Finding a Balance Between Nature's Needs and Mankind's Interests

“We live in a wilderness, in which we and our works occupy a tiny space and play a tiny part…This Wilderness, the universe, is somewhat hospitable to us, but it also absolutely dangerous to us…and we are absolutely dependent upon it” (138).

“To use or not to use nature is not a choice that is available to us; we can live only at the expense of other lives. Our choice has rather to do with how and how much to use” (139).

Wendell Berry, Home Economics. (Berkeley: Counterpoint, 1987).

            In his “Preserving Wildness”, the author Wendell Berry begins by explaining his view on polarized views on what the proper relationship should be between mankind and nature. He claims that one side believes that all creatures are of equal value and should be treated as such while on the other side, what Berry calls “the nature conquerors” state that we as a species are on a higher caliber than the rest and that we should treat the earth however it can be best used for humankind’s interests. Berry states that he “would prefer to stay in the middle, not to avoid taking side, but because…[he thinks] the middle is a side, as well as the real location of the problem” (138).
            On one hand, Berry sees that all species should treat nature in a proper way and even protests against activity that he deems unnecessary, like cutting down trees that will not be put to good use by man. While he believes that mankind should treat nature with great respect, the author also recognizes that there is no way that humans can avoid being somewhat self-centered. In a way, all species are in some way self-centered since the real aim for any species is staying alive (148). This point of view leaves the Western culture in a dilemma: how can mankind preserve and better treat nature while also keeping human being’s own self-interests in mind? First off, Berry believes that this problem should not be seen as a mankind versus nature dilemma since mankind is apart of nature. While I think that Berry desires for a completely different way of thinking, possibly a very similar view to the Deep Ecology movement, he understands that that kind of change may not be realistically possible. Instead he thinks the knowledge on how farming, preserving, destroying, and replenishing natural environments is what should change by changing the process on how we decide to manufacture goods and other products (142).

 Comparing to previous readings, should we consider ourselves as belonging to nature or should we separate ourselves from the rest of the natural world? Do you agree with Berry’s belief that some kind of compromise needs to be made between the needs of nature and the needs of man or do you think one group should take priority over the other? If so, what changes should our society make in order to still preserve nature while also keeping our interests in mind?