Darwin 3: vs. Tennyson

“Nature, with equal mind,
Sees all her sons at play;
Sees man control the wind,
The wind sweep man away;
Allows the proudly riding and the founder’d bark.”
Matthew Arnold
(Appleman 654)

My views on nature and evolution have gotten me into some heated discussions. I don’t believe animals should be held in captivity for the sake of entertainment, science, or pleasure. Though I love animals, I don’t believe they should by domesticated pets. These beliefs stem from a respect for animals: dogs don’t have pet humans, so humans shouldn’t have pet dogs. This respect transfers to all living organisms- I don’t like roaches, but I understand that they have just as much of a right to survive as I do. In fact, they do more good for the world than mankind ever will.


What would we think if we were the ones sitting trees, watching other animals (dogs, cats, monkeys, etc.) walking around in suites with laptops and cell phones? Would we be impressed? Mildly curious? Indifferent? Resentful?

This respect translates into my philosophy of life: “Nature has no special regard for humankind” (Stevenson 653). By no means do I mean this in a negative way. Rather, instead of viewing the world from an anthropocentric lens, I’d like to understand it as it understands me. I believe if the spirit of nature could verbalize everything it felt, there would not be one ounce of regard for mankind. “It” birthed us, gave us life. Without “it” we would literally not exist. “It” doesn’t need us- “it” doesn’t want us. If one striped us of our language, politics, “knowledge”, morals, technology, and everything else that we believe makes us superior, we’d be just as inconsequential as the house fly.


Without this raging ball of fire we would not exist. Plants and animals would not exist. Along with water, the sun is every living organisms main source of life. If man worships anything, it should be the sun, it should be nature. Nature provides for us, and the sun provides for it. I believe I am a product of evolution, so, when asked about spirituality or worship, I say the sun is my God.

(I’d be much less melodramatic though)