Western lives are conflicted by their nature of separation. Western thought or philosophy believes in living a life of continual separation. The deep rooted philosophy of separation extends to the places we inhabit. People tend to live in the comfort of their home and cut their connection with nature. They forget that they are also a part of the natural community and not any separate entity. The philosophy of separation has acquired its root from the start of the story of genesis. God starts the world by separating light from darkness. Western philosophy extrapolates this theory of separation and extends it to humans and the natural world. This is the basis of the development of the line of thought that humans are superior and everything else is just the means to satisfy their needs (Jensen 183).
Moore argues that it is time to throw away fictions which have generated out of our culture. The most outrageous fiction is the mentality of humans to feel superior to the rest of the natural creation. One of the main ideas floating in the human mind and corrupting it like a cancer is that humans are superior and everything else was created to serve human ends. It gives generation and credibility to the thought that an act done by any person or corporation or government is right as long as it is in the greater good of people (Jensen 195).
One of the biggest lies ever told to support this line of thought is that Earth is infinitely resilient and invulnerable. No matter how much damage we do, it will always recover. Moore further argues that even the way we represent Earth in our conversation fosters this well-established thought. We refer to Earth as our mother. As a mother loves her children unconditionally and cleans up the mess they create, we think Earth will also forgive our acts and reverse the damage we have done. But, we forget that everyone even mothers have their limits. What happens when we test and surpass the limit of our mother Earth? We will undoubtedly suffer her wrath and wither and die (Jensen 196).
According to Moore truth necessarily cannot amend the mistakes we have done and makes everything okay but it does start us on the journey of healing. The long-standing faulty thoughts about human superiority above everything else and the toughness of Earth is the core reason used to cover up our crimes against the Earth. To stop this crime, first the truth has to come out. People should understand that humans are not superior and a secluded species rather humans are a part of an interconnected web of life where everything depends upon each other to survive. The natural world does not exist only to fulfill the needs of the human. It has intrinsic value in itself which is far greater than human needs. The sooner we understand this truth, the sooner the process of healing will start (Jensen 197).
Even if the humans did not exist, earth and other creations of nature would have. The creations of nature existed long before human as a species occupied the Earth and it will keep on existing long after humans are gone. Even if humans did not need a tree for its wood or food, the tree has its own intrinsic value. It supports other forms of life, produces oxygen and maintains the balance of the atmosphere. Similarly, every other natural creation has their own intrinsic value and humans have an obligation towards them, towards Earth (Jensen 202).
Moore says that this obligation does not develop if humans keep thinking they are superior and separate. These obligations grow as a result of relationships and love. If one cares about something or someone, he or she will feel obligated to protect and nurture that. Just as humans feel connection, love and care towards their friends or family members they are connected to Earth and other natural creations too. Everyone is a part of a natural community which sustains each other. The sooner humans realize this connection the sooner they will feel obligated to care about Earth and other creations of nature.
Works Cited
Jensen, Derrick. How Shall I Live My Life?: On Liberating the Earth from Civilization. Ed. Theresa Noll. Oakland, CA: PM, 2008. Print.
