IDS 307: NATURE AND CULTURE

This class examines the interplay between nature and culture from religious, historical, anthropological, scientific and literary perspectives. Central questions include: How have human beings envisioned their relationship with nature? How have cultures evolved in response to their physical environments? How and why do cultures differ in their views of nature? How have cultures affected their environments? How have humans projected onto nature their own ideals and values, such as reason, emotion or innocence? How have science and technology altered humans’ relationship with nature?