Life-centered world view

Humans are morally indebted to care for nature. It’s not a matter of satisfying human needs.
Rather, it is man’s innate responsibility as nature’s intelligent beings. Life is the heart of this
environmental perspective.
Flora and fauna existed before man. They have thrived in this planet long before man took
form, gained intellect and developed a sense of rationality. Throughout his existence, man learned
to utilize and modify resources provided by nature commonly through destructive manners. Man
has witnessed plant and animal species cover and roam the ends of the earth; he has witnessed the
population of these species dwindle, until they were no longer existent. Man cannot deny that in
the same way nature had greatly contributed to his progress, he has become a primary contributor
to nature’s obliteration.
Disasters in the form of typhoons, cyclones or hurricanes, earthquakes, and forest fires has
become ordinary spectacles. Perhaps it is nature’s way to convey its aggrieved condition to humans,
or to cleanse itself from man’s destructive activities. Yet, these aren’t solely up to nature. Man is
a subsidiary to the creation of some disasters, such as typhoons and forest fires. The emergence of
climate change and even man-made global warming put the entire biosphere to risk as it brought
stronger typhoons, rise to sea levels, melting of polar ice, and warmer temperatures. Animal and
plant species which has not adapted to the changes eventually die out to the point where some
population of species are declared extinct.
Man bears accountable to the unfortunate events taking place in nature. As he advanced
through science and technology, nature became a catch-basin to the by-products of various
processes. These by-products are generally harmful and toxic for nature to handle. The good point
in man’s advancement for nature’s sake is the employment of his rationality. He exhibited this
through the creation of environmental laws or policies, treaties or agreements. The advent of
concerning matters regarding the environment has driven man to take a step forward and counter
the effects brought by these matters.
The preservation of life and homeostasis within nature rests in the hands of humans. It is a
moral burden inherited throughout the generations. Man is bestowed with the ability to think and
reflect on his deeds and formulate logical sequences to resolve issues. No other species can settle
environmental matters aside from man. However, resolving matters for the sake of human survival
should not be the reason. It is rather a task executed for the sake of fulfilling our liability and
upholding our moral duty.