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Perhaps you've got it right for the wrong reason. > Take the pristine state of nature in some location prior to human interaction, and then anything a society
by jMyles 2y ago
Perhaps you've got it right for the wrong reason.
> Take the pristine state of nature in some location prior to human interaction, and then anything a society of humans does in that location is in some sense going to injure that state.
This is not a universally held view of the state of humanity and wilderness. In particular, there are indigenous traditions on this topic which represent a very compelling (perhaps logically vanquishing) critique.
One in particular I can recommend, which I discovered via a discussion on wildfire management here on HN, is this: https://tendingthewild.com/tending-the-wild/ https://tendingthewild.com/tending-the-wild/
tl;dr for the purposes of this discussion: anthrogenesis is not per se injurious, and is in some important and measurable ways, less injurious than allowing wilderness to grow fallow. Humans are an important part of Earth's ecology.
- IncreasePosts 2y agoHumans have been shaping that environment for...maybe 20,000 years(aka not that long ecologically speaking)? And everything done is about making earth better for those humans, not looking at it holistically.
- rbanffy 2y ago> looking at it holistically. Looking at it holistically is precisely what makes it good for humans. Most activities that change the land from its original state are not done for the long term good of humanity, but for short term profit, which is what finances the activity.
- IncreasePosts 2y agoWould these stewards of the land commit suicide if, holistically, humans were bad for the land? They might try to root out an invasive creature, or a disease causing bacteria, but would they root out themselves?
- rbanffy 2y ago> Would these stewards of the land commit suicide if, holistically, humans were bad for the land? Most likely they'd change their ways and not be so bad for the land. Humans are a smart and very adaptable species. I'm sure we can master that art.
- s1artibartfast 2y agoWhat is a wholistic value system independent of humans? I dont think humans are capable of representing one without injecting their own values.
- IncreasePosts 2y agoExactly. The earth was doing just fine for the incredible spans of time before humans took over the role of managing it.