Chapter 15 Slide 2 Overall the humanities have been positive
toward nature, but some have been indifferent Force that ultimately
rules the universe Called Nature by the west Called Brahman in
India Called Tao in China Called Dharma to Buddhists Slide 3
Romanticism is a movement in art, literature, music and philosophy
Equate the words natural and free Nature and humanity are part of
the same whole Slide 4 ROMAN POET- LUCRETIUSGENESIS On the Nature
of Things Attributed the beginning of the natural world to a mighty
collision of atoms. Predicts the world will end in a violent
explosion Nature is awesome, powerful and dangerous Bible passage
says that humans fill this earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish
of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature
Some say this means we are responsible for its care, others feel we
may do with it as we please Slide 5 Rebellious young men studying
for the priesthood objected to the strict training Urged fellow
student to discover the natural world Roots of great poetic theme-
the identification of unspoiled Nature with youth and joy and all
good things Slide 6 Cities were filthy, (plague), filled with
poverty used humanities to escape to pristine nature Midsummers
Night Dream, The Tempest Slide 7 Sir William Temple, believed in
deism (Nature is like a clock created by God or a clock maker, left
it to run unchanged forever and saw no need to intervene) Believed
that as the clock slowed down nature would wither and die and all
life would perish Slide 8 Believed not only Nature, but humanity
itself was decaying (hedonism) Later, artists and writers perceived
that options existed, Nature came to mean the out-of-doors with
fresh, clean air, part of the world not destroyed by factories
Slide 9 Socrates believed that being alone in lifeless nature could
never take the place of stimulating conversation with his
companions. Cities are where culture, sophistication, arts and
philosophy are found Slide 10 American mythology is urban.
Trailblazers were brave pioneers who tamed the wilderness Killed
the uncivilized savages Felt it was their obligation to spread
their civilization Slide 11 Most famous American environmentalist
of 19 th century Naturalist-someone who chooses to live far from
society in a natural environment Slide 12 Environmentalism stemmed
from a lock of need to enjoy companionship and conversation in
urban surroundings Nature is not a universal cause, it is the road
to personal happiness Let those who choose to work in crowded,
dirty cities continue to do so Slide 13 The World is Too Much with
Us Focused on getting and spending Believed nature was capable
healing itself and those who leave urban society Slide 14 Nature
can be portrayed as both terrifying and majestically beautiful Moby
Dick- the whale (God/Nature) is not benevolent or caring, is
unreasonably powerful Slide 15 Warns against meddling with nature
Dr. Frankenstein creates a creature that will live forever and be
perfect Nature should be admired not analyzed or messed with Slide
16 Long tradition of a deeply spiritual relationship with nature
Their gods watch over various aspects: rivers, hunting, cycle of
life and death Rituals with songs and dances to intensify these
relationships Slide 17 Written as an indictment of the arrogance of
dominant culture Narrator is sent to Africa to find Kurtz (companys
chief trader) Kurtz has become savage, kills anyone who opposes
him, stole a native woman from her husband Ends with narrator lying
to Kurtzs wife, claiming his last words were of her Slide 18 1980s
scientists began warning about climate change. Enhanced by
deforestation Carbon emissions An Inconvenient Truth- won acclaim
and awards for presenting Climate Change Leads to higher sea levels
Species would vanish Reduced food supply and drinkable water Slide
19 If you ask people on the street whether we should worry about
the environment they say yes, but know pollution is a necessary
part of modern life. Should we live like Conrads narrator, content
with a lie? Or can we hope that scientists are right that global
warming is a natural cycle and poses no danger?
