For much of human history, particularly in Western society, the relationship between Earth and us has been viewed as one of separation. We often feel distinct, superior, or special, neglecting the fundamental truth that we are organic creatures made of the same molecules as everything else on our planet—part of one interconnected ecosystem that keeps us all alive.
Historical Views of Connection
Throughout history, many cultures have viewed the relationship with Earth in a radically different way, and many indigenous societies continue to do so:
Animism: This is the belief that a spirit infuses objects, nature, and the whole of existence. It is a core principle in many indigenous societies.
Taoism: This philosophy sees cosmic energy or life force everywhere, constantly seeking harmony and balance between all things.
Pachamama: Ancient Andean civilizations placed the spirit of Pachamama, or Mother Earth, at the center of their worldview. Today, for indigenous people like the U'wa tribe in Colombia, the Earth is not merely the dust from which humans are made, but the spirit of their people, their ancestors, their history, and life itself.
These holistic views were often grasped by cultures like the Druids of ancient Britain, who focused their spiritual practices on a reverence for and connection with nature.
The Shift to Domination
This interconnected view began to shatter with the rise of Christianity and European colonialism. Animism was condemned as "pagan and savage," and these views were enforced globally, crushing indigenous peoples and their nature wisdom.
Agricultural Manipulation: Since the birth of agriculture, humans had been manipulating the world, dividing and selling natural resources.
The Enlightenment: The shift accelerated in 17th-century Europe with the Enlightenment, an era championed by philosophers like René Descartes and scientists like Sir Isaac Newton. This era prized reasoning, science, and order. A new worldview emerged: human beings were the thinking, rational masters, and nature was our unthinking, unfeeling servant. Humans stood apart, investigating nature by dissecting it into smaller and smaller pieces.
This separation brought great power and led to the Anthropocene Age—an epoch defined by one dominant species (us) bending the planet's environment, processes, and biodiversity to its will. In just 500 years, much of the human race has come to see itself as the ruler and center of all life. Our vast, sprawling cities have pushed nature out of sight and out of mind.
Signs of Hope and Legal Change
As the world grapples with the urgent challenge of climate change, a fundamental reassessment of this separatist mindset is critical. There are signs of hope as other voices—particularly those influenced by a resurgent indigenous view—are starting to be heard:
Rights of Nature: Bolivia and Ecuador have passed laws granting all nature equal rights with humans.
Legal Personhood: In New Zealand, a Māori tribe successfully fought to have their river and ancestor given the same legal rights as a person.
In this interconnected world, a new era might begin with the single idea that there is no Earth and us; we are one.
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