Module 3: The Nature of Man

1. Human

2. Cultured

3. Refined

• What is the nature of human nature

• What is man?

• Encyclopedic view

  • Dennis Dedirot - The nature of man is good

• Economic view

  • Adam Smith - The man is happy abundant in material things

• Sir Karl Popper

  • Man lives in three the worlds

    • Physical world -

    • Internal world -

    • Social world - relation with others

• Scholastic view

  • Man is a being, a creature, whose identity is to live in two worlds.

    • Spiritual world

    • Physical/material world

  • Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine

    • Aristotle : soul is the essence

    • St. Augustine :We are created by God

    • St. Thomas Aquinas: Man is distinct to live in the physical world since he is part of the world and he is among the type of entities of the world

1. The origin of the Human Species

• Human Evolution

• 3 Major Groups

  • Early Hominins

    • 7-4.4 Million Years ago in Africa

    • Had many Ape-like traits such as a SMALL cranial capacity

    • Began to show Human-like characteristics such as small CANINES

  • Australopithecines

    • 4.4-1.4 Million years ago in Africa

    • Had some ape-like traits

    • Changes in the eye, spine, skull, and legs indicate a notable shift towards a very human-like traits

    • Consistent BIPEDAL LOCOMOTION

  • Homo genus

    • Homo Habilis

    • EARLIEST Homo species

    • 2.4-1.4 Million years ago

      • Homo Rudolfensis

      • Homo Erectus

      • Homo Heidelbergensis

      • Homo Floresiensis

      • Homo Neanderthalensis

      • Homo Naledi

      • Homo Sapiens

        • SOLE SURVIVORS of the Homo genus

          • FACTORS

          • Biological: Genetic mutations/natural selection

          • Cultural: Create/Transmit culture; Language, Technology, & social practices

          • Environmental: Difference of eras, food sources, prey/predator ecosystem

          • Social: Founded on social norms/traditions, desirable is practiced, groups from similar traits/experience

          • Technological: Innovative/adaptability

    • LARGER Cranial Capacity

    • Sophisticated stone tools

    • Figured out fire

• Are Humans Still Evolving

  • Human evolution is a complex and ongoing process

  • Human evolution is not linear

  • Not simply about the changes in the physical or biological characteristics

    • Species are forced to adapt

    • Innovation is not a novel concept

    • Change is constant and inevitable

2 Man and His Physical Environment

• ENVIRONMENT

  • The place, people, things and nature that surround any living organism

• 2 Components

  • Natural

    • Non-human-made environmental elements & conditions in which all living and non-living things exist on Earth

  • Human-made

    • Things, activities, creations, and interactions amongst humans

• Natural Environment

  • Atmosphere

    • “Atmos” - Vapour

    • Gaseous layer of air that surrounds the Earth

  • Hydrosphere

    • “Hudor”- Water

    • All forms of water: Ice, water, vapour

  • Lithosphere

    • “stone”

    • Solid portion of Earth

  • Biosphere

    • “Bios” - life

    • Zone where the lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere interact which contains ALL the living creatures on the Earth; WHERE LIFE EXISTS

• Environmental Philosophy

  • Studies the moral relationship between human being and environment. It also believes that human beings interact not only with each other but also with other living and non-living beings in the environment

  • Issues -

    • Man’s place and role in nature

    • The effect of human activities to the environment

    • Moral responsibility of the human being towards other living and non-living beings

• 3 Views on the Human Environment Relationship Between Human Beings & the Environment

  • Anthropocentrism

    • view of that HUMAN beings are the CENTRAL or the most IMPORTANT being in the environment

  • Biocentrism

    • view that human beings are NOT the ONLY significant species on the planet

  • Econcentrism

    • believes that human beings are part of a GREATER biological system or community and that we have a significant role as STEWARDS or gaurdians of nature

    • It help develop the contemporary ideologies and movements known as

      • Environmentalism

        • seeks to PROTECT, PRESERVE, RESTORE and IMPROVE the natural environment & critical natural systems and processes

          • Walang Plastik Mondays; Skip the Straw Campaign

        • All living things deserve consideration in political policies, social policies, & economic policies

        • Sustainability - maintain an ECOLOGICAL BALANCE in the natural environment & conserve natural resources to support the well-being of current and future generations

