Why does nature exist

The creation and spread of zoonotic diseases stem from the hunting, trafficking, and consumption of wildlife, the destruction of habitats, and largescale intensive farming of animals for the meat and dairy industry, which is an agent for disease transmission as in the case of swine flu, for example.

Moreover, the infrastructure created by globalization has allowed this disease to spread at inconceivable speed, from a single individual in China to millions of people across the globe. Even before the Coronavirus crisis, the overexploitation of natural systems—the topic of a report by the United Nations—had deteriorated these systems so severely that our very ability to continue living on this planet was under threat.

The report, written by experts from 50 countries over the course of three years, found that the natural systems are in a worse state than we previously thought; if we do not take immediate action, more than , species will lack the sufficient living space to ensure their long-term survival.

Healthy, stable, and functioning natural systems are not a luxury. Nature is not a luxury. Natural systems are the bedrock of our existence in every single area of our lives: food security, our medicine cabinet, the genetic diversity that guarantees agricultural resilience. They ensure drug development resources, clean air, a balanced climate system, clean water, and, of course, serenity, inspiration, and peace. And aside from recreational activities, nature also plays muse to some of our greatest artists.

It also influences culture, symbology, and folklore. Think of the importance of maple trees in Canadian history. And for some, nature can facilitate spiritual experiences. These are just a few examples of the different benefits that nature provides for humans, so be sure to check out the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to learn more.

The basics of ecosystem services Posted at h in Humans and Nature by. Why is nature so important for humans? The basics of ecosystem services. Why is nature so important for humans. These conceptions change with philosophical groundings, and are then deeply rooted in people.

Hence, science cannot and must not artificially standardize them, all the more that science also experiences such philosophical discrepancies. However, this diversity of conceptions of nature can also be seen as a chance for conservation, as it can anchor inspiration for public action, help defining accurate environmental policies and set objectives in human—nature relationship, which are difficult to determine on a strictly scientific point of view.

Actually, public policies are probably more inspired by cultural conceptions of nature than by scientific arguments: if conservation gained so much success in the US at the beginning of the twentieth century, it is probably mostly thanks to cultural and religious reasons Nash, Hence, a better comprehension of local visions of nature is necessary for local protection of nature, both as a concept and as a reality: semantic and ecological dynamics must converge in order to build relevant scenarios for public policies.

On the other hand, more than just forcing different conceptions of nature to cohabit, there may also be a need to engage them in a kind of dialogue. This echoes with what Michael Rosenzweig coined as « reconciliation ecology » Rosenzweig, , postulating that nature can, in some contexts, coexist with some degree of human presence and activity, and that sometimes such presence can even be favorable to biodiversity Couvet and Ducarme, Quite different from the traditional American conception of conservation often limited to the preservation of some remote sanctuaries of pristine wilderness most often rather poorly productive biologically speaking , reconciliation ecology proposes to develop coexistence conditions between human groups and ecosystems, hence rethinking the direct relationship between mankind and nature.

Some sustainable agriculture labels go the same way, trying to conciliate biological processes with food production, and considering that the reasoned anthropization of an environment is not always its corruption Doxa et al. The elusive character of nature as a concept may be a fundamental part of its identity Hadot, : this has long been an issue, but it may turn into an opportunity.

A social—ecological approach to conservation planning: embedding social considerations. Front Ecol Environ , 11 4 Google Scholar. Batisse M The biosphere reserve: a tool for environmental conservation and management.

Environ Conserv 9 02 — Adrien-Maisonneuve, Paris. Imprimerie Royale, Paris. Callicott JB Whither conservation ethics? Conserv Biol 4 1 — Callicott JB a Contemporary criticisms of the received wilderness idea. In: The wilderness debate rages on: continuing the great new wilderness debate M. Baird Callicott eds , vol. University of Georgia Press, Athens, pp.

Callicott JB b Encyclopedia of environmental ethics and philosophy. In: J. Callicott JB. Frodeman R, eds. University of Georgia Press. Couvet D, Ducarme F Reconciliation ecology, from biological to social challenges.

Le Breton, Paris. Vrin, Paris. Darwin C On the origin of species. John Murray, London. Prog Hum Geogr 26 6 — Trends Ecol Evolution 29 2 — J Appl Ecol 47 6 — Biosci Master Rev 1 July :1—8. Ellen R The cognitive geometry of nature.

A contextual approach. Routledge, London, pp. Klincksieck, Paris. Encyclical letter, Roma. Gaffiot F Ed. Hachette, Paris. Guha R Radical American Environmentalism and wilderness preservation: a third world critique. Environ Ethics 11 8 — The level of addiction to these services, especially in children and teenagers, coupled with ever evolving machine-learning algorithms feeding us whatever keeps us hooked the longest has led to increased suffering.

We are hooked by airbrushed images of our friends and the hottest new celebrity, by enraging stories of people who look or think differently than us, and by products and short-term rewards we are craving. None of this should have been a surprise. Are we all scorpions in our heart of hearts? As a species, we are unique in our ingenuity and potential for progress. The inventions of language, a scientific understanding of the universe, and modern technology are our superpowers.

I do believe we have the potential to keep improving our existence and the lives of every single person on earth. And I believe the best way of embarking on that journey across the wide river of human possibility is by accepting that we all have scorpion elements within us. Does Human nature exist, and if so, does it matter? Tuesday 24 Nov , Blogpost.

Does human nature exist? Does it matter? PhD student Philip Brandner. Share this page. Compare count study programme Close Compare count study programme.