PH246 Evan Rao Blog

Hill, in “Ideas of Human Excellence and Preserving the Natural Environment”, makes the intriguing claim that what truly drives an environmentalist's indignation at the destruction of nature is what such an action reveals about the individual undertaking it. To Hill, those who destroy nature lack an appreciation of their status as natural beings and their place as a minute aspect of a larger universe. Thus, he seems to be saying that arguments about the “intrinsic” worth of nature are somewhat missing the point, as what people really care about is the reflection of their own values. This does make me question my own attitudes towards nature. I personally tend to believe that nature has intrinsic worth regardless of what us humans think of it. But how can I make this judgment in a fair way? Isn’t any opinion of mine a reflection of my own beliefs and attitudes towards a thing? How can anyone, for that matter, say that nature has “intrinsic” worth without revealing their own values ...

My attitude towards the environment is primarily motivated by what I like to think of as a childish wonder about the world. Ever since I was young, I have been fascinated by the whimsy and mystery of nature. I remember collecting bugs in my backyard and marveling at their strange shapes and colors, or gazing up at towering trees and pondering how something could live on such a different timeline than myself. Most recently, this wonder has manifested itself in a passion for birdwatching. I’ve traveled across the country in search of migrating birds, and even had the opportunity to spend the entirety of late summer researching Flammulated Owls in the Manitou Experimental Forest. I am fascinated by the dynamics of migration; how a small bird will travel thousands of miles in short timeframes under brutal conditions, linking continents and people and ecosystems through their journeys. My love for birds and nature, of course, is coupled with a concern about their well being. When I read ...