balance in nature essay

Nature is a highly dynamic system, experts say, and there's no such thing as perfect balance.

ENVIRONMENT

The ‘balance of nature’ is an enduring concept. But it’s wrong.

From the ancient Greeks to the Lion King, people have sought balance in nature—but the real world isn’t like that.

Strolling across his animated kingdom—Pride Rock in the distance—Mufasa explains to his young son Simba : “Everything you see exists together, in a delicate balance.”

The line is a hallmark of the Disney movie the Lion King , which debuted in 1994. A visually rich update of the classic, also by Disney (the Walt Disney Company is majority owner of National Geographic Partners), hit theaters this July. In the quarter-century gap, the film saw a few significant changes—hand-drawn animation gave way to life-like computer-generated graphics and Beyonce’s character Nala got a whole new song. But other aspects of the movie remained unchanged, including Mufasa’s original lesson about nature being in balance.

John Kricher just rewatched the scene from 1994. While the Wheaton College professor and author of The Balance of Nature: Ecology's Enduring Myth is a fan of James Earl Jones’ deep baritone delivery, he says “it’s not sound science.”

Scientists have long abandoned the idea of there being a “balance of nature,” in favor of more dynamic ecological frameworks. But, having been ingrained in popular culture over millennia, it’s proven much harder for the public to shake. The metaphor is alive and well today, appearing everywhere from newspapers , Legos , and a health food brand name to social media , and, of course, the Lion King reboot.

The misconception impacts everything from conservation management to climate change policy; and it’s a concept that scientists would like to see plucked from the public’s vocabulary. “It's a satisfying term,” says Kricher. “But it's not useful.”

From Herodotus to Disney

The notion that nature exists in some sort of balance, or harmony, dates back to at least the ancient Greeks . The Greek writer Herodotus, for instance, was fascinated by the apparently balanced relationship between predator and prey. Cicero, a Roman politician and philosopher, imbued the idea with religious significance, presenting it as evidence of the wisdom of a Creator.

“It’s so old,” said Kim Cuddington , a professor at the University of Waterloo, in Canada, that “it's very much embedded, at least in Western culture.”

Even among scientists, the balance of nature concept persisted for centuries. Charles Darwin, the famous naturalist, alluded to it in his work on natural selection, as did his contemporaries, such as Herbert Spencer. The approach bled into the twentieth century, with, for example, the belief that leaving the wilderness wild was the best method of conservation or that pollution was a disruptor of the natural order.

But it was around that same time that people also began to challenge balance of nature thinking. In 1949, environmentalist Aldo Leopold wrote, “The image commonly employed in conservation education is 'the balance of nature.' For reasons too lengthy to detail here, this figure of speech fails to describe accurately what little we know about the land mechanism.”

Stunning photos of the Earth

Also at that time, science was becoming more data driven, and ecology a more established discipline. “When the data don't support it, then you have to revise your idea,” said Kricher, explaining that that’s exactly what happened with the balance of nature.

Ecologists shifted away from community-based sociological models to increasingly mathematical, individualist theories. And, throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the phrase balance of nature largely disappeared from the scientific lexicon . “Ecologists,” said Kricher, “had a tacit understanding that the [phrase] was largely metaphorical.”

The public, however, still employs the phrase liberally. The expression is often used one of two ways, said Cuddington. Sometimes the balance is depicted as fragile, delicate, and easily disturbed. Other times it’s the opposite—that the balance of nature is so powerful that it can correct any imbalances on its own. According to Cuddington, “they’re both wrong.”

Constant change

In the 1950s, Robert MacArthur went into the remote woods of coastal Maine to observe warbler populations. He found that five different species coexisted by utilizing different parts of the same tree. The phenomenon, known as niche partitioning, implied an equilibrium. A balance.

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The study became a foundation of ecology—one that most students read in class. That included Bik Wheeler, who first came across the work while pursuing his master’s degree. Realizing that he lived near MacArthur’s field site, he proposed re-creating the seminal research.

That was 2014. In the more than half-century that had passed since MacArthur’s original research, the forest he had worked in had largely gone untouched. So, aside from a few technological improvements—such as using lasers instead of stopwatches—Wheeler was able to retrace MacArthur’s steps. His results, however, were different.

Wheeler’s paper is still pending publication and peer review, so he was unable to talk about specifics. But he says he observed only two of the same species as MacArthur , as well as a few new ones.

In other words, “it's a dynamic system,” he said. “It's not static.”

The changes that Wheeler saw are emblematic of the broader shift that’s happened across ecology, and has had real-life implications. Both the delicate and stalwart interpretations of “balance” imply that nature should be left to its own devices; that human interference ought to be minimal.

The updated view is that “change is constant,” said Matt Palmer, an ecologist at Columbia University. And as the new approach took hold, conservation and management policies also adapted. “In some ways it argues for a stronger hand in managing ecosystems or natural resources,” he said. “It's going to take human intervention.”

Palmer pointed to assisted migration—in which people help animals move across obstacles such as roads or those caused by the changing climate—as one common conservation technique that bucks the notion of a natural balance. The reintroduction of wolves in places such as Yellowstone is another example. Others noted controlled-burn fires in forest management.

But the most obvious, and pressing, manifestation is the looming climate crisis, says Corinne Zimmerman , a psychologist at Illinois State University. While the vast majority of scientists agree that efforts to address climate change must involve human action , a public misconception about nature being in balance could inhibit progress. “If nature is all robust and fine, she'll take care of herself, we don't have to do anything about our carbon footprint,” she said. “It's a very naive understanding of nature.”

Still, the term persists. A 2007 study by Zimmerman and Cuddington found that even being exposed to scientific evidence against the balance of nature did little to change people’s opinions. Those surveyed, Cuddington told Pacific Standard magazine at the time, were “almost unable to reason logically about environmental problems because they keep bumping into this cultural concept.”

The flux of nature?

Dislodging the balance of nature from the popular psyche won’t be easy. Back in the 1980s, ecologist Steward Pickett tried to aid that process by proposing a replacement: the “flux of nature.”

“I thought that there needed to be some short-hand alternative,” he said.

Although the flux alternative hasn’t yet caught on, Pickett still thinks it’s a more useful framing. The balance of nature, he says, has left the scientific discourse because it’s “vague and loaded” and the public ought to follow suit.

“We have to accept responsibility for what we're doing,” he said, “and not just say that nature will take care of it.”

For Antarctica’s emperor penguins, ‘there is no time left’

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Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music

See what a year looks like in the fastest-warming place on Earth

Is this paradise—or a parking lot? This Florida ecosystem is a battleground.

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Nature Essay for Students and Children

500+ words nature essay.

Nature is an important and integral part of mankind. It is one of the greatest blessings for human life; however, nowadays humans fail to recognize it as one. Nature has been an inspiration for numerous poets, writers, artists and more of yesteryears. This remarkable creation inspired them to write poems and stories in the glory of it. They truly valued nature which reflects in their works even today. Essentially, nature is everything we are surrounded by like the water we drink, the air we breathe, the sun we soak in, the birds we hear chirping, the moon we gaze at and more. Above all, it is rich and vibrant and consists of both living and non-living things. Therefore, people of the modern age should also learn something from people of yesteryear and start valuing nature before it gets too late.

Significance of Nature

Nature has been in existence long before humans and ever since it has taken care of mankind and nourished it forever. In other words, it offers us a protective layer which guards us against all kinds of damages and harms. Survival of mankind without nature is impossible and humans need to understand that.

If nature has the ability to protect us, it is also powerful enough to destroy the entire mankind. Every form of nature, for instance, the plants , animals , rivers, mountains, moon, and more holds equal significance for us. Absence of one element is enough to cause a catastrophe in the functioning of human life.

We fulfill our healthy lifestyle by eating and drinking healthy, which nature gives us. Similarly, it provides us with water and food that enables us to do so. Rainfall and sunshine, the two most important elements to survive are derived from nature itself.

Further, the air we breathe and the wood we use for various purposes are a gift of nature only. But, with technological advancements, people are not paying attention to nature. The need to conserve and balance the natural assets is rising day by day which requires immediate attention.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Conservation of Nature

In order to conserve nature, we must take drastic steps right away to prevent any further damage. The most important step is to prevent deforestation at all levels. Cutting down of trees has serious consequences in different spheres. It can cause soil erosion easily and also bring a decline in rainfall on a major level.

Polluting ocean water must be strictly prohibited by all industries straightaway as it causes a lot of water shortage. The excessive use of automobiles, AC’s and ovens emit a lot of Chlorofluorocarbons’ which depletes the ozone layer. This, in turn, causes global warming which causes thermal expansion and melting of glaciers.

Therefore, we should avoid personal use of the vehicle when we can, switch to public transport and carpooling. We must invest in solar energy giving a chance for the natural resources to replenish.

In conclusion, nature has a powerful transformative power which is responsible for the functioning of life on earth. It is essential for mankind to flourish so it is our duty to conserve it for our future generations. We must stop the selfish activities and try our best to preserve the natural resources so life can forever be nourished on earth.

{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [ { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Why is nature important?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Nature is an essential part of our lives. It is important as it helps in the functioning of human life and gives us natural resources to lead a healthy life.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “How can we conserve nature?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “We can take different steps to conserve nature like stopping the cutting down of trees. We must not use automobiles excessively and take public transport instead. Further, we must not pollute our ocean and river water.” } } ] }

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Front Matter
Table of Contents
Why It Matters
Of What Purpose Are Mosquitoes?
Creating Paradigms
Ecology B.C. (“Before Charles”)
Ecology A.D. (“After Darwin”)
The Twentieth Century Ecology Comes of Age
A Visit to Bodie Ecological Space and Time
Ecology and Evolution Process and Paradigm
Be Glad to Be an Earthling
Life Plays the Lottery
Why Global Climate Is Like New England Weather
Taking It from the Top–or the Bottom
For the Love of Biodiversity (and Stable Ecosystems?)
Facing Marley’s Ghost
Acknowledgments

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The Beauty of Nature

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The aesthetic appeal of nature, the healing power of nature, the importance of biodiversity, the role of nature in human creativity.

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The Balance of Nature: Ecology's Enduring Myth

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The Balance of Nature: Ecology's Enduring Myth Hardcover – May 17, 2009

The idea of a balance of nature has been a dominant part of Western philosophy since before Aristotle, and it persists in the public imagination and even among some ecologists today. In this lively and thought-provoking book, John Kricher demonstrates that nature in fact is not in balance, nor has it ever been at any stage in Earth's history. He explains how and why this notion of a natural world in balance has endured for so long, and he shows why, in these times of extraordinary human influence on the planet's ecosystems, it is critical that we accept and understand that evolution is a fact of life, and that ecology is far more dynamic than we ever imagined. The Balance of Nature traces the fascinating history of the science of ecology and evolutionary biology, from the discipline's early innovators to the advent of Darwin and evolution, to the brilliant and inquisitive scientific minds of today. Blending insights and entertaining stories from his own remarkable life in science, Kricher reveals how evolution is a powerful engine that drives ecological change, how nature is constantly in flux and, in effect, quite naturally out of balance--and how notions to the contrary are misguided and ultimately hazardous to us all. The Balance of Nature forcefully argues that an understanding of the dynamic nature of ecology and evolution is essential to formulating policies of environmental ethics to guide humanity toward a more responsible stewardship of our planet's ecosystems.

Print length 256 pages
Language English
Publisher Princeton University Press
Publication date May 17, 2009
Dimensions 6.25 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
ISBN-10 0691138982
ISBN-13 978-0691138985
See all details

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Editorial Reviews

From the inside flap.

"John Kricher masterfully describes the ancient origins of the concept of a balance of nature and its unquestioned incorporation into the thinking of many ecologists and conservationists. This concept implies an overarching purpose or design in the natural world, making it inconsistent with our understanding of how evolution works. Kricher shows that we can understand and protect natural ecosystems better by rejecting the assumption that nature is a well-designed machine and accepting the true complexity created by numerous interacting species." --Robert Askins, Connecticut College

"This is a highly readable account of ecology, rich in substance, metaphor, and examples. The author's main goal is to puncture the cozy idea that nature is in a state of balance. While the concept of balance fitted the philosophy of some of the ancient Greeks and their intellectual descendants, John Kricher explains how it has repeatedly failed the test of empirical science. Nature, he shows, is much more interesting." --Peter R. Grant, Princeton University

"A deft and inviting tour of ecology and evolution, a book of revelation about the balance of nature that really counts, namely that between ourselves and the living planet. This is an appealing read that reveals the most important story of human history." --Thomas E. Lovejoy, president of the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment

"Kricher's new book challenges our long-held belief in the balance of nature. Presenting fascinating evidence in a highly readable style, Kricher makes the case that no, there is no balance within nature, but yes, we need a sounder ethic that trumpets the urgency that we must save our environment--now!" --Herb Raffaele, United States Fish and Wildlife Service

"Kricher is an excellent storyteller and this is an important story to tell. I thoroughly enjoyed this little book. It is chock full of interesting ideas that challenge conventional wisdom. The Balance of Nature is a fun read throughout, and will appeal to a broad range of readers both within and outside the discipline." --Richard Karban, coauthor of How to Do Ecology

"Kricher dispels the popularly held notion that nature exists in some single, harmonious balance, and shows how, as a consequence, we need to change the way we view nature. His passion and breadth of understanding come through very clearly. The Balance of Nature is a charming and very readable book." --Oswald Schmitz, Yale University

From the Back Cover

Excerpted from The Balance of Nature by John Kricher Copyright © 2009 by Princeton University Press. Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Princeton University Press (May 17, 2009)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0691138982
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0691138985
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.17 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
#2,668 in Ecology (Books)
#4,133 in Nature Conservation
#4,400 in Evolution (Books)

About the author

John c. kricher.

