Man and Nature: To Protect or to Be Protected?

(From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI))

Byline: Ogoura Kazuo

Across the history of mankind and of different cultural traditions, it is possible to discern two distinct approaches to nature. The first is to see it as something good that embodies the unblemished beauty of our environment. In many languages, the word for "natural" implies "innocent and good." When based on this view, modern economic development is considered one of the causes of pollution and the neglect of nature. Miyazaki Hayao, a well-known animated film director, often depicts utopian nature juxtaposed with the industrialized world.

There is a second contrasting view of seeing nature as something irrational. Cosmic determinism or even mysticism in nature belong to this view. Here, nature is conceived as a set of natural forces that in many cases threatens human existence.

Since these two views of nature seem to contradict each other, we must somehow find a way to integrate them if we are to realize the true coexistence of mankind and nature.

One point that we need to consider is the concept of the "protection" of nature. In modern societies, people often emphasize the importance of conserving nature. However, we must be aware of the pitfalls of this approach. In the concept of the "protection" of nature by mankind, there exists an assumption that humans are rational beings, and can and should protect nature as an agent which is detached from nature and thus can control it. Here, man and nature are separate.

This concept, however natural or logical it may appear to us, leaves much to be desired from the standpoint of global ecology. Take, for example, the recent Southeast Asian tsunami disaster. It is easy for us to emphasize the importance of developing early warning systems with computer technology or of building embankments along the coastlines. When viewed in long term, however, we need to consider the problem of ecological balance. People who live in villages that historically been struck by tsunamis have long-standing - almost innate - knowledge that enables them to escape from even the worst disasters. Fleeing from the coastline is in fact the most effective way of protecting human lives from the ravages of tsunami waves. Such an escape approach may seem ridiculous in the contemporary context, but seen from the global ecological balance, we should recall the "human" ...