This to position nature and humanity in opposition derives from both the popular rejection of the Victorian city its polluting factories and from the roots of environmentalism in saving threatened spe

The idea that nature and humanity are in opposition is a relatively recent development in human history. It has its roots in the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, when cities became crowded and polluted with the smoke and waste products of factories. This led to a popular rejection of urban life and a romanticization of the natural world as a place of purity and beauty.

At the same time, concerns about the loss of wildlife and habitat were becoming increasingly urgent. The extinction of the passenger pigeon in 1914, for example, was a wake-up call for many people about the fragility of the natural world and the need to protect it from human exploitation.

These two strands of thought – the rejection of the city and the preservation of nature – came together in the early environmental movement. In the 1960s and 70s, activists began to draw attention to the ways in which human activity was damaging the environment and threatening the survival of species and ecosystems.

The idea of nature and humanity as opposing forces has been a powerful and influential one, but it is also problematic. It overlooks the ways in which humans have always been a part of nature and have shaped it in countless ways. It also suggests that there is a fundamental conflict between human needs and the needs of the natural world, when in fact these two things are often intertwined.

Today, many environmentalists are working to promote a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between humans and the natural world. They recognize that we are not separate from nature, but rather a part of it, and that our wellbeing is intimately connected to the health of the planet. By working to protect and restore ecosystems, they hope to create a world in which humans and nature can thrive together