Meta Post - The Definition of Nature, and Humanity's Place in It

This week's readings, McKibben and Marris, both argued their own stances on what constitutes nature and how we as humans affect it. Similarly, the launch posts of this week focused on the larger definition of nature and the relationship between it and ourselves.

Many of the launch posts tended to walk the middle road between the two authors, most of them conceding that both McKibben and Marris are correct, in a way, though many leaned more heavily towards Marris's views. They concluded that nature in itself is something vast and untouched by humans, but also as something that can be found in as unlikely a place as an abandoned parking lot.

Several of the launch posts extrapolated on ways that humans have irreparably harmed the environment-- oil rig spills, plastic molecules in the ocean, deforestation, etc. They discussed the innate relationship that humans have with nature, how we have always meddled with it since our genesis.

Finally, all of the launch posts discussed how we as humanity should take responsibility for our actions taken in and against nature. Some talked about Marris's quote, "That which is untouched is unloved," and how we as humans should interact with nature to better understand and appreciate it. Many also included examples of initiatives taken to reduce or negate the damage we've done, such as Arbor Day, alternative energy sources, and carbon dioxide reduction projects.