Stephen H. Schneider

Humanistic Expressions of Cycles in Nature

We believe there is a pervasive unifying concept among the common themes about Nature expressed in art cross-culturally and throughout time. Nature is cyclical. We all know that the sun will rise and set tomorrow, and that the cycle will go on. Modern American balladeer Tom Paxton sings of the cyclical aspect of Nature, not only as a physical entity but also in the affairs of man: This world goes round and round, green leaves will turn to brown, what goes up must come down, it all comes back to you, and you find whatever you feel, you lose whatever you steal, just like a spinning wheel the world goes ’round and ’round. Rainwater runs down to the sea, evaporation makes the clouds free. Then it all comes and rains on me, and the world goes ’round and ’round.1

Ancient Greek Natural Philosophy: The Bridge to Science

We began our search for an understanding of man’s relationship with Nature with the Greeks. Their myths entertained, offered observations and “explanations”* of the natural world, and also laid the foundations for subsequent works of art. Many artistic motifs and images—not only those treating Nature or the man/Nature relationship—can trace their roots to the Greeks. We now turn to the Greeks again, for a look at a speculative science we have yet to consider and one in which their works are truly fundamental: the realm of natural philosophy. We place philosophy at the end of our exploration of the speculative sciences since early natural philosophy fits our definition of a speculative science (describing or offering an “explanation” of Nature). It also leads directly into the hard sciences. It is, in fact, the least speculative of the speculative sciences. We might even call it a prescience.

The Social Tithe

Twentieth-century man has made a world of technological advances and complex social organizations. We rarely think about these structures, though, except to note how they seem to have made us increasingly aloof from Nature. However, the reality is that we are not independent. “We” (as individuals) have enjoyed the use of technology to reduce our vulnerability to many of Nature’s hazards. For instance, few of us would go hungry if an early frost wiped out our tomato patch. We would simply pay the grocer for food grown elsewhere, where Nature had been more cooperative. Nearly everyone in society, though, depends on food grown elsewhere. This makes us still dependent on Nature, but our dependence is on Nature’s providing sufficient harvests for everyone. Sufficient here means the overall food supply’s being large enough to meet worldwide demand. If Nature adversely affects food production in one region, the people who live there have to turn elsewhere for their supply. They then need money to buy food and more time to wait for its distribution. It is an insurance step to keep adequate supplies close to home.

Reactions to the Primordial Bond Expressed in the Humanities

The humanities convey (among other things) man’s feelings about his place in Nature. When looking to the humanities for cycles in Nature, we were actually finding repeated patterns of feelings. A more complete understanding of these is essential before we move into the realm of hard science. We need to analyze our feelings about man’s place in Nature before we can properly understand our present environmental and related technological crises, for these emotions are the driving force behind the changes that can create or alleviate such crises. The wide range of human feelings about our relationship with Nature can be seen if we look briefly at one of the Greek “elements,” water.

What is Science

Thales bridged the gap between natural philosophy and science because he began the search for proof. But Thaies didn’t always find proof—and neither does science. Indeed, science is in large part the very search for proof. Albert Einstein, certainly one of our greatest contemporary scientists, was a man who had a wealth of scientific knowledge. When asked how long it would take to confirm his theory of relativity, he is reputed to have said that while no number of experiments could prove him right, one could prove him wrong. If science isn’t strictly the “knowledge of facts” or the “exact observation” of Nature that the dictionary makes it out to be, what is it?

Human Disruptions of the Global Cycles of Life

One side of the earth (the side man has thought of as “night”) is no longer in the dark. Thanks to Edison’s inventions, satellite photos (e.g., Figure 8–1) show that the back side of our planet literally “glows” in the dark!

The Global Cycles of Life

In our discussion of the humanities, we were not only looking for expressions of man’s relationship with Nature but also seeking unity in variety. Cycles have provided unifying links, within the humanities, between the various art forms, and across seemingly disparate cultures. Our search for unity in variety continues within the realm of hard science. Cycles here link the elements themselves.

Poetry and Plutonium

Along with the attempt to separate himself from Nature, man has also separated himself from his fellow man. We have subdivided ourselves into groups: professions, nationalities, religions, sexes, and even intellectual sectors like artists and scientists.