Towards a Human Ecology
The humans and the world
“I am I and my circumstance; and, if I do not save it, I do not save myself.”
― José Ortega y Gasset, Meditations on Quixote
A story of love and death
In Survival and Altruism I explain that human ecology is about thinking on the possibility of human beings living in and with their environment in such a way that both improve, or at least do not worsen, with this relationship.
Human beings, or humanity, are all the people who live at any moment. And their surroundings are the rest of the living beings and the inanimate things that serve as a habitat for each other: minerals, fresh water, soil, atmosphere, seas, etc...
I start from the assumption that, like the rest of living beings, human beings have, as their vital purpose, the survival of their species. I have enunciated this idea in many of my writings, and also commented it in this article about the ideas of the biologists Monod and López-Moratalla
This mandate is inscribed in each one of the human beings, and both believers and non-believers have fulfilled it satisfactorily, especially in recent years, to grow and multiply. The believers of the Book also have a clear and imperative mandate in Gén.1.28:
" Yahweh said : Grow and multiply and fill the earth and dominate it."
And it seems that the Earth is already swollen with humans and their works.
We have also dominated most of the living creatures and have occupied most of the habitable niches. However, it seems that we have not taken enough care of the Earth and its atmosphere, nor of some of the other living beings whose species have become extinct or are in danger because of us.
Ecology deals with the relationship of living beings with each other and with their environment. Human ecology is a very recent science. F. Murillo's foreword to my old copy of Hawley 's Human Ecology (1962) began like this:
“The word ecology will possibly mean very little to students of Arts. It is even probable that they have to resort to a dictionary”.
And it seems that ecology has not advanced enough since human beings are still not clear about what their relationship with their environment should be. In fact, there is still not a “Human Subject” that interacts as such. There are collectives and human groups, large and small, that operate in their environments according to their different partial cultures, as do other species scattered throughout the world.
In the last century,population growthandthe enormous development of techniques have increased the deterioration of most human habitats and of the entire Earth and its atmosphere. Faced with these problems, there are many opinions that can be summarized in two positions:
The first is to continue increasing the use and consumption of the environment to respond to the growing demand of the human population.
The second, defended by the most “ecologists” groups, consists of prioritizing the defense of the environment, slowing down the growth of consumption if it takes. Thinking about future generations, even at the cost of reducing the material "well-being" of the current ones.
The two objectives seem good, but in practice they are difficult to achieve simultaneously and throughout the world since they are attempted differently by human groups and without a common priority objective.
The Humanity and its circumstances
The key is in the sentence by Ortega that heads these lines, who also said in his "Prologue for Germans":
"The first term of my circumstance was and is Spain, as the last is... perhaps, Mesopotamia." See Ortega y Gasset
In our idea, the subject is all humanity. And the circumstance to save, to save us, is our global environment.
I think, just thinking a little, we can appreciate what we have to do:
1st. To assume that the subject that interacts to the environment is the species: the entire species at the same time with the entire environment. This has always been like this, but now we know it.
2nd. To see and assume that the vital and priority objective to try to achieve is thesurvival of our species. It has also always been like this. But we need to act accordingly.
Seeing and assuming the above is everyone's business, but especially the responsibility of best thinkers and leaders. In a recent writing on Present and Future of Humanity, I list several possible applications for act accordingly, once seen and assumed the above. I summarize the most significant.
The first thing would be to list and evaluate the environmental problems, both natural and human, that will arise, or may affect, our survival and well-being. It is a work that is partially done, although there are serious discrepancies that arise in its resolution. From what we know, it seems that the most urgent would be:
Disseminate and promote the concept of a biologically fraternal humanity to which we belong. This belonging, before our race, nationality, religion or ideology, is what gives us the dignity of human beings and imposes on us the duty, implicit in our nature, to do what is good/better so that the species does not become extinguish. Our ancestors have fulfilled this duty, and although without knowing it, we also try to fulfill it, living according to our consciences and the norms of our communities. Rules that may have to change something if the wise and leaders do their job well.
Adjust the production, distribution and consumption of goods to those that are essential for a dignified life for all humans according to the different cultures. For example, it seems that all weapons of war can be abolished. And planes, ships, land vehicles, etc. that are not necessary for our survival as a species. And it also seems that individual austerity should be promoted and waste of all kinds of goods should be avoided: buildings, recreational utensils, clothing, food,... At the same time that it is a matter of caring for those most in need.
Apply a population policy based on the ability of parents to care for their offspring until they are able to fend for themselves. Especially mothers must have the capacity and means to apply this policy and decide the number of their children. And the States must also be responsible for applying this criterion in their territory, counting on the assets at their disposal without harming their habitat. Either alone or with help or alliances with other States. And naturally it is a basic criterion for all humanity.
Summary for wise sapiens
The first and foremost thing is that the wise men and world leaders must see and assume that the meaning of life for all humans is the survival of our species. And that this is our priority objective. The various sub-objectives: peace, well-being, equality... are good but partial and are means to the main objective. And the “Fundamental Subject” is all of humanity, not the vertical groups (nations, states, etc...) or horizontal groups (ideologies, religions, etc...).
Seeing and assuming these ideas is not difficult if you are willing to do so and accept the consequences of this seeing and assuming. We all have these laws recommended in our nature and we have acted according to their mandate: without knowing it, like the bourgeois gentleman spoke in prose. But it is now urgent to become wise Sapiens.
If these ideas are not seen, assumed, and applied, human beings will continue to act like the rest of living beings: as a group that moves towards partial objectives. Using the instinct and a kind practical reason, that despite it is evolving is limited. As Edgar Morín said, young humanity is still in its Iron Age. We should start trying to move to a higher level.
I do not extend myself in the applications. I do it in my books, in the note on Present and Future of Humanity cited and in Letters to Human Beings. The development of these ideas involves changing many things, but if there is still time and the basic ideas are assumed, it is not difficult to see what needs to be done. Counting on the possibilities of technological and social progress, to implement the new moral norms and their practical development.
In any case, it seems necessary that there is a World Agency or Authority that directs this process. Process that must be seen and applied globally. Because these ideas, have a biological and natural foundation, can frame, and reinforce the doctrines of current groups, ideologies, and religions, so the different applications of them should not imply any modification of their basic beliefs. And the changes can and must be made with total transparency, respecting the vertical and current structures and individual liberties.
August 2023
LINKS