Chapter-10. Reverence for Nature: A Philosophical Approach
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Date
2026
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Shankhik
Abstract
The great philosopher Benedict Spinoza stated that “all is God and God is all,” identifying God with substance and nature. Human life is deeply dependent on nature; however, in the present time, the value of the environment is often neglected. Although nature possesses a self-regulating capacity through homeostatic systems, excessive exploitation disrupts this balance, limiting its ability to recover. The relationship between humans and nature is fundamentally interactive, yet human activities such as deforestation and pollution have led to severe environmental degradation. This reflects an unethical attitude towards nature and has disturbed the ecological balance. Philosophical perspectives such as anthropocentrism, which places intrinsic value solely on humans, and ecocentrism, which recognises the inherent value of both organisms and the environment, offer contrasting viewpoints. The ideas of Protagoras, who stated that “man is the measure of all things,” further highlight the human-centred approach. In this context, several critical questions arise regarding the ethical use of nature, the value of the environment, and human responsibility towards environmental issues such as pollution and climate change.
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Keywords
HUMANITIES and RELIGION::History and philosophy subjects::Philosophy subjects
Citation
Alom, H. (2026). Reverence for nature: A philosophical approach. In G. Rajbanshi, F. Hossain, & S. Adhikary (Eds.), Contemporary aspects of environment, society, and livelihood (pp. 140-150). Shankhik Publication.