When I was a younger, I could have summed my ethics and values in a few short sentences. I saw the world in black and white. I saw the world filtered through the dogma that was bestowed upon me. Life experience challenged those principles on many occasions and life continues to challenge my values and ethics today. Change is inevitable. Through the years, I found a tendency to see the world more clearly through shades of grey. With that said, I’ve found more questions than answers.
Now to say something shocking, everyone takes life and everyone exploits the Earth! Getting past the nuances, I hope we all agree. Until the day of the Star Trek food replicator, we humans will continue to prey upon other organisms and exploit natural resources for our sustenance and livelihood. Debate surfaces, however, when we impose our values on each other and draw a line on the cladogram. At what level of biological organization are we permitted to take life and to what purpose? At what rate do we take from the biotic and abiotic components? The answer to this question obviously resides within the scope of an individual’s convictions. Often this choice is made with less rationale and instead a feeling of relatedness or connection. Most of us will find it easier to value an organism that we can identify with. If we perceive that an organism is like us, with some type of consciousness or similar physical traits, we make a connection. Likewise, we place different value on material items and the notion of sustainability. We all have differing thoughts in this regard and I am not here to debate the morality of our decisions.
I argue that the level of connectivity we have for a particular thing will determine the value we assign to it. Being privy to evolutionary theory, I understand how our species is related to other organisms. Through my study of ecosystem science, I grasp the interconnectedness we share with the biotic and abiotic characters in these communities. As an outdoorsman, I have experienced a connection to the landscape. I value all life because I am a member of this ecosystem – I have a connection. The engagement strengthens this fundamental belief.
The use of natural resources creates conflict to this fundamental value. Over time, my view has shifted from anthropocentric to biocentric. My Judeo-Christian upbringing places our species at the apex of life and divides us from the environment. I originally thought the resources of this world were placed here for me. At the top of the food chain, we were taught a manifest destiny to conquer the world and subjugate its species. The axiom that sustainable use would permit our species to coexist with the Earth was a mere limit to our destructive behavior. The connection I discovered throughout the years indicated otherwise. From a larger perspective, I didn’t matter; my species didn’t matter. Humanity is a small blip in the history of life on Earth. However, the contributions of my species would define a legacy. Our actions reflect our values that define our species. The interactions within the ecosystem are what matter. My actions matter.
We can all agree that our society holds some noble, but also many empty values. At some level we are all influenced by our culture. Often, our country is very wasteful and materialistic. Unfortunately, I’ve adopted some of these values too. These empty values often conflict with what I find more important. I find it necessary to remind myself of the values I deem important. For example, hunting does not only fulfill a primal bloodlust; but rather, it serves as a reminder of my connection with nature. The connection that I speak is multifaceted. First, it underpins my respect for life by reminding me that I depend on life for my existence. Hunting cultivates a greater awareness of my relationship with the ecosystem. I have a greater understanding of my dependence on the ecosystem. It also reminds me of the impermanence of our existence. The actions however, continue to resonate. Merely going to the supermarket to subdue a piece of red meat with my wallet would not garner enough experience to feel this connection. Hunting provides people the opportunity to witness the sustenance of being.
While hunting may not be for everyone, I suggest finding a tradition that reminds you of the cycle of life, your connection with the ecosystem, is important for the wellbeing of our Earth. As we indulge ourselves in these traditions, we can reflect and assess our values and what is important to us. Sometimes, simply spending a little time outdoors is all it takes.
The first and second personal perspective essays were a human dimensions class assignment. The questions asked challenged us to explore our values and share our introspection with our classmates.