Nicole Taikeff Gabela

Colegio Menor San Francisco de Quito

June, 2014


ABSTRACT

When humans first obtained the power to rule over the natural world, an artificial
deterioration began. Destruction was not part of a volcano or a flood; it was a car or a
fabric. The harmonious relationship between humans and nature was broken down as
they transcended through the animal kingdom. With thoughts from Immanuel Kant and
Mary Wollstonecraft, the effects yielded by this rupture are supported. They evidence
the Why of the human egocentrism and manipulation, also known as anthropocentrism.
This concept states that humans think they are the center of the universe, and they act as
if it was (Merriam Webster, 2014). Throughout time, not only has Earth been
decimated, but also the human mind has become part of this destructive process. Taoists
still preserve a connection to nature and glorify its pureness through perception. Few are
the ones who preserve this harmonious relationship with nature by using their senses to
act collectively and with sensibility.










i


TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract i
Chapter 1: Ingredients
Introduction 1
Western Philosophy 1
Eastern Philosophy 3
Conclusion 3
Chapter 2: Mixture
Introduction 4
Equality 5
Freedom 5
Perception 6
Conclusion 6
Chapter 3: Tasting
Introduction 8
Short-term Role 8
Long-term Role 9
Role in Community and the World 9
Conclusion 10

Appendix 11









Chapter 1: Ingredients
Introduction
I study at a liberal arts school that has a curriculum composed of distinct
ideologies. My growth as a student depends on the diverse pool of ideas that my school
provides me. Western philosophy has been to me a major source of knowledge due to
philosophies such as those from Joseph Kant and Mary Wollstonecraft, but the
implementation of Eastern philosophy to my studies has inclined my beliefs to both
forms of thought. After learning about Western ideas, I soon began to appreciate
Eastern ones because they complement each other as the first one emphasizes the
human being, while the latter focuses on the world of nature.
Western Philosophy
As a teenager, I question everything. I question about existence, love, honor,
nostalgia, death, and many other concepts that tumble in my mind. However,
questioning creates in me a sense of frustration. I chose Immanuel Kant and Mary
Wollstonecraft as the philosophers who influence me the most because they are Western
thinkers who fill the pores of doubt that I carry with me. When I studied Kant, I learned
about his major idea: things-in-itself. He states that there are two worlds: the one
which is perceived and the one which is real. In other words, the first world is made
from Phenomena (the known elements) and the latter is made from Noumena (the
unknowable elements). With both of these concepts, Kant restates that things are
appearances and if we do not perceive them, they do not exist. This is why Noumena
represents how limited our mind is because we cannot know what we will not know
(nor perceive).
Kant is also well known for his concepts of morality. He enhances the importance
of freedom for which he states freedom is reason that can be applied to the empirical


world (Matchman, 2014). This means, that a person should have freedom to judge his
or her surroundings for things to exist. Without experience, in other words, without
judgment, things could not exist. Everything happens for a reason. Everything,
according to Kant, may exist if it has a reason (Matchman, 2014). All of these beliefs
have been influential to me, as well as those from a western, female philosopher.
Mary Wollstonecrafts philosophy has also impacted the way I think about
society. Being the Mother of Feminism, she has led me to delve into her logic. When
she wrote about oppression she said that a victim, that projected his or her self, was not
to be blame because he or she had such a condition due to its oppressors oppression.
With this being said, women where not to be blame for being ignorant or weak because
their oppressors, men, did not give them access to education or autonomy. She actually
calls women the Slaves of Injustice (Wollstonecraft, 1792). In addition to all of her
studies about womens autonomy and right for education, critics argued that she had
contradictory thoughts about a womens being. Her first writings show that she
considered sensibility as a womans glory and advantage during motherhood. However,
then she shifted and stated that it was a sign of weakness. Finally, she recapitulated her
ideas and said that women have two sides that define who they are. She wrote about
womens emotional neediness and (...) [womens] wish for independence (Todd,
2011). The first one expressed the idea of companionship and romance, and the second
one, the search for autonomy and education. Having both sides should not be the culprit
of freedom. Women as well as men are humans that are free to be who they are
(Tomaselli, 2013). Those that are oppressed are shunned from showing their capacities,
and then they become weak and ignorant individuals that depend on their oppressors to
survive. Oppression, in general, follows a similar trend. Oppressors diminish their
victims existence into rubbles of stone



