Orr Reflection

http://designshack.net/design/biophilia-

To think that society today mostly consists of people that are biophobic is alarming. I have never heard of such a word. It is sad to say that I’m a part of the generation that Woody Allen spoke of that was, “raised on television, walkman radios, and video games” (186). I enjoyed this reading that David Orr wrote about comparing biophilia and biophobia.

Biophilia is something that I believe can be acquired. I do not agree that “biophilia is innate and a sign of mental and physical health” (187). It does not make sense for those individuals that have never been exposed to nature or greenery to have an innate sense to want to be around nature. These individuals are used to the concrete life of tall buildings, smog and tons of people. I do think that if they are exposed to nature, that they may could possibly have another viewpoint on nature or acquire their own sense of nature.

I agree that Orr does not think that biophobia is okay. I think that to help evolve something like biophilia it does have to start as a child. Just as anyone would want their child to have good manners, it is something that has to be shown when a child is young or there is a possibility of trouble later in life. Children do need “more natural places, places of mystery and adventure where children can roam, explore, and imagine” (205). Places like this can help a child learn about nature and come to understanding and appreciation for it.  It is true that “children are rushed into adulthood too soon” (187). We have to think that the children of today are the future, if they are not allowed to develop of sense of nature, what will happen to our world later?

I think that biophilia is attainable and something that can help change our world for the better. We just all need to come to an understanding and realize the trouble that is happening. We need to realize that money can’t fix everything. It has to begin with the people first. Just as Orr mentioned to attain agape, we need mentanoia, which means “transformation of one’s whole being” (202). It sounds easy to say that we have love nature, but truly having a connection and feeling the love whole heartedly is a completely different thing.