As humanity has evolved, so has its relationship with the natural world. From the paleolithic to the contemporary, humans have utilized the resources of the environment to survive, but the original subsistence-focused approach has morphed into one of exploitation and control. This frameshift in the human method of interacting with nature can be traced through history as social, political, and economic ideologies have changed and developed. As it stands, man takes advantage of the abundance of nature to generate surplus and wealth rather than for the purposes of subsisting human life. This has not only skewed the relationship between man and nature but has led to the rapid and significant degradation of the environment. As human control of the environment has improved and advanced, man has been conditioned into a mindset in which humanity and nature are separated by a barrier of superiority and control, rather than deeply intertwined as reality decrees. This is the result of centuries of human advancement and the development of social and economic systems that prioritize individual success and competition over the betterment of man or the preservation of the environment. However, man should consider humanity to be a part of nature that holds much less permanence than the natural world itself, and subsequently protect the environment to protect mankind.

When considering the limited knowledge modern humans have of the Paleolithic people, it is easy to assume that their interactions with the environment cannot be accurately identified. However, there is clear archaeological evidence that early humans interacted with the environment only to glean the resources from it which were necessary for basic survival and protection. This level of interaction is consistent in nature. It is the natural state of life to take from the world only what is necessary and produce as much as is possible. Therefore, the world is notably absent of trees that grow to a billion times the size of others or lions that slay all the gazelles in Africa. The only species that has dramatically broken from this natural pattern is man.

With the weighty modern value placed on individual betterment and competition, some men have attained a dramatic level of power both over other human beings and over nature. Some may defend the capitalist and individualistic principles that dominate modern politics and social systems as one based in Social Darwinism, with the basis of “survival of the fittest”. However, this approach fails to calculate the extent of competition which is natural and to draw this comparison between humans and other elements of nature. It is intrinsic in human nature to strive for success, comfort, and power, but the dramatic technological advancements that contribute to the success of rapid industrialization and exploitation of the environment have rendered these inclinations unsustainable.

Rachel Carson addresses the dangerous relationship between man and nature in her 1962 environmental science essay, Silent Spring. Her predictions of the effects of human manipulation of nature strike an almost eerie tone when compared with the realities of the Earth’s fate nearly six decades later. Carson references the relative transience of human history compared to that of earthly existence, which puts into perspective how deeply and rapidly humans are destroying the environment. Man’s advanced abilities to manipulate nature have led to a false sense of security and the general human perception that our kind is both separated from and superior to the natural world. However, one must consider the likelihood that humans outlast the environment. Despite the devastating effects mankind has had on the landscape of the natural world, it will persist beyond the extinction of humanity, as it did throughout every period of earthly history. The hubris of those denying scientific fact, worsening environmental conditions, and contesting the inevitable is a reflection on the powerful effects of capitalist ideology. Ultimately, the treatment of the environment as a resource only valuable for its capacity to support human life will lead to the extinction of humanity. Carson observes the irresponsible pace of the modern capitalist mindset, claiming, “the speed with which new hazards are created reflects the impetuous and heedless pace of man, rather than the deliberate pace of nature.” Not only does this approach reflect an abuse of nature, but it exemplifies how deeply ingrained this apathy and lack of appreciation for the natural world is. Great thinkers have observed this evolution for centuries, noting how little one steps outside oneself to attempt to comprehend the vast miracle that is nature and the homeostatic balance it has provided to all living creatures.

Even before the environment reached its current critical condition, transcendentalist philosophers criticized man’s lack of gratitude for nature. Ralph Waldo Emerson reflected on the different facets of human interaction with the natural world in his essay, Nature, presenting a broad critique of humanity, society, and the culture fueling the selfish and exploitative customs man has adopted. Emerson reflected on these damaging patterns before their real consequences were revealed, furthering the common phrase that man cannot see the evil in his own creations. The flaw in man’s attitude regarding nature is the unwavering sureness that its sustenance is unlimited. Emerson proposes that humans reconsider this, asserting, “It is the uniform effect of culture on the human mind, not to shake our faith in the stability of particular phenomena, as of heat, water, azote; but to lead us to regard nature as a phenomenon, not a substance.” His statement that man should revere the miraculous accident of nature and its plentiful provision of human needs is a poignant one. Man must do more than revere nature; we must save it.

In light of recent scientific assessments of the fate of our world, the international community should be scrambling to salvage any hope of the preservation of our environment and the features of it which enable human life. Presently, however, international leaders are hesitating to address the “climate genocide” we face, opting to focus on politics and short-term issues intended to entertain and distract the masses. One would think that after the United Nations’ Climate Report was released in October of 2018, predicting that man has twelve years to make major reforms to significantly limit the climate catastrophe, the urgency presented by this statistic would spurn meaningful and rapid change. There is still a significant portion of people, however, who do not adhere to the principles of science and deny the findings of climate scientists, claiming that climate change is a fabricated phenomenon. There is an even larger sect of the population that accept these findings as fact but refuse to translate that understanding into action. This contradicts the basic instinct of the human race embodied in self-preservation, one which has been the driving force of all of human history and adaptation. Some have reacted to the news of the impending climate genocide with appropriate exigency, but the actions of only a few do not counteract the inaction of the overwhelming majority.

This crisis is easily connected to capitalism, as 70% of global pollution is generated by only 100 corporations. With this prioritization of profit and overwhelming human greed, the environment has suffered more in the relative five minutes of humanity on earth than in the other twenty-three hours and fifty-five minutes of earthly history. The ability of man to manipulate nature has contributed to the undeniable hubris imprinted on the human psyche. Even those who make special effort to connect with the natural world often do so in a manner which reflects the overconfident, self-righteous zeal humanity has exhibited in their relentless exploitation of the natural world. Such hubris is consistent in many tales of individuals’ journeys into nature. One such tale is told by John Krakauer in his non-fiction book Into the Wild. Krakauer details the story of a young man, Chris McCandless, who rejected the norms of society and left his privileged life behind to connect with nature. He did so, however, with an unshakeable self-assuredness that eventually brought his downfall and his tragic death. The success and popularity of this story further reveals the deeply damaged relationship man has with nature, as it is astounding to the general population that one man would be willing to forego the comforts afforded to him by a societal system which benefits him and live in the environment which sustains him, rather than reside atop it as most of the developed world seems to.

Irreversible damage has been done by humanity to such an extent that man’s extinction is all but certain. Even if the international community were able to unite against the imminent danger of climate catastrophe, there is no true way to reverse the damage which has already been done. However, man can make meaningful strides to delay the inevitable and improve the relationship between humans and the natural world as a result. Essentially, man should make moves to acknowledge how intertwined humans are with nature and consider the importance of preserving the cornucopia of resources it provides, if only to save ourselves. If its present state persists, our society and its lasting avarice will continue to endorse a damaging interconnection between humanity as a species and the world it inhabits. The wide-reaching effects of climate change are intensifying, and the onus falls on humanity to mitigate the damage it has inflicted on nature. If man successfully navigates this transformation, we may be able to extend our life expectancy as a species.