I am a Professor of Biology at Wheaton College, Norton, Massachusetts. A graduate of Temple (B.A.) and Rutgers Universities (Ph.D.), I teach courses in ecology, ornithology, and vertebrate evolution.

I have conducted Earthwatch-sponsored research on migrant birds on their wintering grounds in Belize and I am the author of over 100 papers and articles in scientific journals, magazines, and newspapers. My most recent book, The Balance of Nature: Ecology’s Enduring Myth, was published by Princeton University Press in spring of 2009. I have also authored Galapagos: A Natural History, published in hard-cover by Smithsonian Institution Press in 2002 and in soft-cover by Princeton University Press in 2006. Other books include A Neotropical Companion, and three ecology field guides (Eastern Forests, Rocky Mountain and Southwestern Forests, California and Pacific Northwest Forests) in the Peterson series. I have also done two recorded lecture series, one on dinosaurs and one on ecology, published by Modern Scholar. I have even authored coloring books and first guides on various aspects of nature ranging from dinosaurs to seashores.

My current writing project is a comprehensive book on Tropical Ecology to be published by Princeton University Press in 2011.

I am a Fellow in the American Ornithologists Union and have served as president of the Association of Field Ornithologists and president of the Wilson Ornithological Society.

I have led numerous trips to many places including Cape May, Block Island, coastal New England, Arizona, the Pacific Northwest, Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Panama, and Trinidad. I have lectured for Linblad Tours of the Galapagos Islands, for Society Expeditions trips to Venezuela, Brazil, and Indonesia, and for Glacier Bay Cruise Lines in Alaska. My travels have also taken me to Tanzania, Antarctica, and numerous other places where wildlife abounds.

I spend a lot of time writing about where I have been and what I have learned in my travels. I have been an avid birder for just over a half century.

My wife Martha Vaughan and I divide our time between Pocasset, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod and Sunbury, Georgia.

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The Balance of Nature

Ecology's enduring myth.

John C. Kricher
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Language: English
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Copyright year: 2009
Edition: Course Book
Audience: College/higher education;Professional and scholarly;
Main content: 256
Keywords: Ecosystem ; Ecology ; Balance of nature ; Biodiversity ; Organism ; Nature ; Natural selection ; Natural resource ; Cascade effect (ecology) ; Henry A. Gleason (botanist) ; Natural theology ; Evolution ; Ecological release ; Plant ; Externality ; Charles Darwin ; Natural history ; Keystone species ; Natural capital ; Fern spike ; Environmentalism ; Wildlife ; Trophic cascade ; Shrub ; Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation ; Law of Life ; Garrett Hardin ; Restoration ecology ; Conservation biology ; Ecosystem ecology ; Reciprocal altruism ; Mammal ; Biomass (ecology) ; E. O. Wilson ; Sustainability ; Directional selection ; Natural resource management ; Energy flow (ecology) ; Ecological niche ; The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection ; The Nature Conservancy ; Abiotic component ; Ecosystem services ; Temperate rainforest ; Predation ; Theoretical ecology ; Herbivore ; Nutrient ; Systema Naturae ; Ecosystem management ; Genus ; On Plants ; Conservation movement ; Insect ; Phrenology ; Land ethic ; Ecological economics ; Ecotourism ; Environmental gradient ; Landscape ecology ; Plant ecology ; Terrestrial ecosystem ; On the Origin of Species ; Seed predation ; Soil ; Rainforest ; Tempo and Mode in Evolution ; Environmental issue ; Tapir ; Jane Goodall
Published: April 27, 2009
ISBN: 9781400830268

The Importance of Maintaining Balance in Ecosystems

Ecosystem balance is the harmonious interplay of life on Earth. It’s a delicate dance that sustains our environment, and its disruption can have far-reaching consequences. Explore the intricate balance of ecosystems and why maintaining this harmony is essential for both nature and humanity.

Key Takeaways

🐝 Pollinator-Plant Relationships : A lesser-known yet crucial aspect of ecological balance is the specific relationship between certain pollinators and plants. Some plants are so intricately evolved with their pollinator species that the absence of one can lead to the extinction of the other, highlighting the delicate interdependence in ecosystems.
🌏 Soil Microorganisms and Climate : Soil microorganisms play a significant but often overlooked role in regulating the Earth’s climate. They control the flow of key greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, thereby having a direct impact on global climate patterns.
🦠 Genetic Diversity and Disease Resistance : Greater genetic diversity within species can lead to increased resilience against diseases. In balanced ecosystems, this diversity acts as a natural barrier to widespread disease outbreaks, which can be crucial for species survival.
🌬️ Wind Patterns and Vegetation : The type and arrangement of vegetation in an area can influence local wind patterns. This is a subtle aspect of ecological balance where plants not only adapt to their environment but also actively shape it, affecting things like soil erosion and microclimates.
💧 Freshwater Ecosystems and Water Quality : Freshwater ecosystems like rivers, lakes, and wetlands play a critical role in maintaining water quality. They act as natural filters, trapping pollutants and sediments, which is essential not only for the health of aquatic life but also for human consumption and use.

Page Contents

Understanding Ecosystem Balance

Ecosystem balance, also known as ecological balance, is a state where the living organisms within a specific environment interact with each other and their surroundings in a harmonious way. This equilibrium ensures that each species has the resources it needs to survive and reproduce, without overpopulating or causing extinction of other species.

In a balanced ecosystem, every element has a role, or niche, whether it’s a predator, a pollinator, a decomposer, or something else. These roles are interconnected in a complex web of relationships that depend on each other for stability.

Importance of Balance in Nature

The importance of maintaining a balanced ecosystem cannot be overstated. It’s the foundation of biodiversity, ensuring that no single species dominates the others. This balance supports a wide variety of life forms, each contributing to the overall health and resilience of the ecosystem.

When balance is maintained, ecosystems are more resilient to changes and can better support the life they contain. They provide essential services such as clean air and water, soil fertility, pest control, and pollination of plants.

However, when this balance is disrupted, it can lead to a cascade of problems. Overpopulation of one species can lead to the extinction of others, while a lack of predators can cause others to multiply out of control. The result is a fragile system that’s more susceptible to disease, climate change, and other external pressures.

Overview of Factors Influencing Ecosystem Stability

Several factors can influence the stability and balance of an ecosystem:

Biotic Factors : These include the interactions between the living organisms, such as competition, predation, and symbiosis.
Abiotic Factors : These encompass the non-living elements like climate, soil, water, and sunlight that affect living organisms.
Human Activities : Activities such as deforestation, pollution, overfishing, and urbanization can have profound impacts on ecosystem balance.
Natural Disturbances : Events like wildfires, floods, and volcanic eruptions can temporarily disrupt the balance but also play a vital role in shaping the ecosystem.

Understanding these factors is crucial for conservation efforts and for predicting how changes in one part of the system might affect the whole.

The concept of ecological balance is central to our understanding of how life on Earth functions. It’s a delicate, complex system that requires careful stewardship to maintain. The health of our planet depends on the balance of its ecosystems, making this a vital subject for everyone to understand.

The Components of an Ecosystem

Living Organisms – Flora and Fauna

A balanced ecosystem thrives on the diversity and interdependence of living organisms. These include:

Flora : The plant life in an ecosystem, ranging from towering trees to microscopic algae. They play a vital role in producing oxygen and providing food and shelter.
Fauna : The animal life, including mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and aquatic creatures. They interact with flora for food, shelter, and reproduction.

The intricate relationships between flora and fauna contribute to ecological balance, creating a web of life where each species has its role.

Non-Living Elements – Water, Soil, and Climate

The non-living components of an ecosystem are equally crucial in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. They include:

Water : Essential for all life forms, water cycles through the ecosystem, influencing everything from weather patterns to hydration and habitat creation.
Soil : Rich soil provides nutrients for plants, supports microorganisms, and acts as a foundation for growth. Its composition affects the types of plants that can thrive.
Climate : Temperature, humidity, wind, and seasonal changes shape the ecosystem, determining what organisms can survive and how they interact.

These abiotic factors set the stage for life, influencing the distribution and behavior of organisms.

The Interplay of Biotic and Abiotic Factors

The interaction between living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements is a dynamic process that shapes the ecosystem. Here’s how they interplay:

Nutrient Cycling : Plants absorb nutrients from the soil, animals eat plants, and decomposers break down dead organisms, returning nutrients to the soil.
Energy Flow : Sunlight fuels plant growth, animals consume plants, and energy flows through the food chain, with some lost as heat at each level.
Habitat Creation : Physical factors like water and terrain create habitats, influencing where organisms live and how they adapt.

Understanding these interactions is key to grasping how ecosystems function and how human activities can impact ecological balance.

An ecosystem is a complex network of living and non-living components, all working together in a delicate balance. The diversity and interdependence of flora and fauna, combined with the influence of water, soil, and climate, create a dynamic environment where life flourishes. Recognizing these components and their interactions is essential for anyone interested in ecology, conservation, or simply appreciating the natural world around them.

How Ecosystems Maintain Balance

The role of predators and prey.

In a balanced ecosystem, the relationship between predators and prey is a fundamental aspect that maintains ecological balance. Predators control the population of prey species, ensuring that they don’t overpopulate and deplete resources. Conversely, the availability of prey influences the population of predator species. This dynamic balance is a delicate dance that sustains the health of the ecosystem.

3 Animals That Keep Their Whole Ecosystem Together

Nutrient Cycling and Energy Flow

Nutrient cycling is the process by which essential elements like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus move through an ecosystem. Plants absorb these nutrients from the soil, animals consume the plants, and decomposers break down dead organisms, returning the nutrients to the soil. This cycle ensures that nutrients are continually recycled and available for new growth.

Energy flow, on the other hand, refers to the way energy moves through the food chain. Sunlight is captured by plants through photosynthesis, and this energy is then transferred to herbivores when they eat the plants, and further to carnivores when they consume herbivores. At each step, some energy is lost as heat, maintaining a balance that supports diverse life forms.

Natural Disturbances and Recovery

Natural disturbances such as wildfires, storms, and floods might seem destructive, but they play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. These events can clear away old growth, allowing new plants to thrive, and redistribute nutrients. They also create a mosaic of habitats, supporting a wider variety of species.

Recovery after a disturbance is a testament to the resilience of a balanced ecosystem. New life quickly takes root, and the ecosystem begins to rebuild itself, often with increased diversity and vitality. This ability to recover is a key indicator of a healthy, balanced ecosystem.

The maintenance of ecological balance is a complex process involving the interplay of predators and prey, the cycling of nutrients, the flow of energy, and the role of natural disturbances. These factors work in harmony to create a dynamic, resilient system that supports a wide array of life. Understanding how these elements interact provides insight into the delicate balance of nature and underscores the importance of protecting and preserving our environment.

Human Impact on Ecosystem Balance

Human Impact | Environment | Biology | FuseSchool

Deforestation and Habitat Loss

Deforestation and habitat loss are significant human activities that disrupt the ecological balance. By clearing vast areas of forests for agriculture, urbanization, or other purposes, we reduce the natural habitats for many species. This loss not only threatens the survival of specific species but also alters the balanced ecosystem, leading to unforeseen consequences.

Pollution and Its Effects

Pollution, whether in the form of chemicals, waste, or emissions, has a profound impact on ecosystems. Water pollution can lead to the death of aquatic life and affect the quality of drinking water. Air pollution can alter the climate and harm both flora and fauna. Soil pollution can degrade the quality of soil, affecting plant growth. These pollutants disrupt the natural processes that maintain a balanced ecosystem, leading to long-term damage.

Climate Change and Global Imbalances

Human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, have led to a rise in greenhouse gases, contributing to global climate change. This change affects ecosystems by altering weather patterns, sea levels, and temperature. Such shifts can lead to the extinction of species unable to adapt, disrupt migration patterns, and create imbalances in predator-prey relationships. Climate change poses a significant threat to the ecological balance on a global scale.

Overfishing and Overhunting

Overfishing and overhunting are examples of how human consumption patterns can directly impact the balanced ecosystem. By taking more fish or game than can be naturally replenished, we risk depleting populations to the point where they cannot recover. This over-exploitation not only threatens the targeted species but also affects the entire food chain, leading to imbalances that can ripple throughout the ecosystem.

Human activities have a profound and often detrimental impact on the ecological balance. From deforestation to pollution, climate change to over-exploitation,our actions have consequences that reach far beyond our immediate surroundings. Recognizing and understanding these impacts is the first step towards mitigating them. By adopting sustainable practices and being mindful of our influence on the environment, we can work towards a future where both humans and nature thrive in a balanced ecosystem.

Strategies for Restoring and Maintaining Balance

Conservation efforts.

Conservation is a vital strategy in maintaining ecological balance. By protecting natural habitats and preserving biodiversity, conservation efforts help ensure that ecosystems remain robust and resilient. This includes creating protected areas, implementing wildlife management plans, and supporting endangered species recovery programs.

Sustainable Practices

Sustainable practices are essential for a balanced ecosystem. This means using resources in a way that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable farming, fishing, and forestry practices can help maintain the balance of ecosystems by reducing overexploitation, pollution, and habitat destruction.

Community Involvement and Education

Community involvement and education are key to restoring and maintaining ecological balance. By engaging local communities in conservation efforts and educating them about the importance of a balanced ecosystem, we can foster a sense of stewardship and responsibility. Community-based initiatives often lead to more effective and sustainable solutions.

Government Regulations and International Agreements

Government regulations and international agreements play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. By setting standards and enforcing laws related to environmental protection, governments can ensure that individuals and industries operate within the bounds of sustainability. International agreements, such as the Paris Agreement on climate change, facilitate cooperation between countries to address global challenges that affect the balance of ecosystems.

