Date: Thu, 16 May 96 12:58:28 GMT
Subject: Domination of Nature


> 
> The idea that "advancement" means "dominating" nature, I'm none too
> sure about.  I know that's a common idea, but much of our alleged
> control of nature has actually backfired upon us.  The "control" and
> channelization of the Mississippi has just resulted in _larger_
> floods, although less frequent, for instance.  The very high
> productivity of US agriculture has deeply depleted ancient water
> tables, degraded the soil and resulted in massive loss of topsoil to
> erosion, etc.
> 
> I suspect the idea of humans "controlling" and "dominating" nature is
> part of the ideology of technical "progress" that is invoked to
> justify many nasty, anti-socialist things.  But I would still try to
> address the idea of "objective" progress separate from that.
> 

"Domination of nature" is like "dictatoship of the proletariat".
Unfortunately , both conjure up images of East German steel mills.

Dominating nature means understanding that if you drain a river's
flood plain to build supermarkets and grow cereals, you make
serious flooding more likely. So perhaps you might have nice leafy
meadows with lots of daffodils and bluebells instead ( to be
parochial about it ). 


Adam.


Adam Rose
SWP
Manchester
UK


---------------------------------------------------------------


     --- from list marxism2-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---