What features of Western culture help lead people to believe in their primacy over nature?
We survive and thrive no matter what the weather, climate, wild animals, earthquakes, etc.
Star athletes like Peyton Manning can travel to Europe to receive stem cell treatment that is not available in the US. What should be our general guidelines about this and other type’s experimental treatments?
The belief in the primacy of humans over nature can be traced to several features of Western culture. These features include:
1. Anthropocentrism: Western culture tends to place a high value on human beings and their abilities. This anthropocentric perspective often leads to the view that humans are separate from and superior to the natural world, rather than recognizing our interconnectedness with it.
2. Judeo-Christian traditions: Western culture has been heavily influenced by Judeo-Christian traditions, which often emphasize human dominion over nature. In the book of Genesis, for example, God gives humans the authority to subdue and have dominion over the earth and all its creatures.
3. Industrialization and technological advancement: The development of industrialization and technological advancements in the Western world has fueled a sense of human mastery over nature. The ability to control and manipulate the environment through scientific and technological progress has reinforced the belief in human superiority.
4. Capitalism and consumerism: Western culture's emphasis on capitalism and consumerism has led to the exploitative use of natural resources for economic gain. The pursuit of profit often takes precedence over environmental considerations, reinforcing the belief that nature exists to serve human needs and desires.
To answer your question, one would need to analyze these cultural features and explore how they contribute to the belief in human primacy over nature in Western culture. This could involve examining religious texts, studying historical developments, and analyzing economic and social structures.