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Culture, Biology, and Saving the Planet Wade B. Worthen Furman University

Culture, Biology, and Saving the Planet Wade B. Worthen Furman University. A Disclaimer: - the title….. The Earth is not at risk – it is 4.6 by old and will do fine for another 5 by. (“Saving the planet” was hyperbole.). A Disclaimer: - the title…..

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Culture, Biology, and Saving the Planet Wade B. Worthen Furman University

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  1. Culture, Biology, and Saving the Planet Wade B. Worthen Furman University

  2. A Disclaimer: - the title….. The Earth is not at risk – it is 4.6 by old and will do fine for another 5 by. (“Saving the planet” was hyperbole.)

  3. A Disclaimer: - the title….. However, the conditions on the Earth that make it a great place for humans to live ARE changing. (“Saving the ecological integrity of the planet to preserve human and non-human life” was too long.)

  4. How can we preserve the biological integrity of our home? How can we convince people that nature matters?

  5. data and charts?? • Yes, we need to measure stuff. But while this may change people’s minds, it may not change their hearts. • (1999 temperature increase above century mean)

  6. - In addition, we need to demonstrate how and why nature is important to each person, even at an unconscious level.

  7. Overview of Our Lecture: I. Why is nature important to modern humans?

  8. Overview of Our Lecture: I. Why is nature important to modern humans? A. What is Biophilia?

  9. Overview of Our Lecture: I. Why is nature important to modern humans? A. What is Biophilia? B. Why is it relevant?

  10. Overview of Our Lecture: I. Why is nature important to modern humans? A. What is Biophilia? B. Why is it relevant? C. What evidence exists of Biophilia?

  11. Overview of Our Lecture: I. Why is nature important to modern humans? A. What is Biophilia? B. Why is it relevant? C. What evidence exists of Biophilia?

  12. A. What is Biophilia? E. O. Wilson (1984) defined biophilia as “an innate tendency of humans to focus on life and lifelike processes…

  13. A. What is Biophilia? - There are four elements: 1. Humans are interested in living things…

  14. A. What is Biophilia? - There are four elements: 1. Humans are interested in living things… 2. There is an adaptive benefit to this interest that has been selected for over hominid evolution…

  15. A. What is Biophilia? - There are four elements: 1. Humans are interested in living things… 2. There is an adaptive benefit to this interest that has been selected for over hominid evolution… 3. This relationship influences how we learn …

  16. A. What is Biophilia? - There are four elements: 1. Humans are interested in living things… 2. There is an adaptive benefit to this interest that has been selected for over hominid evolution… 3. This relationship influences how we learn … 4. And who we are …

  17. B. Why is biophilia relevant to modern humans? - three elements: 1. Pragmatic: it works – nature IS relevant, and its contribution to culture is interesting. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl, as an Ouroborus

  18. B. Why is biophilia relevant to modern humans? - three elements: 1. Pragmatic: it works – nature IS relevant, and its contribution to culture is interesting. 2. Artistic: Because it may help us express our humanity more fully…

  19. B. Why is biophilia relevant to modern humans? - three elements: 1. Pragmatic: it works – nature IS relevant, and its contribution to culture is interesting. 2. Artistic: Because it may help us express our humanity more fully… 3. Ecological: “…to the degree that we come to understand other organisms, we will place greater value on them, and on ourselves” (Wilson, 1984). To save biodiversity, we must appreciate its relevance to our mind and our cultures.

  20. B. Why is biophilia relevant to modern humans? 1. Consider that the human mind and its products have not arisen in a vacuum.

  21. NATURE AND EVOLUTION

  22. B. Why is biophilia relevant to modern humans? agriculture …to chimps burial tools art 1.75 mya 0.2 mya 5.0 mya 75,000 10,000 99.6% before art “Pre-cultural Baggage” Understanding Human Evolution. 1999. Poirier and McKee

  23. B. Why is biophilia relevant to modern humans? 2. As such, our interaction with art, society, and nature may have a biologically interesting contribution. (NOT single factor biological determinism, please!) Let’s examine the Evidence for Biophilia in our disciplines: Humanities Social Sciences Natural Sciences

  24. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language A ‘first alphabet’ book….. ‘A’ is for _____________. ‘B’ is for _____________. ‘C’ is for _____________. ‘D’ is for _____________. ‘E’ is for _____________. ‘F’ is for _____________.

