Are We Animals Or Not: Should We Change Or Leave Nature As It Is Essays Examples

The first reading is entitled, “Species and Biodiversity,” which is a chapter in the book called “New Environmental Ethics.” There are many sub-topics under this chapter, but the one that I consider most important is the sub-topic that asks whether we should try to save species. The first part of this sub-topic revolves around the justification of saving species because they have use to us; that is, each species is a “rivet” (130). In my opinion, this is not a good reason for saving species. What if we find a species that has no use to humanity, should we deliberately kill it? I think not, because we ought to respect life and the entire nature. I agree with the author when he said that we must be virtuous persons and “virtuous persons are not vandals” (133). Vandals are people who have no respect to property, so we do not have to be like them – we must respect all of nature; we must respect all species by saving those which are under the endangered species list.
The second reading is entitled, “Improving on Natural Variation? Genetically Modified Crops,” which is a chapter in the book called, “Boundaries.” The entire book is very knowledge-enriching especially this chapter. The first parts of the chapter detailing the conversation between Kyle and his Son and Lee had my attention. The points raised here are very important for everyone to understand. The first point is that using genetically modified organisms (GMOs) may destroy biodiversity, and the second point is that the use of GMOs can increase profit and increase basic food supply (229 – 230). In my opinion, the use of GMOs has its pros and cons, but we can avoid the cons without adversely affecting the pros. In a conversation between Kyle and Lee, the point of Lee for not allowing Kyle to use genetically modified corn is because cross pollination of corns on Lee’s field and Kyle’s field will change the genetic make-up of Lee’s corn making them “non-organic.” Using this example to justify not-using genetically modified organisms is very shallow. Not all plants undergo cross pollination. Rice, for example, does not cross polinate, so the worry about cross-pollination for corn is not applicable for rice. What I am pointing out here is that GMOs are good if we set guidelines and laws for using them. In other words, we need “boundaries.” I can use a pen to stab someone to death, but that does mean that we should ban the use of pen. The insulin that diabetics use to prolong their life and help them with their disease is a product of genetic engineering – genetically modified bacteria are used to produce human insulin.
The third reading is “Ecosystems,” which is another chapter from the book, “New Environmental Ethics.” The chapter talks about how humans should behave within the ecosystem. In my opinion, the most important part of the chapter is in the introductory paragraphs. The introduction says “Science and Conscience” should work together on how we decide to act in an ecosystem (158 – 159). We have different cultures all over the world, so we have different conscience. So, how do we act in sync? The answer is through science. We need always to check whether what our conscience dictates to scientific truths. This way we are sure that we will act and respond to environmental challenges or apply ecology properly.
The fourth reading is the book “Moral ground.” In my opinion the chapter “Wild Things for Their own sakes” presents a very interesting idea about the pride of humanity in thinking that he has the right to impose his thoughts and ideas on other life forms on earth, particularly the wild. The author says, “our asking should instead begin on the bedrock that we, of course, have an obligation to wild things of all species, today and tomorrow, to honor their intrinsic value and thus to act only in ways that keep whole the beauty, integrity, and stability of Earth” (102). In my opinion, this is correct. Every wrong thing that happened in this world is because of the idea that human beings must control nature because we are the seer over it. For me, we should apply the concept of the word “wild” – every living thing has a will of its own, and we must respect this will. We must always remember that we are just a small dot in the entire earth’s field. That is, “Modern humans have in many ways lost their bearing as biological beings, as just another animal and species in the firmament of creation” (373).
In conclusion, as I reflect on the reading materials I realize that there are many things that we do today that harm nature. This harm originates on two reasons: that we are extremely proud of our statute, so we think we are not a part of nature but its overseer; and that we lack respect to most of things that are not related to us. The reading made understand that we must act in accordance with our real place in this world – another organism that is not greater than the rest of the organisms in this world.