This is a great point! Today, when people talk about "loving" trees, we either get the idea of the tree hugger or the idea that something more disturbing, e.g. the clip from Superstar, is going on.
Part of the problem that these examples illustrate, especially the Superstar example, is that we stop treating trees like trees and instead treat them like people. This is not exactly the same as giving consideration to a tree's telos, but rather assumes that trees and people have the same goals. Recognizing that human beings and nature have different interests and that those interests need to be respected seems like a reasonable alternative to confusing the two or otherwise denying teleology altogether.
The question we are left with is: What kinds of activities show respect for nature's aims as distinct from human goals and what kind of relationship do we see between human and natural goals?
I agree with Josh's point. I think the idea humans may get is that we need to treat trees, and nature, like we treat each other. But they have an entirely different type of respect that is not at all like what we view as respect. Thankfully, we are intelligent human beings, allowing for us to have emotions and feelings that are different from nature's. We have created our idea of respect for one another; for nature, it is more of an idea of leaving it alone and not hindering it from developing. I think in this way, respecting a tree is much more being considerate of our place on earth, instead of actually treating it as "an equal" per se.
I'd just like to start out by saying that was probably the most disturbing Youtube video I've seen. That being said...
I think we need to treat trees with the same level of respect as we do another human being. Does that mean talk to it? Ask it "how are you doing today?" Ummm..no. You don't have to have a conversation with a tree to respect it. All you have to do is not harm it. Don't rip the branches or the bark off the tree. If you are caring for the trees, giving them water during dry weather might be nice.
The tele of humans and trees are parallel; we're both striving to survive in this sometimes inhospitable world. The best way to respect their tele is to simply leave them alone as much as possible.
This is a great point! Today, when people talk about "loving" trees, we either get the idea of the tree hugger or the idea that something more disturbing, e.g. the clip from Superstar, is going on.
ReplyDeletePart of the problem that these examples illustrate, especially the Superstar example, is that we stop treating trees like trees and instead treat them like people. This is not exactly the same as giving consideration to a tree's telos, but rather assumes that trees and people have the same goals. Recognizing that human beings and nature have different interests and that those interests need to be respected seems like a reasonable alternative to confusing the two or otherwise denying teleology altogether.
The question we are left with is: What kinds of activities show respect for nature's aims as distinct from human goals and what kind of relationship do we see between human and natural goals?
I agree with Josh's point. I think the idea humans may get is that we need to treat trees, and nature, like we treat each other. But they have an entirely different type of respect that is not at all like what we view as respect. Thankfully, we are intelligent human beings, allowing for us to have emotions and feelings that are different from nature's. We have created our idea of respect for one another; for nature, it is more of an idea of leaving it alone and not hindering it from developing. I think in this way, respecting a tree is much more being considerate of our place on earth, instead of actually treating it as "an equal" per se.
ReplyDeleteI'd just like to start out by saying that was probably the most disturbing Youtube video I've seen. That being said...
ReplyDeleteI think we need to treat trees with the same level of respect as we do another human being. Does that mean talk to it? Ask it "how are you doing today?" Ummm..no. You don't have to have a conversation with a tree to respect it. All you have to do is not harm it. Don't rip the branches or the bark off the tree. If you are caring for the trees, giving them water during dry weather might be nice.
The tele of humans and trees are parallel; we're both striving to survive in this sometimes inhospitable world. The best way to respect their tele is to simply leave them alone as much as possible.