Artificial Nature
In today’s world, it is rare to find something that truly fits the definition of nature. People can go camping or for a hike out into the woods but this is not truly nature; it has not been untouched by man. In the attempt to create the illusion of nature in today’s society, one of the main attractions are zoos. People want to see animals that they would not normally ever be able to see. The human desire to experience exotic things is what makes zoos so popular. But taking wild animals out of their natural habitat and placing them into confined cages, where everything from what they eat, when they eat, who they mate with and who they can interact with is controlled by humans. Factors that were once not even a remote concern for humans have now become a large enterprise. But this is all done to create that illusion of nature but it cannot actually be considered natural for these animals. It is done purely for the enjoyment of humans, and therein lies the problem.
Zoos are prime examples of humans trying to make up for all the destruction they have caused to the environment throughout their existence. Zoos play along with the large goal of humans trying to replace true nature with a form of pseudo-nature. Zoos are in place for entertainment; but the argument could also be made that zoos help protect endangered animals. But these endangered animals would not need to be protected if it was not for all the destruction that humans had originally caused. Zoos are great examples of how humans have left almost no part of nature on this planet untouched or unscathed by their hands. So in an attempt to repair the damage, humans have created a type of artificial nature to distract people from all the destruction that is happening daily. This artificial nature that is in zoos creates the illusion that the environment is okay. It is in place so that people can forget all that happens around the world in nature, so long as the sights of these animals in a very unnatural situation are enjoyed.
Zoos are prime examples of humans trying to make up for all the destruction they have caused to the environment throughout their existence. Zoos play along with the large goal of humans trying to replace true nature with a form of pseudo-nature. Zoos are in place for entertainment; but the argument could also be made that zoos help protect endangered animals. But these endangered animals would not need to be protected if it was not for all the destruction that humans had originally caused. Zoos are great examples of how humans have left almost no part of nature on this planet untouched or unscathed by their hands. So in an attempt to repair the damage, humans have created a type of artificial nature to distract people from all the destruction that is happening daily. This artificial nature that is in zoos creates the illusion that the environment is okay. It is in place so that people can forget all that happens around the world in nature, so long as the sights of these animals in a very unnatural situation are enjoyed.