Teaching & Learning Guide for: The Aesthetics of Nature

Environmental aesthetics today harbors a wide range of perspectives, and crosses several commonly recognized divides: between analytic and continental philosophy, Eastern and Western traditions, universalizing and historicizing approaches, and theoretical and practical concerns. This volume sets out to show how these perspectives can be brought into conversation with one another. The first part gives a clear survey of the development of the field, and discusses some important future directions for environmental aesthetics. It points to new topics, such as the inclusion of everyday artifacts, human activities, and social relations. The second part explains how widening the scope of environmental aesthetics demands a continual rethinking of the relationship between aesthetics and other fields. How does environmental aesthetics relate to ethics? Does aesthetic appreciation of the environmental entail an attitude of respect? And what is the relationship between the theory and practice? The third part is devoted to the relationship between aesthetics of nature and aesthetics of art. To what extend can art help inform our “environmental imagination”? Can art help “save the earth”? The final part illustrates the emergence of practical applications from theoretical studies, and focus on concrete case studies. It shows how Kant’s and Dewey’s aesthetic can be used to defend the beauty of wind farms. And shouldn’t we, besides learning to “think like a mountain” (Aldo Leopold) also learn “to think like a mall”. And finally, how can an aesthetic appreciation for wild animals be understood?

The study of environmental and ecological aesthetics in China only began in the 21st century. But environmental aesthetics has a long history including the design of Chinese gardens and the practice and the evaluation of ancient Chinese landscape paintings. Comparing the aesthetic discourses on nature in China and in Europe, this essay lists Western discourses on the beauty of creation, of the sublime, and of the picturesque. Chinese discourses of the beauty of the nature have undergone a discursive development, which has formed a transformation of the discipline of aesthetics. From the appreciation of the beauty of nature in ancient times to contemporary ecological and environmental aesthetics, discourses in both cultures demonstrate similarities and differences. Understanding contemporary schools of Chinese aesthetics, from subjectivism to the materialists, shows that an historical analysis has positive implications for our understanding of the aesthetics of nature in both eastern and western cultures.

Telajakan and mixed gardens are land management systems in Bali. The existing plants are a combination of tree plants, shrubs, palms, bamboo and others by combining agricultural crops and or livestock. This practice is found in one land management unit to the landscape of rural agroecosystems. In the agroforestry system, this system is more of a family-based activity (household-based agroforestry). This study discusses and examines the value of plant species, as well as the benefits for the household level in Tabanan Bali. The study was conducted from January to June 2019 in Pinge Village, Tabanan Regency, Bali, which is a village that provides green space and the beauty of environmental aesthetics. Observation of various species of plants was carried out using Quick Biodiversity Survey (QBS) method, the complementary of the Rapid Agro Biodiversity Appraisal (RABA) method. The observations were carried out on 40 plots representing agroforestry land-use systems. The results showed that the biodiversity and species richness level belonged to the medium category. There are 55 plant species from a combination of agricultural and forest plants. The vegetation structure of Telajakan and mixed gardens guarantees a natural regeneration process. Telajakan and mixed gardens cause the development of commercial species with high economic value and fast-growing species. The plants used by the community for aesthetics, religious ceremonies, food, medicines, building materials, and household utensils. Most of the purposes of use are for green open spaces and environmental aesthetics, subsistence consumption. The results of other plants that are useful for commercial purposes are special crops that are cultivated intensively. The community believes that by observing the environment and the aesthetics of nature is the realization of worship in the relationship between humans, nature and God (Tri Hita Karana).

BOOK REVIEW: edited by Ronald Sandler and Philip Cafaro.<i>ENVIRONMENTAL VIRTUE ETHICS</i>. New York and Oxford: Rowman &amp; Littlefield, 2005.

Aesthetic Implications of the New Paradigm in Ecology Jason Boaz Simus (bio) Ecological science has wrought a change in the mental eye. —Aldo Leopold I. Introduction Thomas Kuhn describes a scientific paradigm as a conceptual framework or set of background beliefs and values held by members of a scientific community.1 Part of a scientific education, he argues, is learning how the background beliefs and values that underlie scientific practices articulate a paradigm.2 Part of an aesthetic education, I argue, is learning how to appreciate natural beauty differently and appropriately when new discoveries trigger what Kuhn calls a paradigm shift—a shift in the beliefs and values that determine scientific theory and practice. In 1992 scientists S. T. A. Pickett, V. T Parker, and P. L. Fielder announced that ecology had undergone such a shift.3 The new paradigm in ecology emphasizes dynamic change, disturbance, and nonequilibrium in natural systems, and it presents some challenges for contemporary environmental aesthetics, one of which has to do with the thesis known as "scientific cognitivism." Scientific cognitivism holds that appropriate aesthetic appreciation of nature must be informed by scientific knowledge.4 If this thesis is correct, and if the new paradigm in ecological science tells us that nature is in a state of dynamic nonequilibrium, then aesthetic appreciation must adapt to constant change in natural systems. More generally, if aesthetic appreciation of nature must be informed by scientific knowledge, and if ecological science undergoes a paradigm shift, then a cognitivist model of aesthetic appreciation must adapt to the new paradigm. Another challenge the new paradigm presents has some [End Page 63] bearing on the positive aesthetics thesis—that pristine nature has only positive aesthetic qualities such as balance, order, and harmony. The new paradigm's emphasis on random and fluctuating disturbances may require us to abandon the notion of purely "pristine" nature and replace the positive aesthetic qualities with which it is associated because under the new paradigm nature is described as imbalanced, disorderly, and disharmonious. Here I explore the aesthetic implications of this new paradigm, the central implication being that scientific cognitivism, when combined with the new paradigm in ecology, may require updating the qualities associated with positive aesthetics. After reviewing Allen Carlson's defense of both scientific cognitivism and the positive aesthetics thesis, I show how the significantly different conceptual framework that the new paradigm in ecology provides will require equally significant adjustments to how we aesthetically appreciate nature. I make two suggestions. First, the new paradigm in ecology suggests that aesthetic appreciation should focus on natural processes, which will require a more theoretical approach to aesthetic appreciation. Second, because the new paradigm appeals to aesthetic qualities such as imbalance, disorder, and disharmony to make the natural world intelligible, these qualities are consistent with an updated positive aesthetics thesis and should therefore replace the qualities associated with the old paradigm. Collectively, these two suggestions imply that the beauty of nature is dynamic and chaotic rather than stable and orderly. II. Scientific Cognitivism and the New Paradigm Carlson maintains that correct or appropriate aesthetic appreciation of natural environments must be informed by scientific knowledge.5 He argues that without the requisite scientific knowledge provided by sciences like geology, biology, and ecology, we simply do not know how to appreciate nature and the aesthetic qualities it possesses.6 Drawing on Kendall Walton's "Categories of Art," Carlson claims that nature should be appreciated according to its correct categories—the categories disclosed by the natural sciences.7 Moreover, Carlson argues, appreciating nature within its correct categories yields aesthetic judgments that are objectively true.8 Thus, scientific knowledge is necessary in determining what to focus on and how to aesthetically appreciate natural environments.9 To make sense of nature's complexity—what William James has called a "blooming, buzzing, confusion"—we need science to inform our aesthetic judgments and further our appreciation for the natural world.10 Carlson defines scientific cognitivism as that appreciation of an object that reveals what aesthetic qualities and value it has . . . scientific knowledge is essential for appropriate aesthetic appreciation of nature; without it we do not know how to appreciate it appropriately and are likely to miss its aesthetic...

Organisms in the wild are subject to multiple, fluctuating environmental factors, and it is in complex natural environments that genetic regulatory networks actually function and evolve. We assessed genome-wide gene expression patterns in the wild in two natural accessions of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and examined the nature of transcriptional variation throughout its life cycle and gene expression correlations with natural environmental fluctuations. We grew plants in a natural field environment and measured genome-wide time-series gene expression from the plant shoot every three days, spanning the seedling to reproductive stages. We find that 15,352 genes were expressed in the A. thaliana shoot in the field, and accession and flowering status (vegetative versus flowering) were strong components of transcriptional variation in this plant. We identified between ∼110 and 190 time-varying gene expression clusters in the field, many of which were significantly overrepresented by genes regulated by abiotic and biotic environmental stresses. The two main principal components of vegetative shoot gene expression (PCveg) correlate to temperature and precipitation occurrence in the field. The largest PCveg axes included thermoregulatory genes while the second major PCveg was associated with precipitation and contained drought-responsive genes. By exposing A. thaliana to natural environments in an open field, we provide a framework for further understanding the genetic networks that are deployed in natural environments, and we connect plant molecular genetics in the laboratory to plant organismal ecology in the wild.

Nature aesthetics is examined as an approach to environmental ethics. The characteristics of proper nature appreciation show that every landscape can be appreciated impartially in light of the dynamic processes of nature. However, it is often claimed that natural beauty decreases if humans interfere into nature. This claim leads to the separation of human culture and nature, and limits the number of landscapes which can be protected in terms of aesthetic value. As a solution to this separation, a non-dualistic Japanese aesthetics is examined as a basis for the achievement of the coexistence of culture and nature. Ecological interrelationships between human culture and nature are possible by means of an aesthetic consciousness in terms of non-hierarchical attitudes.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to estimate quick and low-cost processes for surface runoff potential on the basis of natural environmental attributes.Design/methodology/approachAn approach based on the natural environmental attributes and on the Cook’s method was used for maximal peak flows of surface runoff, as well as for assigning weights to the considered attributes. Used attributes are as follow: steepness, bedrock (lithology), soil (texture, genesis, thickness, and permeability coefficient), drainage density, and favorable features to surface storage.FindingsUsing natural environmental attributes from previous available studies, adapted from different scales, the authors obtain a low-cost potential surface runoff chart, which can be useful for planning, impact and hazard analysis, and decision purposes in an area without large financial resources, like small communities in developing countries. Despite the common scarcity of data in these communities, often regional basic studies of soil and bedrock are available, making this kind of analysis possible.Originality/valueThe highlights are quick and low-cost procedures in characterizing the natural environment for planning activities, providing the basis for further detailing, which focus on solving local problems. This approach to runoff estimation allows for the definition of the criteria, considering the potential geodynamic processes. Thus, this kind of study may be very useful for land use planning in developing countries.

Nozaki and Higano (1998) brought out that multi-objective optimization model is effective for the control of development and natural environmental conservation accompanied by the Ogasawara airport construction project. We use many assumptions for natural environment in our model, but we believe that the result of multi-objective optimization model is reliable. Because we calculated a few cases that differ in value of land use and living conditions of animal, but each result correspond well. I, however, have to recognize that the calculation in relation to natural environment was ideally.I try to improve the calculation of extinction risk in our model. I fix on subspecies of Japanese wood pigeon (Columba janthina niters) as the object. This bird is endemic species in Ogasawra islands and is classified into endangered species. The predetermined areas of alternatives of Ogasawara airport construction project contain their habitat. The calculation of extinction risk has newly absorbed features of metapopulation.

To develop a measure of natural environment and human-made change features (Chapter 2 of the international classification of functioning, disability, and health) and evaluate the influence of perceived barriers on health-related quality of life. A sample of 570 adults with stroke, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury residing in community settings reported their functioning in home, outdoor, and community settings (mean age=47.0years, SD=16.1). They rated 18 items with a 5-point rating scale to describe the influence of barriers to moving around, seeing objects, hearing sounds, hearing conversations, feeling safe, and regulating temperature and indicated whether any difficulties were due to environmental features. We used Rasch analysis to identify misfitting items and evaluate differential item functioning (DIF) across impairment groups. We computed correlations between barriers and patient-reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) social domain measures and community participation indicators (CPI) measures. The 18 items demonstrated person reliability of .70, discriminating nearly three levels of barriers. All items fit the Rasch model; impairment-related DIF was negligible. Ceiling effects were negligible, but 25% of the respondents were at the floor, indicating that they did not experience barriers that they attributed to the built and natural environment. As anticipated, barriers correlated moderately with PROMIS and CPI variables, suggesting that although this new item bank measures a construct that is related to participation and health-related quality of life, it also captures something unique. Known-groups validity was supported by wheelchair users reporting a higher level of barriers than did ambulatory respondents. Preliminary evidence supports the reliability and validity of this new measure of barriers to the built and natural environment. This measure allows investigators and clinicians to measure perceptions of the natural environment and human-made changes, providing information that can guide interventions to reduce barriers. Moderate relationships between barriers and PROMIS and CPI variables provide support for the measurement and theory of environmental influences on social health and participation.

The original purpose of resilience design for traditional architectures is to be coordinated with and adapted to the natural environment. The natural environmental resilience of traditional dwellings refers to the ability of the dwellings to maintain the residents’ comfort, safety, and health in the face of natural environmental challenges including various disasters. In the process of designing traditional dwellings, the wisdom contributed to improving living environment conditions is of significant reference value. Therefore, this paper reviews the main literature on the resilience of traditional dwellings to the natural environment in Fujian of China. A topical review framework is proposed to cover the resilience performance of traditional dwellings in Fujian under various natural environmental conditions. Specifically, it is divided into two aspects: internal comfort resilience and external disaster-resistance resilience, based on which researchers in related fields can establish a clearer classification of resilience research in their future studies. In terms of internal comfort resilience, this paper focuses on relevant perspectives such as humidity, temperature, brightness, noise, etc. In terms of external disaster-resistance resilience, this paper summarizes the adaptability of traditional dwellings in the face of disasters triggered by natural hazards such as fires, floods, earthquakes, and typhoons. Based on this framework, this paper reviews the current research status, discusses the limitations and shortcomings in this research area, and proposes corresponding prospects for future research.

The association of natural environmental exposure and air pollution with depression incidence among cancer survivors, as well as the potential role of plasma metabolomics, remains unclear. Here, we analyze 21,507 cancer survivors from the UK Biobank over a median follow-up of 12.39 years and find that individuals exposed to higher levels of green space and natural environment (tertile 3 vs. tertile 1) within a 1000-m buffer have 15.8% (95% CI: 4.0%-26.1%) and 18.2% (95% CI: 7.0%-28.1%) lower risks of depression, respectively. The strongest protective association is observed among breast cancer survivors. In contrast, higher exposures to nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxides are associated with an increased risk of depression. Meanwhile, plasma metabolic signatures associated with green space and natural environment may partially mediate these associations. These findings highlight that residential green space, natural environment, and lower air pollution levels may reduce depression risk among cancer survivors, possibly via metabolic pathways.

Wandering: An Essay on Histories, Genders, Mobilities, and Forms

The development of major oil fields requires considerable primary resources consumptions. Vast use of land, water and energy, negative technogenic impact influence considerably on natural environment in local and regional aspects. Implementation of improved oil recovery (IOR) methods demands additional use of energy, expensive oil displacement agents, skilled personnel, specialised equipment etc. Multicriteria analysis of oil recovery processes by use of primary resources allows to estimate the complex efficiency and rate of natural environmental impact. To achive the solution of multipurpose problem of. rational resources consumption in course of oil fields development procedure of optimization and compromise programming is carried out. The significance of used natural resources in different geographical regions is determined by environment protection expert analysis. Natural environment systems in such regions as the North of the West Suberia and the Kaspean lowland are very sensitive to the processes of oil and gas fields development. The permafrost conditions and easy spoiled land fertile cover, the danger of earth subsidence and possible technogenic seismicity demand thorouth analysis of oil recovery projects applicability and their environmental safety. Complex efficiency assessment and multicriterion optimization of primary resources consumption have been done for the design versions of development of large oil fields Russkoe and Tengiz. Analysis of verious IOR methods on the basis of primary and energy resources consumption allows a better choice of natural environment saving technology and shows the direction and necessity of their further improvement. Study of possible technogenic effects caused by oil field development is of prime importence for timely prevention from negative consequences for nature in the region.

The changing state and quality of the environment is now taken for granted by communities living in many distant parts of the world. It is felt more and more intensely that disadvantageous interference in the natural environment will sooner or later have an impact on the biotic community, including humans themselves. However, the problem has not yet been so clearly accentuated, so as to prevent the effects, which often become irreversible. Environmental ethics is one of the scientific disciplines which has attempted to find proper arguments for the protection of the biotic community, as well as to enhance the feelings of responsibility and care for the socio-natural environment. Among the ethical ideas which are developed in this context, the holistic view presents the broadest scope of human moral responsibility for the natural world. Such an approach is considered to have originated in the writings of the American researcher, Aldo Leopold. His ideas and great determination have become well known to those who were not indifferent to the issues of respect for the environment and environmental protection. The article outlines the possibility to incorporate arguments based on the thought of Aldo Leopold, in the process of environmental education, whose aim is the protection of biotic community.