Restoring and maintaining a balanced ecosystem requires a multifaceted approach. Conservation efforts, sustainable practices, community involvement, and governmental regulations all play a part in ensuring that ecosystems remain vibrant and healthy. By recognizing the interconnectedness of all life and working together, we can create a world where ecological balance is not just an ideal but a reality.

Case Studies – Successes and Failures

Yellowstone national park – wolf reintroduction.

Yellowstone National Park’s wolf reintroduction program is a shining example of how human intervention can restore ecological balance. In the mid-1990s, wolves were reintroduced to the park after a 70-year absence. This reintroduction had a cascading effect on the entire ecosystem. The wolves controlled the elk population, allowing vegetation to recover, which in turn supported other wildlife. The balanced ecosystem was restored, demonstrating the intricate connections within nature.

The Amazon Rainforest – Ongoing Challenges

The Amazon Rainforest presents a more complex and challenging case. Despite being one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, it faces severe threats from deforestation, mining, and agriculture. Efforts to maintain a balanced ecosystem are ongoing but face significant obstacles. Illegal logging and lack of enforcement of environmental regulations continue to hinder progress. The Amazon’s case underscores the importance of global cooperation and stringent policies to preserve ecological balance.

Coral Reefs – Restoration Efforts

Coral reefs are vital to maintaining ecological balance in marine environments. However, climate change, pollution, and overfishing have led to widespread coral bleaching and degradation. Restoration efforts, such as transplanting healthy corals and implementing marine protected areas, have shown promise but are often slow and expensive. Success in restoring these balanced ecosystems requires a combination of scientific innovation, community involvement, and political will.

These case studies illustrate the complexity of maintaining and restoring ecological balance. Successes like Yellowstone’s wolf reintroduction inspire hope, while ongoing challenges in places like the Amazon Rainforest remind us of the work still needed. The restoration of coral reefs highlights the potential for human ingenuity to heal damaged ecosystems. Together, these cases emphasize that a balanced ecosystem is not a static state but a dynamic equilibrium that requires continuous effort and vigilance to maintain.

The journey through the world of ecological balance has revealed the intricate and delicate nature of our environment. From the diverse components of an ecosystem to the ways in which balance is maintained, the importance of each element has been explored. We’ve seen how human actions can disrupt this balance, leading to far-reaching consequences, and how thoughtful strategies can restore and maintain a balanced ecosystem.

The Future of Ecosystem Balance

Looking ahead, the future of ecological balance depends on collective efforts. Governments, organizations, communities, and individuals must work together to protect and preserve the environment. Embracing sustainable practices, supporting conservation efforts, and educating ourselves and others about the importance of a balanced ecosystem are vital steps towards a healthier planet.

The challenges are significant, but the potential rewards are immense. A balanced ecosystem not only supports biodiversity but also enhances the quality of life for all living organisms, including humans. By recognizing the interconnectedness of all life and taking responsible actions, we can contribute to a future where ecological balance is not just an ideal but a lived reality.

Call to Action – How Readers Can Make a Difference

You, as a reader, have the power to make a difference. Here’s how:

Educate Yourself and Others : Knowledge is power. Learn more about ecological balance and share that knowledge with friends and family.
Support Responsible Practices : Choose products and services that adhere to sustainable practices. Support companies and organizations that prioritize the environment.
Participate in Community Efforts : Join local conservation groups, participate in clean-up drives, or plant trees in your community.
Advocate for Change : Use your voice to advocate for policies and regulations that promote ecological balance. Write to your representatives, participate in public forums, and vote for leaders who prioritize environmental stewardship.

Ecological balance is a complex but essential aspect of our world. It’s a subject that touches every part of our lives, from the air we breathe to the food we eat. By understanding the importance of a balanced ecosystem and taking active steps to support it, we can ensure a thriving, vibrant world for generations to come.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

What is meant by balance in ecosystems, and why is it important.

Balance in ecosystems refers to a stable state where all components of the ecosystem, including flora, fauna, and abiotic factors, interact in harmony without any single element overpowering the others. This equilibrium ensures the sustainability of the ecosystem, supporting biodiversity and providing stability that allows for the healthy functioning of the environment.

How do human activities impact the balance in ecosystems?

Human activities such as deforestation, pollution, overfishing, and climate change can severely disrupt the balance in ecosystems. These actions can lead to the extinction of species, alteration of natural habitats, and changes in the nutrient cycling process. The imbalance caused by human interference can have far-reaching consequences, affecting not only the local ecosystem but also the global ecological balance.

What are some examples of balanced and imbalanced ecosystems?

A balanced ecosystem can be seen in well-preserved natural parks and reserves where human intervention is minimal, and all elements coexist in harmony. For example, the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is often cited as a balanced ecosystem. An imbalanced ecosystem, on the other hand, might be observed in areas heavily affected by industrial pollution or deforestation, such as the deforested regions of the Amazon Rainforest, where the natural equilibrium has been disrupted.

How can individuals contribute to maintaining balance in ecosystems?

Individuals can play a significant role in maintaining balance in ecosystems by adopting sustainable practices. This includes reducing waste, recycling, supporting environmentally friendly products, and conserving energy and water. Additionally, participating in community conservation efforts, educating oneself and others about ecological balance, and advocating for responsible environmental policies can make a substantial difference in preserving the balance of local and global ecosystems.

What are some strategies that governments and organizations can implement to restore and maintain ecological balance?

Governments and organizations can implement various strategies to restore and maintain ecological balance. These include enforcing strict regulations against pollution, deforestation, and overfishing; investing in renewable energy sources; supporting conservation efforts and protected areas; promoting sustainable agricultural practices; and engaging in international agreements to address global environmental challenges. Collaboration between governments, organizations, and communities is essential to create a comprehensive approach to preserving the balance in ecosystems.

How does a balanced ecosystem benefit human life?

A balanced ecosystem provides numerous benefits to human life. It ensures the availability of clean air and water, fertile soil for agriculture, and a stable climate. Balanced ecosystems also support a wide variety of plant and animal species, some of which are vital for medical research and pharmaceuticals. Moreover, healthy ecosystems offer recreational opportunities and aesthetic enjoyment, contributing to overall human well-being and quality of life.

Can a disrupted ecosystem be restored to its balanced state? How?

Yes, a disrupted ecosystem can often be restored to a balanced state through concerted efforts. Restoration requires a comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem's original state and the factors that caused the imbalance. Strategies may include reforestation, pollution control, reintroduction of native species, habitat restoration, and sustainable land and water management. Collaboration between scientists, governments, communities, and conservationists is vital to develop and implement effective restoration plans.

WWF – Ecological Balance

Plantlet – Ecosystem Balance and Imbalance

Wikipedia – Balance of Nature

Essay About the Beauty of Nature: 4 Examples and 9 Prompts

Read this article for essay examples and prompts to use so you can start writing essay about the beauty of nature .

Nature is complex and beautiful. Our ecosystem covers every aspect of Mother Earth, including the evolution of the earth & life, the various cycles, all the living things, and more. Collectively, they create something so beautiful and perfect that it can be hard to believe it exists.

The beauty and power of nature can be pretty overwhelming. Whenever you want to feel these emotions, reading or writing essays about the beauty of nature can help you grasp those ideas .

Below are examples of essays on nature and its beauty and prompts to help you get started on your next essay.

1. Essay on Beauty of Nature for Children and Students on Study Mentor

2. descriptive essay on beauty of nature on performdigi, 3. essay on beauties of nature by gk scientist, 4. descriptive essay on mother nature by neetu singh, 1. activities that appreciate nature, 2. the beauty of nature in renaissance art, 3. mindful methods of appreciating the beauty of nature, 4. literature pieces that define the beauty of nature well, 5. video games that captured the beauty of nature, 6. beautiful nature photo ideas and tips you can do with a phone, 7. difference between nature and science, 8. philosophical understanding of nature, 9. biomimicry: nature-inspired engineering.

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“Each and everything in nature, including living or non-living organisms, play an important role in maintaining the balance to create a viable environment for all of us, which is called ecological balance. We need to make sure that the ecological balance should be maintained at all times to avoid a catastrophic situation in the future.”

The first essay discusses nature’s significance, the natural resources, and how to conserve them. It has an educational tone, encouraging the reader to care for nature and protect its beauty . The second essay focuses on the non-harmful ways of enjoying nature and protecting it from modern daily processes. You might also like these authors like Wendell Berry .

“Nature has many faces. They are everywhere. The human eye is always in contact with good things.”

This descriptive essay about the beauty of nature discusses the immortal, infinite, and eternal beauty of nature and nature as a reflection of the art of Allah. It covers the beauty of everything found in nature, including the changing seasons, birds, beasts, fish, reptiles, humans, the environment, and more.

“To enjoy these beauties of nature, one has to live in nature’s company. A countryman enjoys nature well. A town dweller cannot enjoy the beauties of nature.”

This essay on nature talks about nature and personifies it as a woman by using the pronouns she and her. The essay considers the various elements in nature, seasons, and unique environments. It also provides some wisdom to encourage the reader to care for nature.You might also be interested in these articles about the beauty of nature .

“As nature is the main life force of all living beings on earth. It is our duty to preserve and protect nature and all its creations alike. We must also love her in return as she loves us.”

In this essay, nature is God’s most tremendous boon to humanity. Thus, we must protect it from corruption, pollution, and other artificial and harmful manufactured things. The essay also gave examples of environmental problems that have impacted nature significantly. The end of the essay states that we must stand, preserve, and protect nature.

9 Prompts for Writing an Essay About the Beauty of Nature

Writing an essay about the beauty of nature can feel repetitive and overdone. You can avoid repeating the usual themes or ideas you saw above. Instead, use the essay prompts on nature below.

Here’s a tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

Essay About the Beauty of Nature: Activities that appreciate nature

Do you want other people to enjoy and appreciate nature? With this essay, you can list the various methods of appreciating nature. The activities can be simple such as planting a tree, hugging a tree, and watching sunsets.

For help with this topic, read this guide explaining what persuasive writing is all about.

Renaissance art is rich with meanings and symbolism portrayed through nature. For example, although flowers universally stand for beauty , different flower types can have different meanings. Dark clouds and streaks of lightning in the skies can portray dark moods or omens. Many renaissance male artists saw nature as a mother, mistress, or bride. If you like interpreting renaissance art, you’ll enjoy this essay topic.

Mindfulness and nature share a very positive relationship. Being in nature can make you more mindful. Being mindful while in nature enhances your connectedness to it. This essay focuses on mindfulness in nature.

Consider your connection to it, be aware of your surroundings, and actively appreciate its various parts. Connecting to nature will open you to change, the natural cycle of life and death, and more.

Literature is more flexible than visual art because it taps the imagination through ideas and concepts rather than images. For example, various poets, writers, and playwrights have likened the beauty of nature to love, characters, powerful forces, and intense emotions.

Avid literature readers will enjoy writing about the beauty of nature through their favorite authors, themes, and stories.

No matter what their genre, more video games today feature realistic graphics. One of the best ways to show off these high-tech graphics is by showing nature’s beauty in a scene or environment.

Some examples of the top video games that have captured the beauty of nature include Ghost of Tsushima, Red Dead Redemption II, and The Last of Us: Part Two. Write about how the beauty of nature can be captured in a video game and the methods used to create vivid digital worlds.

Are you an enthusiast of nature photography and amateur photography? Bring these two things together by writing an essay about taking nature photos with a phone. Write what you learned about taking nature photos.

You can also provide sample nature photos you or others took with a smartphone. Remember, nature photography can cover many subjects, like animals, plants, landscapes, etc.

Have you ever stopped to think about the difference between nature and science? Science has many methodical and measurable aspects and is as young as humanity. The opposite is true for nature because it has existed far longer than humans have. Yet, we can use science to study nature.

When you pick this essay idea, discuss the loose ideas mentioned above in more detail. Researching and reading about nature vs. science can also help. Discuss this in your next essay for an inspiring and intriguing essay topic.

Philosopher students will enjoy writing an essay about the beauty of nature . You can argue that nature does not exist because it is not measurable. It doesn’t exist outside of any solid examples we can give, like the environment, animals, weather, and plants.

You write about the philosophical aspects of nature and use key research to back up your ideas and arguments made in the essay. Look for scientific research papers, books by philosophers, and opinion essays to create this essay.

Biomimicry is a sustainable solution to human challenges. It imitates the designs found in nature’s time-tested strategies and patterns and incorporates them into technology.

This is a fascinating essay topic that can inspire your next written piece. Conduct research into biomimicry, and let the reader know your thoughts and opinions on this subject.

Do you need more inspiration? Read these 13 essays about nature .

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Essay on Nature: In 100 Words, 200 Words, 300 Words

Updated on
Oct 13, 2023

Nature is the intricate web of life that surrounds us, encompassing everything from the air we breathe to the majestic landscapes we admire. It includes the delicate balance of ecosystems, the diversity of flora and fauna, and the natural resources that sustain all living beings on Earth. Exploring the beauty and significance of nature is not only a pleasurable endeavour but also a crucial one, as it reminds us of our responsibility to protect and preserve our environment.

Table of Contents

1 Tips to Write the Best Essay
2 Essay on Nature in 100 Words
3 Essay on Nature in 200 Words
4 Essay on Nature in 300 Words

Tips to Write the Best Essay

Here are some tips to craft an exceptional essay:

Understand the Topic: Grasp the essence of the topic and its different aspects before you start writing.
Structure: Organize your essay coherently, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Thesis Statement: Formulate a strong thesis statement that summarizes the main point you want to convey.
Use Vivid Language: Employ descriptive language to bring the beauty of nature to life for your readers.
Supporting Evidence: Back up your points with facts, statistics, and examples to make your essay more convincing.
Variety of Ideas: Discuss different perspectives and dimensions of the topic to showcase a comprehensive understanding.
Proofread: Edit your essay for grammar, punctuation, and clarity before submitting it.