          • Principles:

          • Environmental integrity - Maintaining the state of the environment

          • Economic efficiency - Prudence and frugality in decision making to ensure that there is minimum to zero waste

          • Equity - Demands that we use our natural resources responsibly and sustainably for future generations

      • Ecologism

        • seeks to PROTECT & PRESERVE natural ecosystems in order to bring HARMONY between human beings and the environment

          • Sees PEOPLE as VITAL COMPONENT of all ecosystems

          • Believes that people’s/environment’s wellbeing are interdependent

        • MORE RADICAL FORM of Environmentalism

          • Eco-friendly transportations; Water conservation

        • 3 Radical Ecological Theories

          • Deep Ecology

            • All living things possess EQUAL VALUE and intrinsic worth regardless of their usefulness to other beings

            • The environment has basic moral and legal rights to live and flourish

          • Social Ecology

            • Ecological problems can be traced to social problems, to different forms of social hierarchy and domination

            • Solution: a model of society adapted to the development of both humans and the biosphere

          • Ecofeminism

            • Patriarchal view of nature is the root cause of ecological probelms

            • Solution: remove concepts of superiority and inferiority in human relations

            • A society that tolerates the oppression of women is directly linked w/ its tolerance of environmental abuse

• Human-Environment Interaction

• Location

• Place

• Movement

• Region

3 Man’s Role in Changing the Physical Environment

• 1. Human Effects & Impacts on the Environment

  • Human Civilization has a long history of ADAPTING to natural surroundings

  • Human UTILIZE Resources found in the natural environment for various needs - rocks & stones for weapons, wood for fire

  • The industrial age

    • Transition to the industrial age led to the establishment of factories and workshops

      • Production of large quantities of goods, faster cars, and larger cities

    • Unintended consequence: SIGNIFICANT CHANGES to Natural Environment

    • Environmental impact - Rapid industrialization led to ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION & DEGRADATION

      • Waste from industries - water pollution

      • Car fumes = air pollution

      • Placstic waste = soil pollution

      • Deforestation - landslides & drought

• 2. Human Impacts on the Environment: The Dual Perspective

  • Human Activity poses a significant threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services

  • Nearly 1k plant and animal species have gone EXTINCT due to human actions

    • Barbary lion, St. Helena Olive, Passenger Pigeon

  • Ecosystem Services

    • Benefits provided by the natural world w/out cost to humanity

    • Support services

      • Foundation of Earth’s biological system

    • Provisioning services

      • Raw materials for human survival

    • Regulating services

      • Moderation of Earth’s systems

    • Cultural services

      • Less tangible benefits

  • Biodiversity

    • ensures ecosystem RESILIENCE to change

    • HIGH BIODIVERSITY enhances ecosystem STABILITY

    • Importance

      • Resilience in High-Biodiversity Systems

        • less likely to experience ecosystem collapse

      • Vulnerability in Low-Biodiversity Systems

        • Disappearance of a single species can disrupt the entire ecosystem

      • Cascade effect - When ONE human impact LEAD to another

  • Human Impacts

    • Deforestation

      • Causes erosion and runoff of minerals and chemicals into marine ecosystems

    • Desertification

      • Spread of dry, unproductive landscapes

      • Causes include tree cutting, overgrazing, and over-irrigation

    • Global warming

      • Increased CO2 levels lead to warmer temp

      • Deforestation reduces oxygen release & increases CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels

    • Nonnative species

      • Introduction of nonnative species disrupts ecosystems

    • Overharvesting

      • Overfishing depletes ocean resources

      • Extermination of predators like wolves disrupts ecosystems to protect livestock

  • Positive aspects

    • Genetic engineering boosts crop yields

    • Cloning aids mass organism production

    • Advancements aid disease cure development

    • Manufactured chemicals optimize crop growth

    • Greenhouses offer controlled environments monitored by satellites

  • Negative aspects

    • High demand drives deforestation and landscape damage

    • Pollution poses significant threats

    • Fossil fuel combustion releases sulfur dioxide, causing acid rain and environmental harm

    • Excessive fertilizers and pesticides cause algal blooms and harm aquatic ecosystems

    • Littering and industrial waste harm aquatic life and humans through food chain contamination

• 3. How can we save our environment

  • Utilize natural resources responsibly to prevent

    environmental degradation.

