Man-Nature Relationship: The Sikh

Perspective


Hardev Singh Virk
Visiting Professor, SGGS World
University, Fatehgarh Sahib

Origin of Term Nature
The term "nature" comes from nasci (from the
Latin meaning to be born). The Greek for nature
is phusis from phuomai (meaning to grow or
increase in size). It would be etymologically
correct to use the term physics in the place of
nature except that, in modern science, physics is
the term used to describe the study of this
world's laws by applying mathematical logic. We
therefore prefer to use the term nature despite
the fact that it has many different meanings.

Introduction

The mannature relationship has always been
ambiguous, nature being seen as both a provider
and an enemy. In the Judeo-Christian tradition,
man is set apart from nature and called to
dominate it. Oriental religions, on the other hand,
have a more holistic view and consider humans
as an integral part of nature. Modern
philosophers have views ranging from
anthropocentrism to biocentrism and
ecocentrism.

What is Nature?
According to A.N. Whitehead: Nature is that
which we observe in perception through the
senses. In this sense perception we are aware of
something which is not thought and which is self-
contained for thought. This property of being
self-contained for thought lies at the base of
natural science. It means that nature can be
thought of as a closed system whose mutual
relations do not require the expression of the fact
that they are thought about. Thus in a sense,
nature is independent of thought.

Role of Nature in Science
The concept of nature has played a predominant
role in science and religion since ancient times.
Plato and Aristotle elaborated the Greek thought
regarding the fundamental question: What is
nature made of?
Plato asserts that nature is made of fire and earth
with air and water as intermediate between
them, so that as fire is to air so is air to water,
and as air is to water so is water to earth. This is
the origin of so called four element theory of
Greeks. Later on Ether was added as the fifth
element.
Earth, water, air, fire and ether are related in
direct succession and form the ultimate substrata
of nature.
Matter, Space and Time are also now known to
be composites of nature.
Thus in Greek philosophy, the search for the
ultimate entities and their relationship became
the corner stone for the study of nature. This
search is the origin of science.
In fact, before classification of science into
different branches, the study of natural
phenomenon was called natural science or
natural philosophy.

Role of Nature in Religion
Primitive religions originated in early humankind's
contact with nature. From the imbalance between its
own power and that of the natural elements, primitive
humankind gained a sense of the existence of a reality
which transcended this world, and was brought into
contact with the sacred. It is useful to point out here
that this first step in the emergence of Homo religiosus
gave rise to humankind's sense of dependency.
Religions and ancient beliefs stem from nature, which
is why they are classified under the term naturalism:
animism, totemism and chamanism, etc.

Judeo-Christian Tradition: Genesis
Genesis says that, (I11), on the second day, God
created the herbs and the trees that bear seed
and fruit, on the fourth (I20), the creeping
creatures and the fowl, on the fifth (I2425), the
beasts of the earth according to their kinds, cattle
and creeping things. Then God said (I26) Let us
make man to our image and likeness; and let him
have dominion over the fishes of the sea and the
fowls of the air, and the beasts, and the whole
earth, and every creeping creature....

Exploitation of Nature in the West
According to Francis Bacon, we must subdue
nature, penetrate its secrets and chain it to
satisfy our desires. Man is the center of the
world and the object of science is to dominate
nature. The same idea was taken up by
Descartes who stated that we should use
science to make us masters and possessors of
nature.

Nature in Sikh Perspective
The Sikh scriptural portrayal of natural
phenomena is not just to marvel at;
knowledge is not just for the sake of academic
goals; scientific discoveries are not just for our
material welfare. Rather, it places special
possibilities and moral responsibilities on each
one of us. Planet earth is the home for
righteous action (dharamsal)" (Japuji: 34). The
Sikh scripture, however, upholds definite
moral and spiritual goals.
Human Achievements

The concept of civilization. Society and its history constitute
the most complex and multi-dimensional process. And if we
are to make any sense of this highly developed piece of
reality we shall need a wide range of concepts. Human
reason, which for centuries has been nurtured by this
seething reality, has evolved numerous concepts and
categories to explain the world historical process. For a long
time idealist views prevailed, but dialectical materialism,
with its materialist understanding of world history, has
evolved a new and comprehensive system of concepts,
categories and principles that enable us to reveal the
essence, sources, mechanisms and driving forces in the
development of society.
People are not born cultured; they become so through
education and upbringing. Every individual learns to be
cultured. Upbringing or education is itself historical. At
first, in the earliest stages of human society, as with
small children, education was simply imitative of the
elementary actions of others. But this process becomes
educative inasmuch as it takes place under the control
of educators. With the passage of time it becomes
more and more complex. Until, finally, such forms arise
as school and college education and training on
scientifically evolved principles. At the same time the
boundlessly rich school of life as well as self-education
also play the part of educator.
Culture is a social phenomenon that embraces not only the past and
the present, but also the future. The culture of all peoples
throughout history is permeated to some extent by religion. This is
expressed in various rituals, forms of worship, in deities, in art, in
philosophy and even in science. It is hidden in the very fabric of
languageeven an atheist, for example, may say several times a
day "goodbye", which originally meant "God be with you". Without
some fundamental knowledge of the history of religion it is
impossible to understand our human biography, the biography of
the human race, and to become a cultured person generally. For
example, primitive society was full of animist, magic and
mythological beliefs and this left its imprint on the whole system of
the life, thought, emotions and interrelations of people and their
relationship with nature.