9. On Humans having Dominion over the Natural World
Written on 11.9.26, 2026
Prelude
On 26 April 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, exploded, resulting in dozens of direct casualties and thousands of immediate and long-term health problems. The high dose of radiation also seriously affected the health of local fauna and flora. An exclusion zone, covering 2,800 square km, was established around the site. Forty years later, this is one of the largest and most successful nature reserves in mainland Europe, a haven for wildlife, with lynx, bison, deer and other animals roaming through dense forests. All this is thanks to the absence of human activity in the region.
Reality
Religious teachings inform us that the creator of the universe has granted us 'dominion' over all living things or on the planet or, more benevolently, that we are responsible for the stewardship and protection of the planet's natural world. Hallelujah! Except that, as so often happens with religious doctrine, reality is not so obliging.
Our species, homo sapiens, appeared around 300,000 years ago, while life itself was present for 3.8 billion years, and complex multicellular organisms for 600 million years. Over that period, the whole planet became populated by an astonishing array of complex life forms, all without the participation of human beings. And the natural world would still fare just as well now, if not better, without them. Moreover, it will continue to do so after we've made our exit, either because of some disaster due to nature itself or because of our own folly.
No, it is abundantly clear that we are not custodians of the world of living things. Our very presence is bad for the fauna and flora with whom we share our planet. It has to be that way so that we may survive and thrive. Hence, it is our individual and collective responsibility to minimise the damage and destruction that our existence inevitable wreaks on the environment and the living world. And this includes refraining from inflicting needless suffering and death on our fellow creatures.
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