How do different cultures view humanity's relationship with nature?
While Western culture often sees nature as a resource to exploit, many Indigenous cultures see themselves as part of nature itself.
The answer
Cultural attitudes toward nature vary fundamentally. The dominant Western view, rooted in the Enlightenment and certain interpretations of Abrahamic religions, positions humans as separate from and having dominion over nature. By contrast, many Indigenous worldviews regard humans as one part of an interconnected web of life. The Quechua concept of Pachamama (Mother Earth) in the Andes grants nature rights and personhood; Ecuador and Bolivia have enshrined these rights in law. Japanese Shinto sees kami (spirits) in rivers, mountains, and forests. In Maori culture, the Whanganui River was granted legal personhood in 2017 as an ancestor. The Hindu concept of vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world is one family) extends kinship to all living beings. These diverse perspectives increasingly influence global environmental policy and conservation ethics.
Source: Nature Sustainability
- nature
- Indigenous worldviews
- environmentalism
- Pachamama
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