ANTHROPOMORPHISM & CONSERVATION
An introduction
TO THE EFFECTS OF ANTHROPOMORPHISM ON THE ENVIRONMENT
A BRIEF OVERVIEW
There is an universal tendency among mankind to conceive all beings like themselves, and to transfer to every object, those qualities, with which they are familiarly acquainted, and of which they are intimately conscious. We find human faces in the moon, armies in the clouds; and by a natural propensity, if not corrected by experience and reflection, ascribe malice or good-will to every thing, that hurts or pleases us.
David Hume
THE MEANING OF
Anthropoid
means “man”
Morphe
means “form”
Origin: Greek
Root Words: Anthropoid, Morphe
Anthropomorphism, as defined above, is the act of imposing human-like characteristics onto non-human subjects or objects, often to make them more like us. These subjects of anthropomorphism can include deities, animals, pets, abstract art, and just about anything and every thing.
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SOUNDS FAMILIAR?
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Have you ever looked at the clouds or the stars in the sky and found a face made out of them? Or have you ever arranged the peas and carrots on your plate to make smiley or angry faces? And if you have a pet, I’m almost certain that you have a name for it too! In fact, all these things come almost instinctively for us, and we hardly ever put much thought into it.
BUT WHY, AND WHEN, AND WHO ELSE?
Is it something we do with a goal in mind? What's the point of doing it anyway? What makes us do it?
Then again, when did humans even start anthropomorphising
things - is it innate, or was it an evolutionary advantageous trait passed down by our ancestors? Is it somethings unique to our species, or do other animals do it too?
MORE IMPORTANTLY,
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WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH THE ENVIRONMENT?
(Psst! Here's a hint: A LOT!)
Species: Homo Sapiens
Population: 7.9 Billion (Oct 2017)
The human population has seen a rapid increase over the last couple of centuries, and along with it, the destruction of the environment like never before. But apart from the usual climate change, food waste and so on, there are a lot more things that we do, almost innocently and sometimes even with good intent, that have lasting impacts on the environment.
And a lot of it has to do with our tendency to anthropomorphise.
Credit: American Museum of Natural History
THE ENVIRONMENT IS AFFECTED BY THE
OF 7.9 BILLION PEOPLE
Click on the tabs for a brief overview on how anthropomorphism plays a role in these areas!
Credits: Nondual Media