Essay on Nature in 100 Words

Nature is a precious gift, encompassing all living and non-living entities. It provides us with air, water, food, and shelter. The beauty of nature soothes our souls and brings us closer to the marvels of creation. However, human activities are threatening the delicate balance of ecosystems, leading to pollution, deforestation, and climate change. It’s our responsibility to protect and preserve nature for future generations to enjoy its wonders.

Essay on Nature in 200 Words

Nature is the ultimate source of inspiration and sustenance for all life forms on Earth. From the smallest microorganisms to the tallest trees, every aspect of nature plays a crucial role in maintaining the delicate balance of our planet. The diversity of flora and fauna, the intricate ecosystems, and the natural resources provide us with food, shelter, and even the air we breathe.

Despite its undeniable importance, human activities are wreaking havoc on nature. Deforestation, pollution, and excessive use of natural resources are causing irreparable damage to our environment. Climate change, triggered by human-induced factors, is resulting in extreme weather events and rising sea levels, endangering both human and animal habitats.

Preserving nature is not a choice; it’s a necessity. The responsibility to conserve nature lies in the hands of every individual. Planting trees, reducing waste, using sustainable resources, and raising awareness about the importance of nature are steps we can take to mitigate the damage.

Nature has provided us with boundless beauty and resources, but it’s up to us to ensure its survival. By respecting and nurturing the natural world, we can secure a healthier and more vibrant planet for current and future generations.

Essay on Nature in 300 Words

Nature is a symphony of vibrant life forms and dynamic ecosystems that create a harmonious and intricate web of existence. The lush greenery of forests, the tranquil blue of oceans, the diverse habitats of animals, and the breathtaking landscapes remind us of the sheer magnificence of the world we inhabit. It’s a world that offers us both solace and sustenance, making our survival intertwined with its preservation.

The ecosystem services provided by nature are immeasurable. The forests act as the lungs of the Earth, producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. Wetlands filter our water, providing us with clean and fresh sources of hydration. Bees and other pollinators enable the growth of crops, contributing to global food security.

However, the rampant disregard for nature’s delicate balance is leading to alarming consequences. The relentless deforestation for urbanization and agriculture is causing habitat loss, leading to the extinction of numerous species. The excessive emission of greenhouse gases is driving climate change, with rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns threatening vulnerable communities.

To ensure the well-being of our planet and future generations, conservation and sustainable practices are imperative. Afforestation and reforestation efforts must be intensified to restore lost ecosystems. Transitioning to renewable energy sources can reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change. Moreover, raising awareness and fostering a deep connection with nature can instil a sense of responsibility and inspire positive action.

In conclusion, nature is not merely a resource for human exploitation; it’s a complex and interconnected system that sustains life in all its forms. We must recognize our role as custodians of the environment and act with diligence to protect and preserve it. By embracing sustainable practices and fostering a profound respect for nature, we can secure a future where the world’s natural wonders continue to thrive.

Nature encompasses the entirety of the physical world and its components, including landscapes, flora, fauna, air, water, and ecosystems. It encompasses the natural environment and all living and non-living elements that shape and sustain life on Earth.

Nature is vital for our survival, providing resources like air, water, and food. It maintains ecological balance, supports biodiversity, and offers inspiration and solace. However, human activities threaten its delicate equilibrium, necessitating conservation efforts.

Saving nature requires planting trees, reducing waste, using sustainable resources, and raising awareness about its importance. Adopting renewable energy sources, practising responsible consumption, and fostering a connection with nature are crucial steps in its preservation.

We hope that this essay blog on Nature helps. For more amazing daily reads related to essay writing , stay tuned with Leverage Edu .

Manasvi Kotwal

Manasvi's flair in writing abilities is derived from her past experience of working with bootstrap start-ups, Advertisement and PR agencies as well as freelancing. She's currently working as a Content Marketing Associate at Leverage Edu to be a part of its thriving ecosystem.

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Essay On Nature | Nature Essay for Students and Children in 500 Words

February 13, 2024 by Prasanna

Essay On Nature: An Essay on Nature helps the students to understand the implications of the natural world. From the various flora and fauna to the expansive biomes, nature has a lot to offer. However, ever since humans and showed up, the planet has started to change drastically. Nature seems to be getting sparser every year, animals disappear, and trees get cut down only to be replaced by skyscrapers.

Hence, it is crucial to enable students to understand that nature should be conserved. And there is no better way to do it than to write an essay on nature. Furthermore, the earlier that students are educated about the plight of nature, the better the chances that future generations act on the matter. Read on about Essay on Nature Conservation, Importance of Nature, Beauty of Nature and for School Children and Kids. Explore the “do’s” and “don’ts” when writing an essay on nature:

You can also find more Essay Writing articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

Essay On Nature – Important Points to Note

When writing an essay on nature, or any essay for that matter, remember the following:

Before starting the essay, do your research. This will help you create quality content.
Write an introductory paragraph for the essay
Reduce the use of jargons unless the topic is very technical
Write in points wherever possible
Break up the content into digestible chunks
Use dates, names and factual figures
End the essay with a conclusion
Read through the essay to find and remove grammatical issues or factual errors.

“Look deep into Nature and then you will understand everything Better” – Nature Essay

Essay On Nature – Sample 1 (250 Words)

Nature, in its broadest sense, is a term that refers to the physical world and life in general. It encompasses all life on earth, including humans. However, it does not include human activities. The term nature is derived from the Latin word, “Natura”, which translates to “essential qualities” or “innate disposition.” Nature seems to be getting sparser every year, animals disappear, and trees get cut down only to be replaced by skyscrapers

As stated above, nature includes not just life, but a host of other non-living physical entities. These include the atmosphere, climate, weather, water and even abstract factors like the aesthetic beauty of nature. Nature did not arise spontaneously; hence if we were to make an accurate timeline, it would encompass billion of years of progress and evolution.

The earth is thought to have formed when gravity pulled the stellar gas, dust and debris together, eventually forming a planet. And like the other terrestrial planets in the solar system, the earth is made up of a central core and a rocky mantle. But before the earth got to this stage, scientists believe that the earth’s surface was entirely covered by hot molten rock or magma. Only after a few billion years did it start cooling down, creating the solid crust that we are familiar with today.

Just like the non-living components of nature, life did not arise instantaneously. It took billions of years for the earliest precursors of life to show up. However, these “organisms” were nothing more than a self-replicating molecule. However, from this precursor, life has evolved into the multitude of lifeforms that we see today. Today, the complex interaction between living things and non-living things contributes to the concept of nature.

500 Words Nature Essay

Nature can be understood as a “phenomena” that encompasses the physical world and the life which interacts with it. It includes humans and every other form of life present on the planet. The word nature has its roots in Latin. It is derived from the word “Natura” which means “essential qualities”. However, in ancient times, the word was a literal synonym for “birth”.

Today, the word “nature” refers to wildlife and geology. This means it includes the realm that includes all forms of life and the many processes associated with non-living objects. In most cases, nature also refers to the forests and the wildlife living within. Other definitions indicate places with the absence of human intervention as nature too.

The evolution of nature is not spontaneous; it took billions of years of geological time for its formation. According to scientists, the earth was formed nearly 4.54 billion years ago. Before this time, the earth was a giant, swirling mass of gas and debris orbiting the sun. The early earth was a completely different place. The atmosphere was completely devoid of oxygen, and there was no water on its surface. It was a hellish place with extremely high temperatures.

The landscape was littered with molten magma and thick plumes of toxic smoke. Life was nowhere in sight, and it would not emerge for several billion years more. As the earth cooled down, water condensed and fell as rain. However, it rained for such a long time that the basins and troughs began to fill up with water. This event created the very first oceans of the world. However, the earth was still devoid of life and oxygen was non-existent in the atmosphere.

One of the biggest unsolved mysteries today is the origin of life. There are fossils to support the earliest organisms, but nothing was known of how they came about. Scientists have put forth many speculations and hypotheses stating the origin of life. One of the most popular is the Deep-sea Hydrothermal Vents Theory. It states that the earliest precursors to life originated from underwater volcanic vents. These volcanic vents spewed out minerals that were abundant in many nutrients required for early life forms. However, this is just a speculation that there is no conclusive evidence supporting the same.

The first undisputed evidence of life emerged some 3.7 billion years ago. These were similar to today’s cyanobacteria – which were microscopic single-celled organisms. Since then, life has had billions of years to evolve. And when life emerged from the seas on to dry land, major evolutionary leaps were made. The first-ever land plants appeared followed by the invertebrates. Vertebrates made their way on to land much later, evolving into magnificent life forms such as the dinosaurs. On the geological timescale, we humans evolved only recently. The fossils of our earliest ancestors are over 200,000 years old.

Conclusion on Nature Essay

However, our technology and progress have had a detrimental effect on the planet. Our climates are changing and temperatures and rising. We are losing our polar icecaps, and as a result, ocean levels are rising. All these factors can cause destruction in the near future if we do not keep a check on our carbon footprint and deforestation. Essay on Nature In Hindi, Marathi, Telugu and Kannada will update soonly.

FAQ’s on Essay On Nature

Question 1. What is nature?

Answer: Nature encompasses the physical world and the life which interacts with it.

Question 2. What is the importance of nature?

Answer: Without nature, the natural balance in the ecosystem is lost. This can lead to many detrimental effects such as global warming, greenhouse effect, rising sea levels, increased natural calamities.

Question 3. How does nature help us?

Answer: Nature provides a lot of resources. Some of these resources are life-saving and others are of significant commercial value. It also keeps a check on the adverse effects of human activities.

Question 4. Are humans nature?

Answer: Humans and all other lifeforms are a part of nature. But human activities are not a part of nature.

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On the Notions of Mother Nature and the Balance of Nature and Their Implications for Conservation

First Online: 01 January 2010

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The evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould (1996, p. 57) wrote, “The most erroneous stories are the ones we think we know best - and therefore never scrutinize or question.” This essay addresses two intertwining narratives that demand close scrutiny - Mother Nature and the Balance of Nature. Both are common in environmental discourse and generally accepted without question. For example, consider how often western popular culture refers to the workings of “Mother Nature” in affecting the “balance of nature.” Wood (1999) suggested in an article entitled “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature” that with respect to genetically modified foods, “Consumer concerns about tampering with the balance of nature are legitimate….” Similarly, an organic gardening newsletter instructs “By mimicking Mother Nature and taking cues from her natural cycle, organic gardeners… enhance the balance of nature” (Anonymous, VillageOrganics.com). This essay has three objectives: first, to examine Mother Nature and the evolution of the metaphor from deity through the dualistic human-nature paradigm; second, to trace the development of Balance of Nature as a cultural and scientific concept, and third, to weave together the notions of Mother Nature and Balance of Nature insofar as they hold implications for environmental conservation.

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Jelinski, D.E. (2010). On the Notions of Mother Nature and the Balance of Nature and Their Implications for Conservation. In: Bates, D., Tucker, J. (eds) Human Ecology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5701-6_3

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Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

What Happens When We Reconnect With Nature

Humans have long intuited that being in nature is good for the mind and body. From indigenous adolescents completing rites of passage in the wild, to modern East Asian cultures taking “forest baths,” many have looked to nature as a place for healing and personal growth.

Why nature? No one knows for sure; but one hypothesis derived from evolutionary biologist E. O. Wilson’s “ biophilia ” theory suggests that there are evolutionary reasons people seek out nature experiences. We may have preferences to be in beautiful, natural spaces because they are resource-rich environments—ones that provide optimal food, shelter, and comfort. These evolutionary needs may explain why children are drawn to natural environments and why we prefer nature to be part of our architecture.

Now, a large body of research is documenting the positive impacts of nature on human flourishing—our social, psychological, and emotional life. Over 100 studies have shown that being in nature, living near nature, or even viewing nature in paintings and videos can have positive impacts on our brains, bodies, feelings, thought processes, and social interactions. In particular, viewing nature seems to be inherently rewarding, producing a cascade of position emotions and calming our nervous systems. These in turn help us to cultivate greater openness, creativity, connection, generosity, and resilience.

In other words, science suggests we may seek out nature not only for our physical survival, but because it’s good for our social and personal well-being.

How nature helps us feel good and do good

The naturalist John Muir once wrote about the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California: “We are now in the mountains and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us.” Clearly, he found nature’s awe-inspiring imagery a positive, emotive experience.

But what does the science say? Several studies have looked at how viewing awe-inspiring nature imagery in photos and videos impacts emotions and behavior. For example, in one study participants either viewed a few minutes of the inspiring documentary Planet Earth , a neutral video from a news program, or funny footage from Walk on the Wild Side . Watching a few minutes of Planet Earth led people to feel 46 percent more awe and 31 percent more gratitude than those in the other groups. This study and others like it tell us that even brief nature videos are a powerful way to feel awe , wonder, gratitude , and reverence—all positive emotions known to lead to increased well-being and physical health.

Positive emotions have beneficial effects upon social processes, too—like increasing trust, cooperation, and closeness with others. Since viewing nature appears to trigger positive emotions, it follows that nature likely has favorable effects on our social well-being.

This has been robustly confirmed in research on the benefits of living near green spaces. Most notably, the work of Frances Kuo and her colleagues finds that in poorer neighborhoods of Chicago people who live near green spaces—lawns, parks, trees—show reductions in ADHD symptoms and greater calm, as well as a stronger sense of connection to neighbors, more civility, and less violence in their neighborhoods. A later analysis confirmed that green spaces tend to have less crime.

