What is Nature?

As the Age of AI approaches us, we as a collective are approaching a fork in the road:

Do we identify nature as it is or do we identify nature as we want it to be?  

In an age where facts are being trumped as illusory, abstract, debatable theories, the road you choose now will determine the trajectory of mankind, the planet, wildlife and all living resources we depend on like water, soil and air. 

If you’re wondering why that is, it’s because the way we think about things is how things are or will become.

So, in order to see the consequences of either fork in the road, let’s once again, look at the English term for Nature as defined by the Oxford Dictionary:

the phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations.

Interesting, isn’t it?

That in 2023 even the Oxford Dictionary is telling us humans are not nature.   Pay attention to that. 

Recall the definition of dehumanization according to this newsletter is to “ignoring humanity and other living beings / resources / elements as nature”.

What tripped me out is that the definition is crafted with a subtlety as not to focus on the part about

“humans not being nature”, but to focus instead on nature being defined as a phenomena better known as

a mystery which appears as plants and animals.

Now stick with me for a minute ..

Yes, Mystery is an inherent part of nature, but if we don’t stop and really think about what this is saying,

we will go along with this definition and in so doing, we are also dismissing our impact on nature. 

Here’s why —

Remember in my last newsletter I mentioned our ability (and responsibility) to question whether

something is natural or derived from a pre-existing condition? 

For example, a landslide appears as a natural event.

However, landslides are majorly caused by compromising the balance of the ground’s root systems,

soil and/or rock composition which maintain stability and moisture retention under immense amounts of weight. 

Once an area is heavily removed of its trees or if too much depth of earth is removed, the land is prone to landslides. 

So while it can be reasoned that the origin of nature is mysterious, the physical manifestations of nature

(humans, plants, water, air, soil, etc.) can be explained as science and mathematics has so diligently proven.

(I mean, that’s how we know the stages of a baby in the womb, right?)

Anyway, the point I’m trying to convey is that when physical manifestations are taught to us as mysteries,

we subsequently believe that our actions are irrelevant to the physical manifestation, too.  

A perfect example of this is in Western medicine when a doctor gives a diagnosis,

but does not have the knowledge to explain why the disease is manifesting physically.

Without knowing why the physical manifestation occurred, the patient thinks the problem itself

is the physical manifestation of disease rather than the food, environment or emotions

which contributed to the state of disease.

So, do you see now the danger of believing we as humans aren’t nature?

Or that nature’s physical manifestations can’t be explained?

I believe it is this guise which allows corporations to pollute the environment and jeopardize the wellbeing of all of Earth’s species; we have bought into this on some level.

So let’s change the narrative - here is where I’m going to insert my own definition of nature:

Nature is the original and unaltered form of non-material beings and elements which are generated by the Earth

Do you see the difference between the Oxford Dictionary’s definition and mine?

The Oxford definition of nature is illusory - and while it is not completely true or untrue -

when there is no concrete form of understanding that we can collectively agree on,

we are then being put in a position to debate what nature is

all while very real activities are taking place which are dismantling nature. 

This is a primary example of how we as a species are being trained to have our minds occupied with illusory definitions and how it disconnects us from reality;  

more specifically, the reality of events occurring in the present moment

as well as our ability to respond with appropriate action to the current situation.

We are seeing it with corporate ad campaigns funding sidelined research for a profit agenda

but leaving out contextual data which causes widespread misinformation and an entire culture of idiocracy.

 (Like this ad which asserts dogs eating meat as a contributor to climate change while leaving out the contextual truth that industrial farming depletes the soil’s ability to retain CO2.

So when well-meaning masses of people support industrial farming operations as a result of feeding dogs more vegetables because they “want to help the planet”, this campaign is actually helping masses of people deteriorate the health of the planet at a rapid pace.)

In our next newsletter, we’ll look at the collective fork in the road and its impact on a personal level by exploring the questions  - do I continue identifying as nature or do I redefine nature into what I want to be?  

Because how we identify nature here on out will also affect the trajectory of AI.