Are We Coming of Age at the End of Nature?

     This week, we’ve had in depth conversations about whether or not we are, “coming of age at the end of nature,” and what that means for us. “Nature,” has many definitions, and can be seen wherever we look. Nature is the very air that surrounds us, the fungi that grows on the redwoods, the rings of Saturn, and the quasars billions of lightyears away. Nature is everywhere.

     Therefore, according to my own definition of nature, I do not believe that I am “coming of age at the end of nature.” There is no end to nature. It will persist long after we’ve gone, and there isn’t anything we can do to completely annihilate it.

     However, that doesn’t negate the fact that we are wreaking havoc on the natural world here on Earth. Plant, animals and humans are all suffering due to over consumption, deforestation, and fossil fuel extraction. We live in a society that is obsessed with consumerism, and because of that, we are poisoning ourselves and other beings on the planet. Which is why I find no joy in the term, “the end of nature.”

     I think it’s very important for us to do what we can to protect both natural and human-made environments. It is vital for us to take care of fellow human beings, but none of us can survive without the complex ecosystems that create a global symbiosis. If we don’t protect the forests and the oceans, we aren’t protecting ourselves.

     I like to think that I am in no way coming of age at the end of nature. My hope is that nature on Earth will continue to thrive, and that we will do what we can to protect it. Regardless, nature will continue to exist throughout the universe for billions of years.