Outside Reading #2

THE NATURE OF NATURE

I read an excerpt from an Orthodox priest named Paulos Gregorios about the “Nature of nature”. In this, he spoke about the difference between nature as we see it and how it actually is. He says that we have turned nature to mean an impersonal force that is up against humanity and “she” cannot be controlled. From this we get certain terms such as “Mother Nature” and deify nature. He says that this is what gives way to environmentalists wanting to “respect” nature and revert back to Eden rather than harmoniously and respectfully use nature for the good of man. I thought that this was interesting as it challenged even our understanding of nature and calls into question many conversations we have had in class: have we had the wrong perspective and asked the wrong questions all along?