    Start with small steps to balance the natural and human

    environment.

    Essential human needs should not compromise the

    integrity of the natural environment.

    Living in harmony with nature entails understanding and

    respecting our environment.

  • Use public transport, bikes, and catalytic converters to cut fossil

    fuel use.

    Opt for renewable energies like solar, wind, and hydroelectric

    power.

    Enforce laws to limit habitat access, combating illegal hunting.

    Educate about environmental conservation's importance.

    Avoid littering and join community clean-up efforts.

    Spread awareness about conservation's significance.

  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

4. Man’s Biological Adaptation to the Physical Environment

• Ecological Anthropology

  • concerned with bio-cultural responses and processes that affect the human populations

  • Interdisciplinary study that covers human physiology, biology, environment, and anthropology

• Human Adaptation

  • the process by which people become more accustomed to their environment

  • Multi-dimensional and multi-hierarchical

• A change in environment elicits responses from humans at two levels

  • Individual Level

  • Population Level

• Types of Adjustments

  • Individual Level

    • Regulatory responses

      • Any response that has a very rapid mode of adjustment

    • Acclimatory response

      • Adjustments that take a longer time

    • Developmental response

      • Irreversible responses that occurs during growth and development

  • Population level

    • Genetic Changes

• These adjustments operate by a process of negative feedback mechanism

• Living organisms response to environmental stress

  • Stress - any factor that interferes with normal limits of operations

• Human responses

  • Cultural/psychological/technological

    • Behavioral changes

  • Physiological

    • Short term - regulatory responses

    • Long term - acclimization responses

  • Developmental

    • anatomical changes

  • Genetic changes

• Bergmann’’s Rule

  • Body mass adaptation

    • Less massive individuals - located in areas with warm climates near the equator

    • Greater bulk - located in the colder region

• Allen’s Rule

  • Limbs adaptation

    • Near the equator - longer limbs

    • Near poles - limbs are smaller

• How do humans adapt?

  • equipped with the structure or behavior that helps to survive in its environment

  • Environmental Modification

    • The process by which human activity permanently changes the environment. When people change the earth to fit their needs

  • Difference between human adaptation and environmental modification

    • Adapt - change yourself

      • Terrace farming

    • Modify - change the earth

      • Building dams - to control flood water

        • Ex:

        • Human adaptation

          • Warning and alert systems to natural disasters

          • Using local/natural resources for food, medicine, transpo, clothing

          • Housing locations

        • Environmental modification

          • Urban growth throughout the years

          • Deforestation Coal mining

          • Infrastructure Industrialization

  • Environment - all materials surroundinng us, whether biotic or abiotic

    • 4 Domains

    • Lithosphere - the land

    • Hydroshpere - water bodies

    • Atmosphere - makes the world liveable

    • Biosphere - living components

  • Ecology - study of earth as a household

  • Ecosystem - the entire interraltionship of the 4 environmental domains

    • Types of Ecosystem

    • 1. Manmade/artificial

    • 2. Natural

      • Aquatic

      • Terrestrial

  • Human adaptations in their environment

    • Neolithic Era

      • People stopped MOVING and SETTLED in one place

    • Irrigation

      • First done in Mesopotamia to bring water from a natural source to an area without a reliable source of water

• Charles Darwin

  • Certain behavioral and physical adaptations of organisms to different environments were possibly linked to the origins of new species

    • Physical adaptations

      • Beneficial physical characteristics

    • Behavioral adaptations

      • Things that an organism evolves or learns to do to survive

• Most common adaptations can generally be grouped into categories

  • Movement

    • Carnivore/herbivore is a behavior

    • Birds = wings w/ hollow bones

    • Fish = sleek body and fins

  • Feeding

    • Physical adaptations come with having certain diet or feeding behavior

      • Teeth sharpened canines; herbivores flattened molars; Plant Phototaxis

  • Temperature regulation

    • Whales and seals have blubber to stay warm underwater

  • Camouflage & Mimicry

    • mimic octopus can make itself look like up to 15 diff species

  • Predator-prey dynamics

    • Preys adaptation

      • Texas horned toads = spit blood out of their eyes

      • Sea cucumbers = throw internal toxin and organs outside of their body

        • Hibernation