CHUMS 3201 Why Nature?
In his book The End of Nature, Bill McKibben observes that the natural world that we have long taken for granted has, over the last two hundred years, changed in ways that few could anticipate. This change, he argues-- evident in climate change, species migration, species extinction, the destruction of natural habitat, and an increase in the number of zoonotic diseases ((like the Coronavirus)--has jeopardized not only our physical well-being, but also our capacity to find in nature a source of emotional and spiritual meaning. In the first part of this course, we will examine the causes for such changes and explore a variety of perspectives on why nature has and continues to matter to humans, despite—and in some cases, as a response to--these changes. In the second part, we will focus on works of literature and art that underscore the utilitarian, emotional, aesthetic, and spiritual importance of nature for humans.
Prerequisite
CWRIT 1101