  25. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language A ‘first alphabet’ book….. ‘A’ is for _____________. - antidisestablishmentarianism?

  26. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language A ‘first alphabet’ book….. ‘A’ is for _____________. - antidisestablishmentarianism?

  27. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language A ‘first alphabet’ book….. ‘A’ is for _____________. - Antidisestablishmentarianism? - Apple?

  28. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language A ‘first alphabet’ book….. ‘A’ is for _____________. - Antidisestablishmentarianism? - Apple? - Airplane?

  29. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language A ‘first alphabet’ book….. ‘B’ is for _____________. - Ball?

  30. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language A ‘first alphabet’ book….. ‘B’ is for _____________. - Ball? - Bee?

  31. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language A ‘first alphabet’ book….. ‘C’ is for _____________. - Cat?

  32. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language A ‘first alphabet’ book….. ‘C’ is for _____________. - Cat? - Car?

  33. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language A ‘first alphabet’ book….. ‘D’ is for _____________. - Dog?

  34. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language A ‘first alphabet’ book….. ‘D’ is for _____________. - Dog? - Duck?

  35. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language A ‘first alphabet’ book….. ‘E’ is for _____________. - Elephant?

  36. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language A ‘first alphabet’ book….. ‘F’ is for _____________. - Fox?

  37. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language A ‘first alphabet’ book….. ‘F’ is for _____________. - Fox? - Fish?

  38. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language A ‘first alphabet’ book….. ‘A’ is for apple or airplane. ‘B’ is for ball, not bee(ambiguous?) ‘C’ is for cat or car. ‘D’ is for dog or duck. ‘E’ is for elephant. ‘F’ is for fox or fish.

  39. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language A ‘first alphabet’ book….. ‘A’ is for apple or airplane. ‘B’ is for ball, not bee. Living or ‘C’ is for cat or car. “life-like” ‘D’ is for dog. Even if they are NOT ‘E’ is for elephant. commonly encountered - ‘F’ is for fox or fish. Why learn “elephant?”

  40. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language Adjectives and similes….. Sly as _________

  41. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language Adjectives and similes….. Sly as _________ an Enron executive?

  42. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language Adjectives and similes….. Sly as _________ an Enron executive? a fox…

  43. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Language Adjectives and similes….. busy as __________? Strong as ________ ? Weak as _________ ?

  44. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities – Language Verbs: To ‘cow’ To ‘quail’ To ‘clam up’ To ‘weasel’ To ‘outfox’ To ‘hound’ To ‘hog’ To ‘grouse’ To ‘fawn’ To ‘buffalo’

  45. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities – Language Trivial examples or basic, fundamental examples? Summary – “Human intelligence is bound to the presence of animals. They are the means by which cognition takes shape and they are the instruments for imagining abstract ideas and qualities…they are basic to the development of speech and thought.” -Shepard 1978

  46. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Art • Language and the arts are dependent on natural imagery to evoke a particular emotion….. • Autumn Landscape at Dusk – Vincent Van Gogh

  47. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Art • … or misrepresents ‘a natural view’ to spur our attention… • “Tete d’une femme Lisant” • Pablo Picasso

  48. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Religion Animals are our cultural icons, we use them for tribal affiliation, both trivial…. NFL Football Team Mascots: Cardinals Falcons Ravens Bills Panthers Bears Bengals Broncos Lions Colts Jaguars Dolphins Eagles Seahawks Rams 15 of 32 teams (not that it helps….)

  49. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Religion And significant…

  50. C. Evidence for Biophilia in the Humanities - Religion Animals are central to the myths that give our lives meaning and our culture context. In particular, the serpent figures prominently as an icon of power, knowledge, life, and death. Egyptians – the Earth as an Egg, grasped by a serpent

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