History of Nature

Catalog description

What is nature, and what counts as natural? This course will examine the complicated and varied historical relationships between people and the natural world in the west. Like humans, nature, too, has a history, and its meanings, boundaries, and uses have changed dramatically over time. By studying those changes, we gain insight not merely into the world we inhabit and the ways that we have shaped it, for better or worse, but also into ourselves--our beliefs, values, and ambitions. The course will cover approaches to nature from the ancient Greeks to the modern anthropocene. We will look at how nature has been understood over time not only through texts but also through art, objects, and film. The course will include visits (real or virtual) to various local sites in order for us to pursue these themes in a hands-on way. Topics covered will include the moral authority of nature, visual depictions of nature across cultures, and the ways in which ideas of nature have historically related to ideas of race and society. Counts as a Human Diversity & Commonality course. Counts as a Moral & Ethical Reasoning course. Counts as a Understanding Global Perspectives course.