Natural Philosophy

Good Morning! It’s a lovely, snowy Saturday morning here in New Jersey.

Not long ago, I was training to become an ecologist. My classmates and I studied the interaction of life in all its forms with the abiotic aspects of the planet. It was good time in my life, and I recall being more content and happy than I had ever been before, or have been since.

I was drawn to the field of ecology because of my beliefs about the natural world. I believe in a divine spirit that exists not far away, but right here with us on earth. It is said that the body of the Great Spirit is the earth and all that is upon it. We are a part of it. Plants, animals, water and rock are a part of it. We are all part and parcel of the same whole. All that we do effects it just as we in turn are affected by the consequences of our actions. Such things cannot be proven – I just have a feeling that it is so.

Learning about ecology helped me to gain knowledge of the connection between living things, between life and the non-living parts of their environment and what forces influences the abiotic environment. I also spent time thinking about the different ways one can think of and about the environment. I would love to give an overview of all such philosophies, but for this week’s post I will stick to my own view. I think that the majority of my beliefs can be said to fall into the category of a non- anthropocentric utilitarian view of nature. Utilitarian philosophy focuses on the benefit of whatever item you are thinking of. Anthropocentric means human-centered. When I write “non-anthropocentric utilitarian” I mean a place, a part of the natural environment or even the planet as a whole can have worth whether there are direct benefits to humans or not. This is in contrast to a utilitarian or “wise-use” view of nature, which places a priority on human use of resources.

I believe every environment is beneficial to something - from the desert to the bottom of the sea. Living things deserve a voice - they deserve consideration in deliberations which will affect their lives and the places they live. At the same time we need to find food, shelter, and sustainable sources of the myriad resources required to sustain the human population of the planet. This is where the environmental movement comes in. Whales cannot argue for a reduction in whale harvesting, so we have the “Save the Whales” campaign. Our children cannot attend the political gatherings that can influence whether or not a reliable supply of oil or natural gas will be available to them when they reach adulthood, so we have campaigns for sustainable energy.

Like any social or political trend, the environmental movement contains a wide variety of extremes. Some groups will argue for no equivocations, while others will embrace them. All share a desire to make the world a better place according to their particular views. I would also like to save the world in some big (or small) way. For the moment, I have shared my ideas on the subject. I hope you’ll join me again next week for some further thought on different environmental philosophies. Utilizing a few excerpts from a wonderful book entitled “This is not a book – Philosophical Games and Thought Experiments to Give Your Mind a Workout” by Michael Picard, I think I can work through them in my next post.

Stay warm!

Natural Aesthetics

What are aesthetics? It is the study of our minds and emotions with regard to when and where we feel a sense of beauty (Dictionary.com). We are each entitled to our own notion of the beautiful, the sublime and the not so much so. I find the tree above, which stands in Duke Island Park in Bridgewater NJ, pleasing in all seasons. We are all free to form our own opinion and this freedom can shape our perceptions and thus our everyday lives. Want to be happy? Try gazing at a beautiful vista. Need a moment of tranquility, or even an hour perfect peace? A lotus blossom, a sunset, or trees in the summer sunlight can provide us with such emotions.



Of course, the turn of the seasons will also influence our relish of the outdoors. Which do you like best? Mine is autumn, because my birthday falls in early October. Here it is photo of a place called Iona Island at Bear Mountain State park in Bear Mountain, NY in November of last year.


In this next shot, it is winter at Washington Valley Reservoir, in Bridgewater township. I understand that temperatures will be low enough this weekend to cover the entire reservoir in ice.


As much as I enjoy the outdoors in all conditions, I must say I am missing the warmth and bright colors of spring and summer. Here is a species of Magnolia in full bloom at Colonial Park in Franklin Township, NJ.


And here it is summer at the Sourland Mountain Preserve in Hillsborough/Montgomery townships, NJ.


The only thing better than a beautiful vista in solitude is some company, and the best sort for the intrepid hiker is wildlife. I believe this is a Blue Huron (Ardea herodias) and below are some Snowy Egrets (Egretta thula) at two different visits to Colonial Park.




