 If you’re tired of using “green” and “eco-fill-in-the-blank,” consider going deeper into environmentalism and switch to “biophilia.” For anyone who enjoys picking apart a word, its definition is clear: a love of living things.
E.O. Wilson, the Pulitzer Prize winning author and entomologist, coined the term in his book “Biophilia”, claiming that humans possess an innate connection with and love of nature. Wilson argues that, because humans evolved as creatures who lived in nature, we possess this quality, this love for nature, and we should celebrate it. After all, humans have only lived in cities for thousands years but we have lived in nature for millions. It is only very recently in human history that our lives became separated from nature.
Wilson describes biophilia as the “innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes.” This, he claims, is why humans are so infatuated with the process of pregnancy and childbirth. This is why we garden. This is why we create anything at all, whether it’s an automobile or a piece of art. We create things because we are fascinated with the process of something starting from nothing and ending up as something.
As Wilson argues in “Biophilia,” this concept is apparent in our experiences. He bases his argument on his own experiences as a field biologist. This book, which is hard to put down, is interwoven with facts, history, philosophy, and cultural observations.
“Biophilia” has received strong praise from the environmental community. Phrases like, “intellectually playful” are used to describe this book, and it is entirely accurate. Wilson calls for conservation of biodiversity, noting in the book’s essays some of the different qualities of species that make them unique and in need of our protection. He cites leaf-cutter ants, monkeys, and even humans, as examples to demonstrate the need for the conservation and celebration of biodiversity.
“Biophilia” is a great book for anyone who’s environmentally conscious and looking for a deeper understanding of our relationship to the earths. It’s poignant, relevant, and written by one of the most forward thinking and important writers of our time.
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