Nature's Due: Healing Our Fragmented Culture

by Brian Goodwin

Our scientific culture, which gave birth to modern technology, is in desperate need of change. Science has largely meant groups of specialists working in separate disciplines, seeking answers to narrowly defined questions which have little or nothing to do with the living world. The last few years, however, have seen a shift to a more integrated, holistic approach to how we view and understand our world.

There is still much work to be done. Most modern people have come to accept a fragmented culture whereby science isolates us from the natural world. As a result, we feel we can govern it and dominate it as we please. Brian Goodwin, acclaimed author of How the Leopard Changed Its Spots , argues for a view of nature as complex, interrelated networks of relationships. He proposes that, in order for us to once again work with nature to achieve true sustainability on our planet, we need to adopt a new science, new art, new design, new economics and new patterns of responsibility. We must be willing to pay nature its to recognise what we owe to the natural world and resist exploiting it solely for our own ends. This is an ambitious, wide-ranging book with far-reaching consequences, and will be essential reading for all those interested in how nature and human culture can co-exist in the future.

Genres: Environment, Science

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2007

Reviews

[The Capital Institute · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodwin argues in this book that nature can be seen as a set of “complex, interrelated networks of relationships.” Goodwin suggests that before we can become a more sustainable society, we need to adopt new economics and designs to do so. The book has been called “broad” and “ambitious,” and has been lauded for its “far-reaching consequences.” It’s an excellent guide to a deeper understanding of the relationship between nature and human impact. In a time of global crisis, the book has been called a “primer” for environmental and economic revolution.

[John Howson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in environmental philosophy I would rate this as an important book. There is only one reason I didn't give it 5 stars and that is because Goodwin takes a range of different threads from physics, genetics and natural history illustrating such things as how order can come out of randomness. But these threads are never quite pulled together into a single thesis. It is as though he hints throughout the book at a uniting theme but he never quite spells it out.
The chapter on Goethe is very interesting and introduced me to a different way of looking at scientific investigation the same with biophilic design.
So yes it is a good book and worth reading but be aware there is a conclusion that is constantly hinted at but never quite reached

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Some interesting ideas. Occasionally drifting a little into vagueness, but feel I need to go back and reread certain passages to clarify. A bit easy to be cynical about, but some optimism is needed I guess."

[Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of interesting points and wonderful insights, but i found the style and structure a bit messy, maybe because the author has tried to address too many issues and aspects in 178 pages?