The Necessity for a New View of Nature

Abstract

: Humanity’s current situation is unsustainable, and doing nothing is becoming more and more absurd. To change our situation, we need to change our ontological foundations and understanding of nature. To do so we must acknowledge that we as humans are nature, and secondly revise our perception of past experiences and views of nature. To transition to a sustainable society, we cannot rely on scientific arguments and language — change must come through an acknowledgement of the aesthetic sense of nature. A radical non-rational approach, that can only be experienced unconditionally. Being embraced by nature affect us in numerous powerful, but often neglected ways. The power of being in nature, of sensing nature, bears several unique opportunities — in short, it bears the power of improving our ability to see the world from other perspectives and thus understand our place in and with nature. Despite the grave status of nature, with a biodiversity in decline we can’t seem to act. We tend to accept “it’s just the way things are” and losing the will to act. If we accept humanity as nature, it can trough the aesthetic sense of nature, give us an understanding of humanity’s cohesion and thus give us back the ability to act. This implies an acceptance of nature in all aspects; the ugly, slimy, and smelly part as well as the ruined landscape of capitalist and agricultural practices. Through the aesthetic sense of nature, we’ll be able to envision an alternative green world where we can coexist with other beings. As designers, our role is not to create a finished composition but to establish the framework for uncontrolled development. Experiencing nature is personal and immeasurable, yet shareable. These experiences are vital for our personal wellbeing and humanity’s future.