Viewing nature in images and videos seems to shift our sense of self, diminishing the boundaries between self and others, which has implications for social interactions. In one study , participants who spent a minute looking up into a beautiful stand of eucalyptus trees reported feeling less entitled and self-important. Even simply viewing Planet Earth for five minutes led participants to report a greater sense that their concerns were insignificant and that they themselves were part of something larger compared with groups who had watched neutral or funny clips.

Need a dose of nature?

A version of this essay was produced in conjunction with the BBC's newly released Planet Earth II : an awe-inspiring tour of the world from the viewpoint of animals.

Several studies have also found that viewing nature in images or videos leads to greater “prosocial” tendencies—generosity, cooperation, and kindness. One illustrative study found that people who simply viewed 10 slides of really beautiful nature (as opposed to less beautiful nature) gave more money to a stranger in an economic game widely used to measure trust.

All of these findings raise the intriguing possibility that, by increasing positive emotions, experiencing nature even in brief doses leads to more kind and altruistic behavior.

How nature helps our health

Besides boosting happiness, positive emotion, and kindness, exposure to nature may also have physical and mental health benefits.

The benefits of nature on health and well-being have been well-documented in different European and Asian cultures. While Kuo’s evidence suggests a particular benefit for those from nature-deprived communities in the United States, the health and wellness benefits of immersion in nature seem to generalize across all different class and ethnic backgrounds.

Why is nature so healing? One possibility is that having access to nature—either by living near it or viewing it—reduces stress. In a study by Catharine Ward Thompson and her colleagues, the people who lived near larger areas of green space reported less stress and showed greater declines in cortisol levels over the course of the day.

In another study , participants who viewed a one-minute video of awesome nature rather than a video that made them feel happy reported feeling as though they had enough time “to get things done” and did not feel that “their lives were slipping away.” And studies have found that people who report feeling a good deal of awe and wonder and an awareness of the natural beauty around them actually show lower levels of a biomarker (IL-6) that could lead to a decreased likelihood of cardiovascular disease, depression, and autoimmune disease.

Though the research is less well-documented in this area than in some others, the results to date are promising. One early study by Roger Ulrich found that patients recovered faster from cardiovascular surgery when they had a view of nature out of a window, for example.

A more recent review of studies looking at different kinds of nature immersion—natural landscapes during a walk, views from a window, pictures and videos, and flora and fauna around residential or work environments—showed that nature experiences led to reduced stress, easier recovery from illness, better physical well-being in elderly people, and behavioral changes that improve mood and general well-being.

Why we need nature

All of these findings converge on one conclusion: Being close to nature or viewing nature improves our well-being. The question still remains…how?

There is no question that being in nature—or even viewing nature pictures—reduces the physiological symptoms of stress in our bodies. What this means is that we are less likely to be anxious and fearful in nature, and thereby we can be more open to other people and to creative patterns of thought.

Also, nature often induces awe, wonder, and reverence, all emotions known to have a variety of benefits, promoting everything from well-being and altruism to humility to health.

There is also some evidence that exposure to nature impacts the brain. Viewing natural beauty (in the form of landscape paintings and video, at least) activates specific reward circuits in the brain associated with dopamine release that give us a sense of purpose, joy, and energy to pursue our goals.

But, regrettably, people seem to be spending less time outdoors and less time immersed in nature than before. It is also clear that, in the past 30 years, people’s levels of stress and sense of “busyness” have risen dramatically. These converging forces have led environmental writer Richard Louv to coin the term “ nature deficit disorder ”—a form of suffering that comes from a sense of disconnection from nature and its powers.

Perhaps we should take note and try a course corrective. The 19th century philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote about nature, “There I feel that nothing can befall me in life—no disgrace, no calamity (leaving me my eyes), which nature cannot repair.” The science speaks to Emerson’s intuition. It’s time to realize nature is more than just a material resource. It’s also a pathway to human health and happiness.

About the Authors

Kristophe Green

Uc berkeley.

Kristophe Green is a senior Psychology major at UC Berkeley. He is fascinated with the study of positive emotions and how they inform pro-social behavior such as empathy, altruism and compassion.

Dacher Keltner

Dacher Keltner, Ph.D. , is the founding director of the Greater Good Science Center and a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence and Born to Be Good , and a co-editor of The Compassionate Instinct .

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Essay on Importance of Nature

Students are often asked to write an essay on Importance of Nature in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Importance of Nature

Understanding nature.

Nature is all around us, from the vast forests to the tiny flowers. It’s vital because it provides us with everything we need to survive, like air, water, food, and shelter.

Nature’s Role in Health

Learning from nature.

Nature is a great teacher. It teaches us about life cycles, ecosystems, and the importance of balance. We learn to appreciate beauty and understand our place in the world.

Protecting Nature

It’s important to protect nature. If we don’t, we risk losing all the benefits it provides. We can do this by reducing pollution, recycling, and planting trees.

250 Words Essay on Importance of Nature

The intrinsic value of nature.

Nature, in its myriad forms, is indispensable to our existence. It not only provides us with the resources necessary for our survival, but also offers aesthetic pleasure and spiritual solace. The intrinsic value of nature lies in its inherent beauty and its capacity to stimulate our intellect and emotions.

Ecological Balance

Nature plays a critical role in maintaining the planet’s ecological balance. The biodiversity found in various ecosystems, from lush forests to arid deserts and from freshwater bodies to marine environments, ensures the stability of life on Earth. The extinction of a single species can trigger a domino effect, disrupting the entire ecosystem. Hence, preserving nature is tantamount to preserving life itself.

Nature as a Healer

Nature is often regarded as a healer. The tranquility and serenity it offers can significantly reduce stress levels and improve mental health. Numerous studies have shown that exposure to nature can lower blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension.

Climate Regulation

Nature plays a pivotal role in climate regulation. Forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 and other greenhouse gases, thereby mitigating the effects of climate change. Wetlands, on the other hand, act as natural barriers against floods and sea-level rise.

500 Words Essay on Importance of Nature

The significance of nature in human life is profound, influencing our health, wellbeing, and the very fabric of our existence. Nature is not merely a provider of resources but a complex network of interconnected systems that sustain life on our planet.

Nature as a Provider

Nature is an indispensable provider, offering us essential resources such as water, food, and raw materials. These resources form the foundation of human survival and economic growth. The agricultural sector, for instance, relies on nature’s bounty in the form of fertile soils, rainfall, and sunlight to grow crops. Similarly, industries depend on natural resources like minerals, timber, and energy sources to function and thrive.

Nature and Human Health

Beyond the material, nature significantly impacts our physical and mental health. Research suggests that exposure to natural environments can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve mood. The concept of ‘forest bathing’ in Japan, where individuals spend time in forests to improve their wellbeing, is a testament to this fact. Moreover, many medicines are derived from plants, highlighting nature’s role in healthcare and disease prevention.

Nature’s Role in Climate Regulation

Biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Biodiversity, a fundamental aspect of nature, ensures ecosystem resilience and provides us with ecosystem services. These services include pollination of crops by bees, pest control by birds, and decomposition of waste by microbes. Biodiversity loss, therefore, not only threatens species survival but also the stability and productivity of ecosystems.

The Ethical and Aesthetic Dimensions of Nature

Conclusion: the imperative of protecting nature.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

The Balance of Nature?

Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata), other flowers

Snake River Wild & Scenic River, Hells Canyon Wilderness Area, Hells Canyon NRA, ID-OR (c) Dave Foreman

“This essay is dedicated to the memory of Smilodon Dave Foreman. He was a hero and I am glad I got to meet him and know him to the extent that I did. His bold powerful vision will have cascading effects for a long time to come. I feel lucky to be a small part of it all.” —Kirk Robinson

Recently I participated in an email discussion on “The Balance of Nature.” We have all heard the phrase and most of us take for granted that there is a balance of nature. But is there? Some of the discussion participants thought there is and others thought there is not. I argued that there is, though it is not easy to say what it is. I gave the example of a tightrope walker skillfully walking a tightrope for conveying the idea of a balance of nature. She must continually make minute adjustments to maintain her balance. If she loses her balance, either because of a misstep or a gust of wind, she crosses a tipping point and falls. As a result of the discussion, I read two books on the subject that were recommended to me or referenced by other participants, The Balance of Nature: Ecology’s Enduring Myth (2009) by John Kricher and Restoring the Balance (2021) by John Vucetich. Kricher argues that there is no such thing as the balance of nature; Vucetich tries to persuade us that there is.

This is an important issue for conservationists because the word ‘balance’ is value valenced: it is good to be in balance and bad to be out of balance. Therefore, so many conservationists believe, we have an ethical responsibility not to upset the balance of nature and to restore balance where we can—say, by reintroducing an extirpated apex carnivore.

It is easy to think that there must either be a balance of nature or not—that the word ‘balance’ refers to a definite state or condition that something is either in or not in. But ‘balance’ is used in various ways to speak, for example, of a bank balance, a balanced rock, a tightrope walker, and the palate of a fine tequila to mention just a few. These many different uses form a family through resemblance and need not share a common feature. An established practice of using the term, along with accepted criteria for its application, is unique to each context of use; and a speaker must master this use in order to be said to know the meaning of the term in that context. Despite this, we humans, with our craving for generality, tend to naturally presume that the word has a perfectly definite univocal meaning that it carries with it into all contexts since, after all, it is the same word that is used in all those different contexts. However, this is a false picture of linguistic meaning. The meaning of a word is partly determined by the context of its use. Therefore, if ‘balance’ is going to have meaning with respect to nature at large, that meaning must first be explained. (Imagine coming across a traffic stop sign deep in a trackless wilderness to get the point.)

This way of looking at linguistic meaning comes from the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, who is widely regarded as the most important philosopher of the 20th century. It has revolutionized many academic disciplines, e.g., linguistics, psychology, sociology, history, and communications by dislodging the quaint idea that linguistic meanings are some sort of mysterious mental entities that speakers learn to associate with words and that prescribe and guide us in their correct use like a set of rules.

Because the concept of the balance of nature is not a scientific one and there is no general theory of what constitutes a balance of nature, it makes no sense to say that there is a balance of nature or that there is not unless a particular meaning is clearly specified. Lacking this, even if this or that hypothesis about how nature works does not hold up, nothing whatever follows regarding whether there is a balance of nature. For example, if Frederick Clements’s theory of the succession of plant communities is not universally true, as Kricher reports, nothing follows one way or another regarding balance of nature.

What we can say as scientists and non-scientists alike is that nature is not totally chaotic—not a “blooming, buzzing confusion,” in William James’s memorable phrase. Change occurs at all scales, but when it comes to biological systems, such as ecosystems and organisms, the change is systemic. Ecosystems are cybernetic systems. They display recurrent patterns involving feedback loops and are stable through extended periods of time. Similarly, individual animals and plants are homeostatic. And, as the Gaia hypothesis has it, Earth is a superorganism because life processes create the very conditions that support life. Such observations give rise to the idea of a balance of nature but they do not amount to a well-defined concept or scientific theory. By ‘idea’ I mean a notion that is too vague to count as an actual concept due to the lack of an established practice of use involving accepted criteria for the application of a word.

Kricher thinks the idea of the balance of nature is that of teleology à la Aristotle, meaning that an ecosystem, indeed the entire biosphere, is inexorably moving toward a final permanent state (like a ball bearing coming to rest at the bottom of a bowl) where it will remain forever unless an exogenous force intervenes – an asteroid impact, for example. Unfortunately, he never makes it clear that this is what Aristotle means by teleology. In any case, this strikes me as an unrealistic requirement for balance in nature. It does not surprise me that Kricher could find no clear instances of it. I think he commits the “straw man” fallacy.

It is not necessary to construe the balance of nature as having anything to do with teleology, and I doubt if many ecologists have done so. It is widely accepted that change originates within the biosphere itself from random gene mutations, genetic drift, and other endogenous causes, not only from exogenous causes. This change effects change in the non-living environment, which in turn effects change in the biosphere, and so on.

Conservation Ethics

Given that he does not believe in the balance of nature, it is no surprise that Kricher sees no reason to engage in protection or conservation of biological nature other than to protect its potential usefulness to humans. This goes even for other animals. His environmental ethic is thoroughly anthropocentric: nature derives its value from being a potential human resource. From this perspective, the only argument for conservation is prudential: Use nature prudently so that you do not impair its ability to sustain continued use! (Given this view, I wonder why a person should not regard other people strictly as resources too . . . if he thinks he can get away with it!)

This is an unsatisfactory conservation ethic. It is inadequate for grounding an ethical obligation to conserve polar bears, for example. What if the ruling powers conclude, based on facts and plausible assumptions, that doing what it takes to conserve polar bears (or any other species) will not benefit humanity (or members of the ruling powers)? Furthermore, it is highly doubtful that many people will be motivated to conserve polar bears just because they believe it might turn out to be good for future humans.

Unlike Kricher, Vucetich thinks there is something we can reasonably call the balance of nature, specifically the predator-prey relationship and the phenomenon of the trophic cascade: predators control the number and demographics of prey animals, which in turn keeps the plant community healthy and capable of supporting a diverse biota. It is well known that the slaughter of predators on the Kaibab Plateau in the early 20 th century was intended to increase the mule deer herd but had a deteriorating effect on the habitat, leading instead to mass deer starvation. That was an example of what happens when you upset the “balance” by shutting down a trophic cascade. It was also one of the reasons for reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone National Park (to control the elk population), and more recently to genetically rescue the dwindling wolf population in Isle Royale National Park (to control the moose population). Whether we want to call this restoring the balance, as Vucetich does, is not terribly important, but it has nothing to do with teleology. What is important is that an ecosystem is a self-renewing homeostatic system, analogous in this respect to an organism. In addition, Vucetich points out that all organisms are related as members of the family of life that descended from a common ancestor. In this way, he hopes to persuade readers that they have an ethical obligation to care for other creatures and their habitats just as they do for members of their own immediate family. Personally, I doubt if this alone is motivationally powerful enough to do the job.

