beliefs, symbols and rituals. than they need and they should not be wasteful of
what they use.
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GEOG 1: “NATURE, SOCIETY & TECHNOLOGY”
B. Attitudes of Different Societies Toward Nature • Science emerges as the new & important institution.
1. Hunting & Gathering (Foraging) • Lead to all-out extraction of other areas for natural
• A technique in extracting livelihood from the resources to keep up with the accelerating population
environment by almost exclusive reliance on muscular growth.
energy (gathering food, hunting with bows & spears,
etc.) C. Common Perceptions of Nature:
• They are nomadic and usually live in small bands of 1. Everything in nature is connected:
families. • many events are, directly or indirectly, a consequence
• Requires wide knowledge on the environment, e.g. of human actions.
seasonality, plant types, migration patterns of animals • people should therefore treat nature with respect to
etc. avoid adverse consequences
• human actions generate chains of effect that
2. Pastoralism (Grazing) reverberate through ecosystems & social systems
• Based on domestication of herds of animals, assures
society with steady food supply. Societies can grow 2. Nature is benign/perverse
much larger because of surplus of livestock & food. • Benign – nature provides us with all that we need. For
• Also nomadic because they must constantly take their as long as we do not radically change ecosystems
herds to new grazing grounds. from their natural conditions, we will continuously
• They also believe in god or many gods who take an benefit from it.
active role in human affairs. Pastoral society’s are • Perverse – if people change the environment to an
said to be the roots of toady’s major religions. extent that they are unable to function properly (illegal
logging), we will suffer from nature’s fury (catastrophe,
3. Horticulture natural disaster)
• They tend, sow & harvest edible vegetation. They are
relatively settled because they still have to move their 3. Nature is Fragile (delicate, frail, weak)
gardens at a short distance. • nature has a delicate balance that will fall apart if
• Their subsistence is based on the slash-and-burn people change ecosystems from their natural
technology conditions. Departure from natural conditions can lead
• Although they are highly spiritual, some of the to disastrous & irreversible consequences for man &
grimmest human actions came form these societies nature alike.
(warfare, cannibalism, sacrifice, theft)
• Bigger Population permits complex social structure & 4. Nature is Durable (stable, permanent, enduring)
culture. • as opposed to being fragile, this view holds that
people can use & reshape nature anyway they want.
4. Agriculture No matter what people do to the ecosystem, there are
• The invention of the plow paved the way for the natural & social forces that will prevent the ecosystem
agricultural revolution. The plow greatly improved the from being damaged severely & completely.
productivity of the land. The same land can be
cultivated continuously & fully permanent settlements 5. Nature is Capricious (unpredictable, fickle)
are possible. • Nature acts randomly & everything is determined by
• Population size are greater than pastoral & fate.
horticulture societies. Cities appear for the 1st time. • People can not control or maintain the ecosystem in
• Culture, social organizations & political institutions any particular way.
• become more elaborate. Agriculture societies are
• constantly at war engaging in a systematic empire
building, military organizations are therefore needed. D. Environmental Philosophies & Political Views on
Nature
5. Industrialization 1. ROMANTICISM
• Based on the application of scientific knowledge to • By Henry David Thoreau, an American Naturalist and
production, permitting machines to do the work activist and a primary force behind romanticism which
previously done by man and animals was a movement that originated in Europe.
• Very large population, highly urbanized, rapidly • It is a philosophy that emphasizes interdependence
changing economic, social & political systems. and relatedness between humankind and nature.
• Kinship ties are weakened, family becomes less • Romantics believe that all creatures were infused with
important. Religion loses hold as the source of moral a divine presence that commanded respect and that
authority. humans were not exceptional in this scheme
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GEOG 1: “NATURE, SOCIETY & TECHNOLOGY”
tradition dominates the present-day perception of nature human life & brought about far-reaching ecological
in which man has the right to dominate changes.
• 2 Central Issues: energy-use & land-use change