The authenticity of nature: An exploration of lay people's interpretations in the Netherlands

Abstract

The human capacity to manipulate nature has increased dramatically over the last decades. The slow development of farming, gardening and breeding has been replaced by a proliferation of techniques in genetic engineering, chemical regulation and ecosystem (re)construction. The resulting blurring of the simple distinction between the human, the interactive and the natural domains has triggered societal debate and philosophical reflection. If the artifacts and topsoils of an agricultural area are removed and natural species colonize the place neatly according to plan, is that real nature? If an overactive child is sedated so as to facilitate the handling of the child, is that still the same child? If we manage a forest or a river so cleverly that the most beautiful trees and the most fishable fish spontaneously dominate the ecosystem, where then do we in fact walk and fish - in nature or in a pseudo zoo? © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.