Motivation aside, do these facts place us under an ethical obligation to care for other creatures? Am I my brother’s keeper, so to speak, even where my “brother” is a species of snail on an island in the ocean? Again, I am dubious, though this concern is largely ameliorated if my obligation is limited to matters that I can influence. Bottom line: I think this view has a lot more going for it than Kricher’s but still falls short of what we need.

However, Vucetich develops his view further by recognizing that many other creatures besides humans have interests. For example, squirrels have an interest in storing nuts; wolverines have an interest in scavenging carrion; etc. Whether they reason about what to do is beside the point. It is enough that they consciously and purposely pursue what helps protect and sustain their lives and the lives of their offspring, as well as what gives them pleasure, such as play. And just as we recognize an ethical obligation to other humans not to interfere with their ability to freely pursue their interests (with some exceptions), Vucetich thinks we ought to recognize a similar obligation with respect to other creatures.

This seems plausible enough with respect to mammals and birds, and perhaps reptiles and amphibians, but do insects, plants, and ecosystems have interests? We can say that some things are in their interest , in the sense of contributing to their survival, maintenance, or flourishing, but this is different from them literally having interests. The difference is illustrated by a bear who is interested in what’s on offer at a bait station where a “hunter” waits to kill her. What she is interested in is not in her interest. I think Vucetich tends to conflate the two senses of “having an interest,” but for the most part they no doubt tend to naturally coincide: wild animals are mostly interested in what is in their interest.

Also, while I am sympathetic to the needs of other creatures, it is not obvious to me why I am obligated to care about them enough to help protect them. After all, I have my own interests to look out for. Therefore, if I am obligated to care about the interests of other creatures, I think the reason must be more basic than the mere fact that they have interests (in either sense).

A Good Alternative

Bosque del Apache NWR, NM, c/o Dave Foreman

Sandhill Cranes silhuetted in fog, Bosque del Apache NWR, NM, (c) Dave Foreman

Suppose we focus more broadly on what is good for a plant, animal, or ecosystem. It is good for a tree to receive sunshine and moisture (even though, like an ecosystem, it is presumably incapable of conscious experience or agency). It is good for a mountain lion to have cover for stalking prey. It is good for the Great Salt Lake ecosystem with its millions of migratory birds to receive inflow from rivers and streams. This use of ‘good’ is different from saying, for example, that it is good for a knife to be sharp. It makes no difference to a knife whether it is sharp, only to the user of the knife. We might express this by saying that plants, animals, and ecosystems have a good of their own. A knife does not have a good of its own. It’s just a thing.

Following Aristotle, it makes sense to say that what is good for a creature is what is in accord with its nature. It is good for a golden retriever to have a compassionate human caretaker. It is good for a wolf to live in the wild (unless it has been raised in captivity), even though it might starve or get a broken jaw from the kick of an elk. And similarly for an elk, even though it might get killed by wolves. Life in the wild is the best possible life for both wolf and elk because that is what evolution has equipped them for and what allows them maximum potential to flourish as the kinds of creature they are. And this is itself good—not instrumentally good as in “good for,” but good in the sense of being fitting or right.

Now to the crucial question: Do we humans have an ethical obligation to not damage what is good? Clearly, a justification is needed—and a good one—for purposely doing so. I do not see how this can be cogently denied. The sentence “It is not wrong to wantonly damage what is good” is close to an outright contradiction. Furthermore, if we humans have an obligation to not damage what is good without good reason, then, I submit, we also have an obligation to repair what we have damaged where we can. I think this is axiomatic. If not, then what is the point of the obligation to not damage in the first place? (Vucetich argues to the same conclusion in a more roundabout way based on a theory of restorative justice.)

This view is consistent with Vucetich’s point about interests but goes further by (1) more explicitly including plant communities such as old growth forests, and ecosystems, in the class of things to which we have an ethical obligation; (2) by grounding the obligation more firmly and transparently in what is good; and (3) by directly implying an obligation to undertake rewilding efforts where we can, even when we are faced with a competing obligation to not harm individual creatures—as when it must be decided whether or not to lethally remove an invasive species that is causing damage to an ecosystem. In such cases, we must decide which of competing obligations ought to take precedence while keeping in mind that “goods-of-its-own” are not necessarily all equally good in an absolute sense. There is a vast difference between pulling weeds in your garden and clear-cutting an old growth forest, for example; and between swatting a housefly and murder. However, this complicated issue lies beyond the scope of this essay.

If someone is convinced, based on established facts and sound reasoning, that she has an ethical obligation to do (or not do) something, it can motivate her to act accordingly—even against a powerful contrary inclination. As well, the best available science and sound ethical reasoning should inform and guide government conservation policies & programs. But the overarching challenge for us conservationists is to foster the growth of a cultural conservation ethos à la Aldo Leopold’s “land ethic” that also teaches compassion for individual creatures. I hope this essay imparts some impetus toward that goal.

Kirk grew up in Bountiful, Utah between the shore of the Great Salt Lake and the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains. As a child, he loved roaming the foothills looking for wild animals and visiting Farmington Bay Bird Refuge. Naturally, he fell in love with the land and its wildlife. Since those early years, he has spent a big part of his life exploring the deserts, rivers, and mountains of the West.

In the 1990s, Kirk and some friends from the Utah Wilderness Association began working to reform Utah wildlife governance and management to make it more democratic, ecologically sound, and compassionate. This led to the founding of a non-profit organization, Western Wildlife Conservancy , to address the issues. Of particular concern is the scientifically and ethically misguided way that native carnivores such as mountain lions, black bears, and gray wolves are treated. The vital role that these intelligent and magnificent creatures play in maintaining the health of ecosystems goes unappreciated, as evidenced by a long history of persecution. In addition to being Executive Director of Western Wildlife Conservancy, Kirk is on the Leadership Council of The Rewilding Institute and the Advisory Committee of Wildlife For All.

Prior to Western Wildlife Conservancy, Kirk was a Professor of Philosophy. He has a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Cincinnati and has taught at universities in Montana and Utah. In 2004, he graduated from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah with a certificate in Natural Resource Law to better equip him for work on wildlife conservation issues. In his free time, he enjoys backpacking, x-c skiing, river trips, playing the acoustic guitar, and time spent with friends and with his dog Bingo.

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Your Handbook Guide to Understanding Balance of Nature

Table of Contents

Time and again, great philosophers have mentioned that a peaceful co-existence is the result of constant equilibrium. The perfect balance of emotions, actions and also the perfect balance of nature is something that allows all creatures in this universe to sustain peacefully. But what exactly do we mean by balance of nature or balance within nature? What in nature needs balance to ensure the better existence of all its components? Read on for this blog covers all aspects of the balance of nature.

Balance of Nature – A Brief Idea!

The balance of nature is often referred to as the ecological balance. If we go as per the bookish definition of ecological balance, it can be said that –

Ecological balance can be referred to as the state of dynamic equilibrium within a specific organism community, where genetics, species and ecosystem diversity remain stable and are subject to gradual changes. But these changes are only through natural successions.

Ecological balance, in a way, also refers to a stable balance in the number of each species present in the ecosystem. This equilibrium could be upset by the arrival of new species, the unexpected extinction of some species, natural disasters, or man-made causes.

Here’s an interesting example for you to understand how ecological imbalance occurs –

Salmon have a treasure trove of nutrients in their tissues. After being born in freshwater streams, they migrate hundreds of kilometres to reach the ocean, where they eat a variety of marine life and gain weight. When they return to the stream to lay their eggs, they bring this wealth of ocean nutrients back with them. Soon after this, salmons die. However, when salmon pass away, decomposers unleash the riches of nutrients locked inside their bodies, which plants can easily consume and animals can benefit from when they eat the plants.

Unfortunately, human disturbances have led to a decline in salmon stocks. The decline of salmon is causing a disruption in the ecosystem. This is because they no longer bring the ocean’s nutrients to the stream. Without these nutrients, plants struggle to grow and provide food for animals and insects. As a result, the decline in plant growth leads to fewer animals and insects available for birds to feed on. Ultimately, the loss of salmon causes a significant ecological imbalance.

As humankind keeps on removing trees to use the land for other purposes, this impacts the balance of soil ecology as well as the water level balance, leading to water scarcity.

The idea of a balanced ecosystem is based on the understanding that the natural world is primarily a product of the temporal, geographical, and cultural lenses through which humans see and interact with it. For a variety of reasons, people have come to believe that the world around us maintains equilibrium through its natural course of events, and when this balance is hampered, we try to restore it.

The assumptions of human centrality may bend the generally clear lens provided by science in this circumstance, influencing how we understand the balance of nature in our culture. Since Frederick Clements and Henry Gleason concentrated on the argument in the 1920s, the subject of balance in nature has been formally criticised in ecology for almost 65 years. Nonetheless, the core of science did not shift until around 25 years ago. Since then, a dynamic approach to ecological theorising has dominated, paying little regard to equilibrium processes.

The Importance of Ecological Balance

The stability of the ecosystem and the continued survival and existence of species both depend on ecological balance. The ecosystem’s necessary natural equilibrium may be upset by environmental risks, the untimely extinction of a particular species, anthropogenic causes, or the introduction of new species.

Ecological balance is a state of dynamic equilibrium within an ecosystem where species, genetic diversity, and ecological diversity persist in a stable state despite slow changes brought on by natural succession. Resilience and resistance are two characteristics that define the stability of the ecosystem. When species are harmed or destroyed, an ecosystem’s resilience property emerges. Resilience can also refer to the speed at which an ecosystem’s population density returns to balance following a specific perturbation. The term “resistance” refers to an ecosystem’s capacity to withstand pressures like high pollution levels or drought without the animal population and trees dying.

When organisms interact, diversity is preserved, and over time, the population density of the entire ecosystem may change depending on whether a particular species is improved or destroyed. Some species, like the sea otter, are regarded as keystone species because they are important in preserving ecological balance.

Ecological equilibrium ensures that all organisms can survive. Due to the development of beneficial environments, numerous species are still present. Every organism prospers and multiplies as expected in a favourable ecosystem. They receive enough food to sustain their lives. The maintenance of ecological balance is crucial for the survival of the creatures. It makes sure that no one species is abused or exploited. To avoid excessive forest damage, for instance, human activities like farming and resource extraction are restricted. Drought is a result of deforestation. Insufficient food is produced as a result of drought. Lack of food causes famine and later death, which decreases the number of animals.

Ecological balance also guarantees the stability of the environment and living things. It fosters an environment that is favourable for organism growth and proliferation. It improves an environment that is stable and free from ecological imbalances like flood, hunger brought on by a drought, a windstorm that might wipe out everything, and predator overhunting.

The Components of Nature – Biotic and Abiotic

Two significant components of the ecosystem that are in constant communication with one another are the biotic and the abiotic components. And creating a balance between these two is also very crucial for a healthy ecosystem.

Biotic Component of Nature

Biologic components are the parts of an ecosystem that are alive. Plants, animals, fungi, and microbes are a few of these factors. Based on the source of energy needed, these biotic components can be further divided into categories. The three main groups of biotic components are – Producers, Consumers & Decomposers.

1. Producers

Producers in the ecosystem are plants, which can meet their own energy needs through photosynthesis when sunlight and chlorophyll are present. Plants provide all other living things with the food and oxygen they need to function.

2. Consumers

Herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores are examples of consumers. The living things that eat plants are called herbivores. Carnivores consume other living things. Animals that can consume both plant and animal tissue are called omnivores.

3. Decomposers

Fungi and bacteria, which are saprophytes, are the decomposers. They consume the decomposing organic stuff and transform it into nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Recycling nutrients for subsequent use by the producers, i.e., plants, is greatly aided by the saprophytes.

Abiotic Components of Nature

Abiotic components are the physical, chemical, and/or biological forces that affect living things at any stage of their existence. These are additionally referred to as ecological factors. The environment is characterised by its physical and chemical elements. An ecosystem’s abiotic elements include light, air, soil, and nutrients.

The abiotic elements differ between different ecosystems. The abiotic parameters in an aquatic ecosystem may include the pH of the water, sunshine, turbidity, depth of the water, salinity, accessible nutrients, and dissolved oxygen. Similar to aquatic ecosystems , terrestrial ecosystems are influenced by abiotic variables such as soil, soil types, temperature, rain, altitude, wind, nutrients, sunlight, etc.

Why is the Balance between Biotic & Abiotic Components Important?

Suppose the equilibrium between the biotic and abiotic components is upset. In that case, the imbalance will lead to the instability of the organisms and the environment and will produce an environment that is resistant to the accumulation and expansion of organisms.

In an ecosystem, abiotic factors are essential for the survival of biotic factors. Plants require a specific combination of temperature, moisture, and soil chemistry to grow, serving as the primary food source for animals. Any disturbance in an ecosystem can affect its components, leading to the evolution or extinction of species. A healthy ecosystem maintains a flow of materials and energy, with each element interconnected. Plants, animals, and other living organisms can utilise waste products. Environmental degradation can have detrimental effects on people, so it’s crucial to take specific actions to prevent it. This includes using resources wisely and recycling used items as the main tasks.

What are the Factors of a Balanced Ecosystem?

The community of living (biotic) species interacts with the environment’s non-living (abiotic) components in a healthy ecosystem.
Precipitation, temperature, terrain, sunlight, soil, water chemistry, and moisture are examples of abiotic aspects of ecosystems.
Primary producers like plants, primary consumers like herbivores, secondary consumers like carnivores, omnivores that eat both plants and animals and detritivores that eat decomposing organic debris are the different biotic elements that make up a healthy ecosystem.
For survival, biotic factors depend on abiotic variables.
Plants need a certain combination of temperature, moisture, and soil chemistry to survive. These plants provide food for the animals.
An ecosystem can be upset by anything that changes any one of its components, forcing species to evolve or perish.

Human Activities that Affect the Ecological Balance

Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere, which we need to survive. Cutting down trees to make space for new companies owing to an increase in population has thrown the ecological system out of balance and decreased the amount of oxygen in the air.
The greenhouse effect and other related human activities are thought to cause global warming, defined as an increase in the Earth’s surface temperature. It causes the ice caps to melt, which leads to rising sea levels and other natural disasters like cyclones and tsunamis.
As a result of habitat loss, it is getting harder for species to survive. Land may become available as a result of deforestation, but animals are left homeless.
Our natural system has undergone tremendous change and imbalance as a result of urbanisation.
Non-native species that significantly alter or disturb the ecosystems they colonise are referred to as invasive species, also known as introduced species, alien species, or exotic species. Such species may migrate naturally to new locations, but the activity of other species frequently brings them in. The most frequent methods for invasive plants, animals, microorganisms, and other species to spread to new ecosystems are thought to be human activities like those involved in international trade and the pet trade.

How to Maintain Ecological Balance? The Solution Lies with Us!

Throughout the cycle of life on Earth, organisms and their surroundings are delicately balanced. The sun’s energy is used by plants, which later provide food for other animals. The cycle continues as plant and animal life forms perish and are eaten by germs. But this cycle of life is in danger due to human misuse of natural resources and ecosystem destruction from pollution.

Here are three ways to maintain ecological balance –

1. Proper Management of Natural Resources

The ecosystem is under increasing stress as civilisation develops. Natural resources like minerals, fossil fuels, and other things are disappearing at an alarming rate. Loss of biodiversity brought on by overfishing and habitat destruction will adversely impact the ecosystem. Species are at risk of going extinct due to habitat loss or misuse. This is evident in marine ecosystems, where the extinction of a few species threatens the entire ecosystem’s survival. Ecological equilibrium will be preserved and protected with the support of a concerted effort to utilise natural resources sustainably.

2. Population Control and Management

Predators keep species from becoming overpopulated in the natural world. Sadly, no natural predators can regulate the population of humans. To manage the population, both individual and governmental action is required. This topic is crucial despite the issue’s emotional, cultural, or religious sensitivity. In the same way that having too many fish in your aquarium contaminates the water, having too many people in the world can disturb the ecological equilibrium. The Earth’s population expanded to 5 billion people between 1927 and 1987. The world’s population peaked in 1999 at 6 billion, and by 2050, it’s predicted that there will be around 9 billion people on the planet. By lowering the rate at which individuals consume natural resources, family planning and birth control will lessen the strain on the ecosystem.

3. Protect the Water

The equilibrium of marine ecosystems is threatened by pollution from sewage, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff. Runoff from farms and sewers can have a variety of negative consequences on the ecology. The ecological equilibrium can be preserved by decreasing or removing pollution from nonpoint sources like roadways and fields. The rapid growth of algae in lakes and streams can be brought on by sewage and fertiliser runoff from agricultural operations. Algae blooms obstruct sunlight and reduce water oxygen levels. As a result, marine ecology has fewer naturally occurring plant species. Animals that consume the plants perish, which causes animals that eat them to perish.

Furthermore, unlock the secrets to environmental stewardship with our expert essay assistance, guiding you through the critical issues and solutions shaping the future of our planet. Empower your voice for change and champion sustainability with our comprehensive environment essay help .

Everyone can get involved in the subject of preserving the natural balance. No matter how small, you have the ability to contribute to preserving the fragile balance of the Earth’s ecology. Recycle to lessen the use of natural resources excessively. Choose vehicles and appliances with higher energy efficiency to conserve energy. Less energy use results in less pollution and less coal being used to power the world and the country. Encourage your family and friends to live daily lives with an awareness of the environment. Many people working together can help by preserving ecological equilibrium, just as many hands make light work.

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A medieval painting shows three figures: one holds a balance scale, weighing objects; two robed figures stand nearby. There are coins on the table and intricate border details.

From Jacobus de Cessolis’s Le Jeu des échecs moralisé, MS392; late 13th century. Courtesy the University of Chicago Library

Reimagining balance

In the middle ages, a new sense of balance fundamentally altered our understanding of nature and society.

by Joel Kaye + BIO

We speak today of balanced performances, balanced tastes, balanced mental states, balances of power – the balance of nature itself. In all these cases, balance holds a valence so positive that it approaches an unquestioned ideal. The sense we have of its presence or absence in large measure determines our judgment of what is right or wrong, ordered or disordered, beneficial or destructive, safe or dangerous. Its opposite, imbalance, almost invariably signals sickness and malfunction. When we stop to think about it, we can recognise the enormous breadth of meaning we attach to our sense of balance, but we might also recognise, with some surprise, just how little we actually do think about it.

The same was true for the Middle Ages. Despite the central place that the ideal of balance occupied in virtually every area of medieval thought, it was almost never questioned or problematised as a topic in itself. And this raises a question: why did it, and why is it still, almost invisible as a subject of historical analysis?

I can suggest two reasons. The first is that our recognition of balance’s great importance to our psychological, intellectual and social life tends to encourage a biological and hence essentialist understanding of it. Balance is balance: we all know what we mean by it, we all trust our sense of it, we never imagine that this sense is changing, or even that it can change. For this reason, it is difficult for us to think of it in historical terms, as determined within specific cultural contexts, or as changing over time.

The second, equally relevant, is that balance lies beneath the level of conscious awareness . It is tied to a generalised sense , a wordless awareness , a diffuse feeling for how things properly work together or fit together in the world, extending all the way down to our discomfort when we see a picture hanging unevenly on a wall.

For this reason, I have argued that, rather than serving as the subject of thought, balance has traditionally served as the un-worded but pervasive ground of thought, exercising its great influence beneath the surface of conscious recognition. For the historian who has become aware of balance as an historical subject in itself, the first problem, then, is how to recognise the changes that have occurred to and within this un-worded sense over historical time. The second is how to uncover and reveal the profound intellectual effects these changes have made possible.

Between approximately 1250 and 1375, a manifestly new sense of what balance is, and can be, emerged. When projected onto the workings of the world, this new sense transformed the ways the workings of both nature and society could be seen, comprehended and explained. The result was a momentous break with the intellectual past, opening up striking new vistas of imaginative and speculative possibility.

The group of medieval scholars whose speculations most clearly reflected this new modelling of balance occupied the very pinnacle of their intellectual culture – brilliant innovators whose ideas stand out today for their boldness and their forward-looking elements. Indeed, the innovations these scholars pioneered, and the new sense and model of balance that made this innovation possible, provided both a first view of, and a fundamental foundation for, the emergence of modern science.

I speak of ‘models of balance’ because even though the complex sense of balance remained un-worded in the pre-modern period, it was far from unstructured. These models were (and still are) composed of a cluster of interlocking assumptions, perceptions and intuitions, characterised by a high degree of interior reflectivity and internal cohesion. Within any given intellectual culture, and at any given period in history, they possess a degree of internal order and organisation sufficient to allow them to be experienced as unified wholes , which adds greatly to their potential to influence the thinking mind. Though a product of history, they are felt to be ‘natural’, which further facilitates their absorption and acceptance.

Medieval Latin contained no word that maps seamlessly onto our modern notions of balance. ‘Equality’ (Latin, aequalitas ) was the word that came closest, with the caveat that there were major differences between the meanings attached to their ‘equality’ and ours. Especially relevant in scholastic circles from the 13th century on was the capacity for aequalitas to express the idea of a complex proportional balance dynamically maintained between multiple elements of different weights and values, rather than the clear, exact and knowable one-to-one equation of previous generations. Moreover, they came to imagine the possibility that proportional equality could be maintained even within multi-parted systems in continuous change and motion . For example, they applied the word aequalitas to the complex proportional balance maintained within the working parts of the human body; to the political ideal of civic balance, sought and re-sought between multiple competing groups and interests within the civitas ; to the ever-shifting proportional balance achieved between buyers and sellers bargaining freely in the marketplace; and all the way to the proportional balance that governs the moving order of Earthly nature and the cosmos itself.

Along with these expanded definitions of aequalitas , shared by an elite group of university scholars, the new modelling of balance came to encompass the intuition and idea that the created world was composed of a series of complex working systems, each capable of ordering and equalising itself internally, entirely through the dynamic interactions of their ever-shifting parts, and doing so (in a crucial departure for this period) in the absence of any overarching or all-directing master Intelligence. This particular model of balance, which emerged c 1250-1350, represents the earliest clear anticipation of the modern scientific understanding of the word ‘equilibrium’, and hence I refer to it as ‘the new model of equilibrium’.

Relativity replaced hierarchy as the key to comprehending order and identity in both nature and human society

These are the six most characteristic, impactful and historically important components of the new model of equilibrium:

Where formerly balance had been viewed as a precondition of existence, whether instilled into Creation by an all-knowing and all-powerful God, or inherent to nature and ‘natural order’ as asserted in the writings of Aristotle , now the focus shifted to the visualisation and exploration of complex functioning systems in which balance / aequalitas was imagined as an aggregate product , resulting less from any pre-existent plan than from the interior interaction of their multiple moving parts.
Within the newly conceived self-balancing system, values and natures formerly fixed in their place by God or by nature were now assumed to be fluid and changeable, ever-shifting in relation to their changing position and function within the systematic whole.
As this occurred, in what represented a huge intellectual break with the medieval past, relativity replaced hierarchy as the key to comprehending order and identity in both nature and human society. The working system was reconceived as a fluid relational field , with no hierarchical top or bottom, beginning or end.
In the new way of imagining the working system , expanding and contracting lines replaced points as the basis of structure and activity, and concern with the details of continuous motion and change (now amenable to geometric representation) replaced the traditional search for essences and perfections.
Given the recognition of the system’s ever-moving and shifting parts, the goal of full knowledge was abandoned in favour of relying on estimations and approximations , which were now recognised as the only ways that entities undergoing continual change can be measured and known.
The inescapable indeterminism of the new relational model opened the door to accepting the philosophical legitimacy of reasoning in terms of probabilities and applying these to comprehend the workings of nature and society.

I t is clear from this list just how complex and many-faceted the new model of balance was and how utterly intertwined were its elements. When a constellation of intellectual elements link to form a meaning-web of such complexity and reflectivity, its weight and potential impact on thought is multiplied far beyond the sum of its parts. The model becomes more than a collection – it becomes, in medieval terms, a ‘unity’ (Latin, unitas ), which is to say, a coherent and cohesive whole. As such, it possesses a characteristic feel and even a characteristic rhythm, which can be literally sensed, even if it remains beneath the level of consciousness. It is, in short, the sensual presence possessed by models of balance that allows them their great weight and sway in the minds of the most sensitive and perceptive thinkers in every culture. Over the period 1250 to 1375, those intellectuals who came to sense and then apply the new model of equilibrium to their speculations, could see things, imagine things, and speculate on things that those who had not simply could not.

In searching for the factors underlying the emergence of the new model of equilibrium, there are four of primary importance: the influence of particular educational settings (in this case, the highly evolved setting of the medieval university); the influence of authoritative texts (often from the Greek and Roman past); the influence of major technological developments; and the lived experience of particular socioeconomic environments, especially those undergoing rapid and often destabilising change. Here I can only treat what I consider to be the most important of these in the period under consideration – the factor sine qua non – and that is the rapidly changing reality and perception of economic life in the cities of 13th- and 14th-century Europe.

The intellectual attempt to make sense of the complex processes of equalisation taking place in the urban marketplace in this period, following a century of unprecedented economic expansion on many fronts, almost required the imagination of new forms of balance and equilibrium. In retrospect, it is not surprising that the first university writings in which the new model of equilibrium appears nearly fully formed are late-13th-century scholastic attempts to comprehend the logic of commercial exchange in the urban marketplace. But rather than seeing the intellectual impact of this socioeconomic factor as unique to this time period, I would argue that in every culture and every historical period – including today – dominant forms of economic exchange shape the cultural modelling of balance on the deepest level.

The slightest knowable inequality in exchange was associated with the mortal sin of usury

In virtually every philosophical, theological and legal text on the subject of economic activity written in the Middle Ages (and for centuries following), the required goal of all forms of exchange was defined as the establishment of an equality between exchangers. Writers termed this required goal ‘ aequalitas ’, and the identification of this word with the sense of achieving proper balance is fully apparent in the metaphors they applied. Scholastic writers universally identified the process of economic exchange as a complex process of balancing toward the goal of equalisation , even as, by the mid-13th century, they were coming to recognise that, in many cases, this economic ‘equality’ could be understood only as proportionally rather than numerically equal, as approximate rather than precisely knowable, and as shifting with respect to ever-changing circumstances in the marketplace, rather than fixed.

At the same time, however, and following the same logic that insisted on the maintenance of balance/ aequalitas in all forms of exchange, the production of the slightest knowable inequality in exchange was associated with the mortal sin of usury, which was continually and vehemently condemned over the whole of the Middle Ages. At the root of traditional usury theory lay the demand for the maintenance of a perfect one-to-one equality between exchangers: for the lender to demand back from the borrower even one penny more in return was defined as manifest usury. This remained the case even as, beginning in the 12th century, huge advances in the economic areas of monetisation, commercialisation, urbanisation and market development transformed the economic landscape of Europe – a transformation so profound that modern historians now routinely use the term ‘Commercial Revolution of the Middle Ages’ to refer to it.

