Humans: Natural Or Expendable
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Humans: Natural Or Expendable

A look into the ideas of humanity as an expendable feature of nature.

397
Humans: Natural Or Expendable
vectorpicfree

Nature and humanity are both important to the world itself. The idea that humanity has no connection to nature and the world around us is preposterous. Humanity is the one thing that allows us to understand the natural world around us. By extension, this means humanity is not natural, just an influx of the grouping of people into societies. In today's society, it is considered acceptable to be less or more than human. This is viewed in modern media such as books and television. Without humanity there is no appreciation for nature and without nature there is no humanity. Neither can exist without the other. Even though many people assume humanity is a natural part of life, humanity is a by-product of the influx of society and it is socially acceptable to be less or more than human.

Fire and Ice by Robert Frost is a poem which showcases the idea that the world could end in fire or in ice and either one would be just as destructive. Many interpretations of this poem are discussing the end of the world and believe that is what Frost is asking.

Do we believe the world will end in fire or in ice? What does this have to do with humanity? The concept of the end of the world is an important part of humanity. There are many beliefs and ideas for the end of life. Does the world end differently for the good or the bad, the righteous or unrighteous, or is it all going to come to a natural end in one big burst of flames or supreme cold front? These are natural questions humans ask that no one can answer scientifically. Eric Katz suggests eliminating human contact with nature completely: "Presumably, to liberate nature in this case, to permit the autonomy of natural processes, we would adopt a 'hands-off' policy..." Humanity and nature are more connected than we realize.

In this way, humanity and society are natural connected. For example, in the book The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, author Stephenie Meyer chose to use the poem Fire and Ice as a representation between a werewolf, Jacob, whose heart still beats and he is still mostly human and a vampire, Edward, whose heart no longer beats and has less humanity. She was able to detail that fire and ice as destructive forces are relative to the natural emotions humans feel. Another example of a connection between humanity, society, and the idea of modern human nature is seen in the Charmed television series, in particular the episode, "The Good, The Bad, and the Cursed.". The character of Cole is a half-demon and is still accepted by and loved by character, Phoebe, even though he is not fully human. Throughout the episode, you see his struggle between human love and demonic hate, similar to fire and ice. This is a prime example of the connection between nature and society. Nature and society are connected and as Katz suggests, "...nature is only known through human activity, and even more problematic, nature is continually modified by human activity." therefore, nature is dependant and contingent on society.

So how do nature and humanity really relate together? In the paper, The Liberation of Humanity and Nature by Eric Katz, he gives a great overview of links between humanity and nature. Although, much of his paper deals with the effects humans have on beaches, to get there, Katz makes a lot of wonderful connecting points between nature and humanity. The best of these is as follows: "The human interest in nature is the factor that focuses our perceptions and understanding of the natural world." As stated previously, many people assume humanity is a natural part of life, but humanity is a by-product of the influx of society and it is socially acceptable to be less or more than human. Humanity and nature are both an important part of society and although we know that nature is natural, humanity is only natural because societies and human interaction have made us realize the nature around us. This makes the ultimate question, are we as humans natural or expendable? The answer is up to the individual and how they perceive the world.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71119
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132872
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments