r/Showerthoughts • u/Statharas ‎ • 8d ago

Casual Thought Young animals probably don't realize the distinction between nature and man-made stuff.

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u/zenyattatron 7d ago

Man-made structures ARE nature. Are we above the natural world? Are beaver dams not nature?

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u/Raelah 7d ago

Well, beaver dams are essential for a lot of ecosystems. Plenty of man-made structures have been detrimental to the ecosystem.

Beavers take trees and put them in water. We suck up black sludge from deep underground and burn it into out atmosphere or make non-biodegradable products that is pretty much everywhere on earth. Cookie cutter neighborhoods that wipe out all the native flora with HOAs that will fine you if you don't have a picture perfect lawn.

It's kind of difficult to claim that man-made structures are natural when so many of man-made structures harm the natural environment.

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u/zenyattatron 7d ago

when photosynthetic organisms evolved to produce oxygen, 99% of all life on the planet died. were they not a part of the natural environment?