More and more people no longer see humans as rulers of nature, but as part of a larger ecosystem. This shift, from an anthropocentric to an ecocentric view, emphasises the balance between humans, plants, and animals. There is a growing awareness that the relationship between humans and nature has become disrupted – a development that raises questions about how we redefine our place in the world. But how did we arrive at this new view of nature, and what’s next in this changing relationship?
Changing nature image
Due to man’s negative impact on Earth, since 1980 there has been talk of a new geological era: the Anthropocene, derived from the Greek word anthropos (human). This marks a new chapter in which humans play a leading role. A shift from anthropocentric to ecocentric thinking is taking place, with the ecosystem taking centre stage rather than humans. How we interact with nature has always been part of history, but there is growing awareness that the relationship between humans and nature has become an issue. SCP research shows that 95% of Dutch people acknowledge that the climate has changed. 65% attribute this to human activity, and three quarters are concerned, especially about the consequences for future generations and the environment.
Relationship between human and nature
Recognising the climate crisis, environmental philosophers raised the question of how the relationship between humans and nature has been disrupted. They introduced the concept of basic attitude: the basic feeling about how humans and nature relate. Matthijs Schouten, ecologist and environmental philosopher, distinguishes four basic attitudes: man as ruler, steward, partner and participant. A shift is visible in the western world. Until the 1960s, the idea prevailed that nature belonged to and was for humans, a collection of useful things. ‘That image is changing now, due to crisis and contact with other cultures,’ says Schouten. ‘Secularisation and concerns about biodiversity and climate play a role in this.’ More and more people are moving from an anthropocentric to an ecocentric worldview. ‘There is a shift towards participatory and stewardship views. People see themselves as part of nature and want to take good care of the earth,’ Schouten said. This brings a focus on the relational value of nature: not just what nature offers us or what nature is in itself, but the cooperation between humans and nature. The appreciation of nature has evolved over time. ‘In Romanticism, the appreciation of wild nature began, as a reaction to industrialisation. That led to national parks and nature protection,’ says Schouten.
The paths of Amelisweerd reflect the evolving relationship between humans and nature, where coexistence and care replace control.
Rights of Nature
One of the expressions of the shift towards the ecocentric view is the Rights of Nature. This philosophical and legal concept recognises that nature, like humans, has rights. And it contributes to the idea that nature’s interests should be represented, for instance by legal persons. Legal persons, human beings, then have the legal power and responsibility to enforce these rights on behalf of ecosystems.
It is the fastest-growing legal movement of the twenty-first century. Globally, there are more than 400 initiatives to give nature rights and nature rights have already been granted in more than 40 countries. Despite the fact that the Netherlands has not yet officially recognised Nature Rights, there is a growing movement locally and nationally to promote Nature Rights. ‘We are slowly stepping out of the mirror palace of our own images and discovering a world with its own laws and processes,’ Schouten said.
