Nature-Culture Dichotomy
and Environmental Consciousness: Do We
Fear the Right Things?
Carsten Hobohm
Abstract Basic convictions, political regulations and cultural behaviour based on
tradition and communication influence the management of the environment, and as
such are an important corridor of power affecting natural habitats. This also depends
on whether a disaster is seen as blow of fate, natural and irremediable, or as a
problem caused by humans (Nature-Culture Dichotomy).
Nature and culture are often used as antipodes. What is right with the NatureCulture Dichotomy? Independent of the question of whether our behaviour towards
nature is respecting ecological conditions and ascribing the very right of existence of
other biota as well, we often feel and behave like beings outside of the nature, and
belonging to the inside of houses, civilization and cultural life.
What is wrong with the Nature-Culture Dichotomy? Currently, many scientific
contributions on the nature-culture relationship argue against the dichotomy,
attempting to overcome the divide with the goal of harmonization, or describe a
trajectory beyond the dualism. Arguments against the Nature-Culture Dichotomy are
related to considerations in the social sciences, environmental ethics, human ecology, but also in neurobiology. One general concern is the difficulty finding a clear
cut between the two realms. However, the main criticism may be that the NatureCulture Dichotomy is implicitly driving and reducing the scope of assessments and
value measures to the artificial side, leaving nature amoral.
The question is, which events and processes of the environment and landscapes in
the past might have been important for the understanding of the present? Does
survival and organization of the future depend as much on perception and memory,
on educated traditional and scientific knowledge, on the explanation of disasters
including religious and spiritual interpretation, and human behaviour in disaster
situations?
A growing world population provokes serious threats to ecosystems and species
worldwide. The species decline continues even if the activities of diverse NGOs,
C. Hobohm (*)
Department of Ecology and Environmental Education, University of Flensburg (EUF),
Flensburg, Germany
e-mail: hobohm@uni-flensburg.de
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
C. Hobohm (ed.), Perspectives for Biodiversity and Ecosystems, Environmental
Challenges and Solutions, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57710-0_2
17
and Environmental Consciousness: Do We
Fear the Right Things?
Carsten Hobohm
Abstract Basic convictions, political regulations and cultural behaviour based on
tradition and communication influence the management of the environment, and as
such are an important corridor of power affecting natural habitats. This also depends
on whether a disaster is seen as blow of fate, natural and irremediable, or as a
problem caused by humans (Nature-Culture Dichotomy).
Nature and culture are often used as antipodes. What is right with the NatureCulture Dichotomy? Independent of the question of whether our behaviour towards
nature is respecting ecological conditions and ascribing the very right of existence of
other biota as well, we often feel and behave like beings outside of the nature, and
belonging to the inside of houses, civilization and cultural life.
What is wrong with the Nature-Culture Dichotomy? Currently, many scientific
contributions on the nature-culture relationship argue against the dichotomy,
attempting to overcome the divide with the goal of harmonization, or describe a
trajectory beyond the dualism. Arguments against the Nature-Culture Dichotomy are
related to considerations in the social sciences, environmental ethics, human ecology, but also in neurobiology. One general concern is the difficulty finding a clear
cut between the two realms. However, the main criticism may be that the NatureCulture Dichotomy is implicitly driving and reducing the scope of assessments and
value measures to the artificial side, leaving nature amoral.
The question is, which events and processes of the environment and landscapes in
the past might have been important for the understanding of the present? Does
survival and organization of the future depend as much on perception and memory,
on educated traditional and scientific knowledge, on the explanation of disasters
including religious and spiritual interpretation, and human behaviour in disaster
situations?
A growing world population provokes serious threats to ecosystems and species
worldwide. The species decline continues even if the activities of diverse NGOs,
C. Hobohm (*)
Department of Ecology and Environmental Education, University of Flensburg (EUF),
Flensburg, Germany
e-mail: hobohm@uni-flensburg.de
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
C. Hobohm (ed.), Perspectives for Biodiversity and Ecosystems, Environmental
Challenges and Solutions, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57710-0_2
17