With the implacable opposition to the inequality of usury as background over this entire period, leading scholars at the great universities of Paris and Oxford in the 13th century (including highly renowned Church lawyers and Christian theologians) nevertheless continued to expand their recognition that, in the broad areas of commerce, economic value is, for the most part, shifting and relational , rather than fixed and ordered to any hierarchy recognisable within God’s plan. They saw that the inescapable uncertainties surrounding most everyday exchanges vitiated any possibility that an exact and knowable one-to-one equality (or perfect balance) could be required between participants, much less enforced, as usury theory demanded.

Despite this, those who were coming to grips with the actual relativity and variability of economic value expressed confidence that a newly proportionalised, relativised and ever-shifting aequalitas could represent a legitimate form of exchange, side by side with the older and much stricter one-to-one form. No one at the time (or for centuries after) recognised the full implications of this development. As a totally unintended consequence, the ever-multiplying speed, volume and complexity of commercial and market exchange over the 12th and 13th centuries had the historic effect of pressuring, stretching and ultimately reshaping the notion of aequalitas itself and, with it, the un-worded sense of what balance is and can look like.

M any passages from economic writings in this period can be seen to illustrate this point. Consider the case of Godfrey of Fontaines. Faced with the continually debated question of what might properly constitute aequalitas in exchange (with the charge of usury always in the background), Godfrey was one of a number of philosopher-theologians teaching at the University of Paris who were coming to an intriguing conclusion. True, he admits, in most contracts of buying and selling, neither party can ever know, for certain, the value of the goods they are exchanging. Nor can they know, at the time of exchange, which party might benefit more from the exchange in the long term. Doubt, he recognises, is inescapable. Yet Godfrey was suddenly able to imagine, and to argue, that the very condition of shared uncertainty in itself produces an aequalitas sufficient to render exchanges licit and non-usurious. The unshakeable requirement for aequalitas in exchange has been met, he argues, as long as there exists an equal measure of doubt on the part of both buyer and seller .

When the requirement for equality in exchange can be satisfied by the equality of doubt it contains, and when a satisfactory exchange equality is established merely by the willingness of all parties to assume a similar doubt at a similar price, we have achieved a new, protean and potent understanding of both aequalitas and the potentialities of balance itself – one that had been vastly expanded over that of previous centuries.

Further expansion soon followed, as evidenced by a remarkable treatise on usury and contracts of sale authored in the 1290s by the eminent Franciscan philosopher-theologian Peter of John Olivi. Olivi’s treatise On Buying and Selling, On Usury, and On Restitution contains literally dozens of prescient economic insights. But even more remarkable than his individual insights was his unification of them within an overarching rationale – one that was sufficiently capacious , both to comprehend, and to theologically justify, some of the most dynamic economic realities of his day.

To give but one example: medieval writers employed many rationalisations to condemn usury and to insist that any violation of one-to-one equality in the loan is tantamount to a violation of both the divine and the natural order. Of these rationalisations, the most common held that money is inert and sterile by its nature and, therefore, for money to grow by itself or to multiply itself still represents a clear violation of the natural order, instituted by God. This understanding, supported by the philosophical authority of Aristotle, was fully supported by the early Church Fathers and enshrined in Church law. In reading Olivi, however, it soon becomes clear that he has arrived at a striking new understanding of the dynamic of monetised exchange in his society, and that at the core of this new understanding lay a reconceptualisation of aequalitas itself .

This is a clear vision of market exchange as a self-balancing system in dynamic equilibrium

To illustrate this here, I can present only one of his exceptional economic insights: his definition of ‘capital’ or what he calls capitale . In utter contrast to traditional claims for the sterility of all money, Olivi asserts that money, when in the form of commercial capital , is naturally fruitful, expansive and capable of multiplying, in its essence. When he first enunciates this principle, he writes:

money, which in the firm intent of its [merchant] owner is directed toward the production of probable profit , possesses … a kind of seminal cause of profit within itself that we commonly call capitale . And therefore it possesses not only its simple numerical value as money-measure, but in addition, a superadded value.

Merchants, he writes, not only presuppose that this superadded value ‘truly’ exists within capitale as the ‘seed’ of its fruitfulness, but he recognises that they are also skilled in rationally estimating the changing degree of this fruitfulness, as expressed in the continual rise and fall of its borrowing price, as commercial outlooks change from day to day.

Furthermore, since Olivi has come to recognise that it is the very nature of capital to multiply, he judges that merchants who buy and sell money for a fluctuating agreed-upon price do so without committing a sin against either nature or God, and thus, without committing the sin of usury. In Olivi’s judgment, rather than being condemned, these merchants should now be seen to satisfy the traditional requirement for balance/ aequalitas in exchange – but only, of course, as he has now come to imagine, define and apply it.

Olivi’s revaluation of merchant capitale represents only one out of many in his Tractatus , in which he stretches the bounds of economic aequalitas beyond anything imagined before the mid-13th century. Taken together, the principles he enunciates to rationalise this new sense articulate virtually all the major elements constituting the new model of equilibrium.

At its base is a clear vision of market exchange as a self-balancing system in dynamic equilibrium, in which the free interchange of individual exchangers, each desiring the unequal goal of buying cheap and selling dear, produces – somehow – not only a balance/ aequalitas between individual exchangers but, far beyond this, a balance/equilibrium that extends to the systematic whole of the urban marketplace. The end result was a remodelling of aequalitas itself, and hence of balance itself, in the direction of a new vision of the potentialities of systematic equilibrium: shifting, relational, multi-proportional and knowable at best through approximation and probability – a direction that had been literally unimaginable in European culture for centuries past.

C onsider now the ways of seeing and comprehending the world that the intuition of the new model of equilibrium made possible. I can follow here only a single fertile example taken from the realm of natural philosophy in the area we today recognise as geology.

Jean Buridan was an honoured teacher in the School of the Arts at the University of Paris from the late 1320s through the 1350s, and among the greatest philosophers of his time. Many of his writings reveal what had become newly possible to think, to envision and to imagine by the first half of the 14th century, as a result of the new modelling of balance in the direction of equilibrium. At the beginning of his Commentary to Book 2 of Aristotle’s treatise On the Heavens , and in response to a seemingly minor observation of Aristotle’s, Buridan raises a question with large implications: ‘Whether the whole of the Earth is habitable?’

He recognises that three-quarters of the Earth’s surface lies below the sea, while only one-quarter lies above and is habitable for humans. To the extent that there was a traditional Christian position on his question, it held that the portion of habitable Earth had remained roughly the same since creation, planned that way by a benevolent God, or by benevolent nature, to serve the benefit of humankind. But Buridan is not satisfied with this. Although he is both a devout Christian and a deeply committed Aristotelian (as are nearly all the leading university scholars in his day), he looks for his answer here not in God’s fiat nor in what Aristotle had to say (or not say) on the subject. Rather, throughout this question, he relies heavily on his own observations and powers of reasoning, and his own sense of physical possibility, in which his sense of balance plays a major part. He then reasons that, given the spherical nature of the Earth, and given that all earth falls naturally toward the Earth’s centre (as Aristotle maintained), and given the great over-abundance of water with respect to land and, finally, assuming along with Aristotle that the Universe is eternal, he is led to ask why, in the fullness of time, should any portion of land remain dry above the waters and habitable?

One possibility Buridan raises is that the Earth’s highly uneven surface renders its mountainous heights insurmountable by water. But he quickly dismisses this on the basis of what he has observed with his own eyes: the process that we today call erosion. All streams, he writes, continually carry bits of earth ever downward to the sea – and this takes place perpetually, even at the summits of the highest mountains. ‘Thus,’ he concludes, ‘through an infinite time these mountains ought to be wholly consumed and reduced to a sphere [beneath the waters].’

He views the totality of geological displacement over eternity as a grand self-balancing system

There are a number of startling assumptions here. Buridan’s eternal world is about as far as you can get from the biblical time-world of 6,000 years or so that medieval people are generally supposed to have accepted without question. But thinking in Aristotelian eternal time rather than Christian time, Buridan projects that, if erosion continues over eternity, then even the highest mountain will eventually be washed into the sea. But more striking still, he reasons that if the world really is eternal, as Aristotle asserts, then all the earth that was once above the waters has already been washed into the sea.

Having concluded this, based on observation, logic and his sense of physical possibility, Buridan is faced first with the problem of explaining the continued existence of any dry land whatsoever into the present. And then he takes on a yet-harder intellectual task: given that he sees erosion as an eternal process, and given that therefore every portion of dry land will eventually be taken into the sea, he tries to imagine a physical system that can explain not only why some dry land will be continually preserved, but why the same exact proportion of dry land will remain eternally constant at one quarter above the sea to three-quarters below, as he has assumed it is at present. But how would this be possible?

To answer this question, indeed, even to ask this question, Buridan imagines the whole of Earthly nature as an integrated physical system in dynamic equilibrium (to put it in modern terms). He then invents an elaborate physical explanation, which, as he writes, ‘seems probable to me and by means of which all appearances could be perpetually saved.’ He views the totality of geological displacement over eternity as a grand self-balancing system, functioning entirely on physical principles. Heat and cold cause evaporation and condensation, which in turn differentially rarefy and condense earth and water, which results in a continual interchange between relatively light particles of earth coming to the surface of the water, while relatively heavy particles descend to the depths.

As a consequence, he speculates that while parts of earth are being continually washed into the sea at multiple parts of the globe, an identical quantity of earth is being raised above the circle of the waters at other parts, eventually accumulating there to produce the very same mountainous heights that are being worn down elsewhere. Indeed, he explains the current existence of high mountains on Earth as the natural product of the perpetual cycle of erosion and accumulation in eternal equilibrium.

W e can easily superimpose the one-to-one form of the mechanical balance on Buridan’s model here: as one mountain slowly disintegrates and disappears under water due to erosion, another slowly accumulates and rises somewhere else on the globe, in perfectly balanced measure. Buridan, however, envisions not one active balance, but a near-infinity of them, covering the whole of the shifting Earth over all eternity. His model of activity is purely relational, driven by its own internal logic, and governed by his new sense of physical necessity.

It begins with recognisable elements from Aristotelian physics, but there is something deeper within it that pulls and pushes the pieces into a new formal arrangement, allowing him to reimagine the quantity of earth above the waters at any moment as an aggregate product of systematic activity in perpetual equilibrium, rather than the result of a purposeful order, minutely managed by an overarching Intelligence. The deeper element underlying Buridan’s profound re-imagining and re-thinking here is not a concrete, expressible idea of balance (which he never mentions) but rather, as I have argued, a charged new sense of the potentialities of balance, active beneath the level of conscious recognition. And yet it is capable of literally moving the Earth and, in the process, radically redefining how the natural world works and succeeds in maintaining itself in order.

Here we can see the great Aristotelian commentator thinking in ways that had previously been unthinkable. Also previously unthinkable was Olivi’s re-visioning of commercial capital as naturally and essentially fertile, fruitful and expansive, when previously in this culture the idea of money as fertile had been forcefully condemned as monstrously ‘unnatural’. But how does the definition of what is ‘natural’ shift radically within an intellectual culture? How does the unthinkable become thinkable – the unimaginable imaginable? What is it that causes vital new questions to rise to the surface and potent new answers to be envisaged and argued? Each of these transformations (and more) appear in field after field of knowledge between 1250 and 1350, pioneered by those thinkers who shared in the intuition of the new model of equilibrium.

This has led me to conclude that a focus on the history of balance, and a close analysis of the varying constellation of elements that constitute emerging models of balance, can become a potent new tool of historical study, particularly when addressed to major ideas that have proven to be exceptionally innovative and fruitful. And my strong supposition is that this is true not only for medieval intellectual culture, but for other cultures and other time periods as well, right into our present.

President Eisenhower and Kwame Nkrumah talking. Nkrumah is wearing traditional African attire and pointing at Eisenhower, who is wearing a suit.

Global history

The route to progress

Anticolonial modernity was founded upon the fight for liberation from communists, capitalists and imperialists alike

Frank Gerits

Handwritten notes in black ink on an open notebook, with red and black corrections.

Thinkers and theories

Paper trails

Husserl’s well-tended archive has given him a rich afterlife, while Nietzsche’s was distorted by his axe-grinding sister

Peter Salmon

Medieval manuscript illustration of a goat and a person holding a disc, with gold circles in the background, surrounded by text in Latin script.

Philosophy of mind

The problem of erring animals

Three medieval thinkers struggled to explain how animals could make mistakes – and uncovered the nature of nonhuman minds

Elderly couple holding hands while standing in the street. The woman holds a colourful fan partially covering her face. A man in casual attire walks by on the right. Two trees and a white building with large windows are in the background, with three people looking out of one of the windows.

Moral progress is annoying

You might feel you can trust your gut to tell right from wrong, but the friction of social change shows that you can’t

Daniel Kelly & Evan Westra

Black and white photograph depicts a flood with rising water levels in a residential area. Strong currents and waves are visible, and houses in the background are partially submerged. Floodwater covers much of the landscape, with a lone tree and partial wooden structure in the foreground.

The disruption nexus

Moments of crisis, such as our own, are great opportunities for historic change, but only under highly specific conditions

Roman Krznaric

Image of M87 galaxy showing a bright yellowish central core with a jet of blue plasma extending outward into space. The background is filled with faint stars and a hazy, brownish hue

History of science

His radiant formula

Stephen Hawking’s greatest legacy – a simple little equation now 50 years old – revealed a shocking aspect of black holes

Roger Highfield

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