definition of nature
The Oxford English Dictionary Redefines the Meaning of 'Nature’
When you hear the word "nature," what comes to mind? Many people probably imagined flowers and trees, oceans, forests, and wild animals. But did you picture humans within that image of nature? Even if you imagined humans in nature, most people probably didn’t think humans are also part of nature.
British environmental activist Frieda Gormley first heard the dictionary definition of "nature" at a conference held at the Eden Project, a botanical garden and conservation center in Cornwall, in 2023. The definition, based on the Oxford English Dictionary, was as follows: “the phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations.”
Upon further investigation, Gormley discovered that all major English dictionaries in both the UK and the US defined "nature" as something separate from humans and human-made creations. This kind of definition reinforces the idea that humans are in opposition to nature and separate from it, which has accelerated environmental problems. This led Gormley to launch a campaign called We Are Nature, which seeks to revise the definition of "nature" in dictionaries to include humans and give the word a broader meaning.
Gormley then began working with Lawyers for Nature, a group who advocates for issues regarding protecting the natural world. During this process, the activists realized the importance of redefining humanity's very existence. Today, many people think of "humans" and "nature" as two separate things. However, by revising and improving our definition of the word nature, we can be prompted to focus on humanity’s impacts on the natural world.
Redefining the word nature could help emphasize the many interactions between humans and other organisms. This could help represent how necessary it is for humans to coexist with other organisms to create a more harmonious way of living. Understanding nature and its interactions allow us to understand how to sustainably coincide with other organisms.