I can’t resist sharing this chipmunk (Tamias minimus) I encountered in the Washington Valley Reservoir, just down the trail from the Hawk Watch Area (Newmans Lane off of Vosseller Avenue in Bridgewater, NJ).


While not everyone’s favorite reptile, snakes impart a particular thrill for me on a hike. I believe this is an Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus) I was pleased to be fast enough to photograph in the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Morris County, NJ, back in 2007.


Do you find snakes beautiful and exciting? My mom sure doesn’t! Some shots that I have in my archives are difficult to classify as aesthetically pleasing or otherwise. What constitutes a natural aesthetic? We’ll stick to scenes that are arguably pleasing for this discussion. This next image is the man-made pond in the Rudolf W. Van der Goot Rose Garden at Colonial Park. Is this goldfish a part of a wild or natural vista? I understand goldfish are a species of that has been domesticated, like cows and chickens, for thousands of years (Wilkapedia, “Goldfish’).


What about this lantern? This particular spot no longer exists, as the Duke Gardens (Doris Dukes’s personal greenhouses full of display gardens) permanently closed on May 25, 2008. I visited these greenhouses many times before the end, falling in love with the exquisite scenes created by the perfectly arranged flowers, plants and trees. I love gardens, and I miss these greatly. Does the roof of the greenhouse in the background remove the aesthetic from a natural vista, shaped primarily by wind and rain, to an entirely man-made one, the same as a cityscape?


The distinction between natural and man-made aesthetics is enormously important to the environmental movement – Beautiful scenery is a major benefit of woods, streams, prairies, mountains, etc. A landscape that is pleasing to the eye is a major argument for keeping natural areas natural or at least undeveloped (when other reasons aren’t enough). Environmentalists often face the argument that almost every spot on earth has at one time or is currently actively influenced by humankind (so another shopping mall won’t matter).

I would say, some human influence doesn’t stop me from enjoying any particular scene. This is New Jersey – perhaps not the nature capital of the world. If a bunch of trees are growing close together and there’s a squirrel living there, you’ve got viable wildlife habitat. If a park has few preserved acres of forest, it is enough for me and the proximity to human habitation does not mar the beauty of the benevolent trees. But to put in the strip mall, it will all have to come down. What is the correct road to take between human needs and the preservation of natural areas? In my next post, I will examine how philosophy has helped me to understand our own harmonious existence with the natural world.

(Twilight, Colonial Park, NJ 11/29/08)

Environmental Aesthetics

Aesthetics, specifically environmental aesthetics, are of great interest to me. Environmental aesthetics is the investigation of the aesthetic appreciation of natural environments (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2008). It is the division of philosophy that examines why and how we appreciate the environment. In some circumstances, it is even extended to encompass the aesthetics of everyday life.

Sometimes I pause, and think about what philosophy is. WordNet Search defines philosophy as "the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics." But what is it's purpose? And why doesn't something as important as the nature of reality touch our everyday lives more often? A wonderful article entitled "The Purpose and Importance of Philosophy" can be found here. Ms. Stephanie Paey goes over how philosophy "does not exist as a means to an end; it does not have a particularly defined purpose.” And yet…”there must be some question that the philosopher is trying to solve, some understanding that he is trying to reach (“Themes” 8-25)." I love philosophy - it makes me feel so intellectual! Philosophy is a sustainable resource – we will never run out of areas to examine, or puzzles to unravel.

A common problem in philosophically inclined essays is that they begin to sound like stereo instructions - or for the stereo inclined, like some incomprehensible text about a subject you've never heard of. I’m sure if you read and think about philosophy every day, things begin to seem clearer until one can’t help but string together one complex thought after another. But I will endeavor to be clear to the non-philosopher, a title I probably qualify for myself. Environmental aesthetics is where our minds open up to the beauty of the world around us, to the reality of our everyday lives, to all the wonder nature has to offer. In my next post, I will illustrate opportunities for the aesthetic appreciation of nature using photos of the outdoors I have taken over the past few years. Together we will explore the New Jersey outdoors to see the best it has to offer.

Citations:
Smith, John E. Themes in American Philosophy: Purpose, Experience, and Community. Harper Torchbooks: New York, 1970.