Eastern Philosophy
Immanuel Kant and Mary Wollstonecraft are both Western thinkers that I feel
attracted to because their philosophies have answered numerous questions I constantly
ask to myself about humanity. However, besides humanity, nature plays a key role in
my life. Since I have been learning about Eastern philosophy from eighth grade to this
day, I could directly relate many of its ideologies to what I have thought about nature.
For this reason, Taoism has been one of the ideological trends that have impacted me
the most. Nature, according to Taoism, is the only phenomena with a perfect balance.
Between organisms there is a unity and spontaneity that constitutes a harmonious
atmosphere. Everything functions as a whole; therefore, opposites are part of the same
whole. The Ying and Yang, for example, explicitly represents this belief. Female, cold
elements are bounded to male, warm elements. Both, as a whole, continually flow
within the processes of nature. Taoists stated that there is a constant transformation and
change of elements. Through observation, one could possibly be witness of such cycles:
the continuity of nature functions harmoniously along with each and every organism as
a one (Capra, 1991).
Conclusion
Both forms of thought, Eastern and Western, have impacted society differently.
Today, as globalization takes place, philosophies of the east have invaded western
culture, and vice versa. This heterogeneous mixture of ideas for me includes Taoism,
Kant, and Wollstonecraft. Even though, they seem unrelated because they arise from
opposite cultures, I find that they complement each other harmoniously and could work
as one. As a whole, they work for me as one philosophy. I feel that one covers what I
question about humanity, while the other covers what I question about nature.



Chapter 2: Mixture

Introduction

Around 10,000 years ago, the first forms of human control over nature began.
Agriculture was a major force that made humans settle around river valley regions and
give rise to the first civilizations of history. Humans domesticated animals as well as
plants, developed advanced tools that would have not been possible if they were
nomads, and socially, they began to divide into distinct specializations (National
Geographic Society, 2014). The first seeds of anthropocentrism were planted. Homo
sapiens sapiens were beginning to consider themselves as the center of the universe.
Today, due to their self-centering actions, people have distanced themselves from
collectivism and sensibility as they continuously manipulate the laws of nature.
Equality
Nature is a place in which all organisms are equal. They complement each others
needs because each ones role in its ecosystem, also known as niche, plays a key role in
the entire environment. For example, a sea otter is an organism that feeds on sea
urchins. If the sea otter population begins to disappear, then the sea otter population
increases. Unfortunately, the kelp forests that are home to these organisms are
drastically threatened to disappear due to the urchins (BBC, 2014). Therefore, there has
to be a harmonious interaction between species to create a perfect balance. However,
this state of nature, I must tell, is not perfect permanently. Nature is constantly trying to
attain a perfect balance. As solutes move through a cell membrane from a high
concentration to a low concentration or from a hypertonic solution to a hypotonic
solution, they try to reach equilibrium, an isotonic solution (Pearson Education, n.d.).
Human intervention in nature, unfortunately, has been detrimental to a process similar


to that of the transportation of solutes or the interaction of otters and urchins. This
means that humans have broken the natural processes or cycles of nature. In nature,
everything happens for a reason. Elements flow progressively, in circles, to reach a
balance. Kants concept of the thing-in-itself relates to this assertion in that the
phenomena, natures elements, have a reason to exist (Matchman, 2014). They are
meant to complement each other to reach a balance, which is referred by Taoists as the
perfect natural balance. In nature, opposites complement each other and work as a
whole (Capra, 1991). Organisms that are male or female are opposites, but they unite to
reproduce offspring. The sperm cell needs an egg cell and an egg cell needs a sperm
cell. This complementation is what Mary Wollstonecraft refers to sensible connection
between two distinct sides. Female and male are meant to be equal to fulfill their needs
(Tomaselli, 2013) and they are different because they have the freedom to do so. There
must be a balance between them as if it was the Ying and Yang.
Freedom
Nature gives organisms the freedom they need. Even though there are preys and
predators that are constantly competing to survive, their actions are sustainable. When
there are introversions that break with sustainability, there is a fluctuation in nature that
creates irregularities and imbalances. However, when nature is its original state,
organisms are free within it. Organisms can decide anything they want to do because the
perfect natural balance is a freeway for them to do so. Humans once had a balanced
nature in their hands, but unfortunately, they took advantage of such condition, instead
of flowing within it. Within the equilibrium of nature, organisms are not searching to
become superior as we, humans, constantly do. We are free in this system of equality in
which organisms are equaled by their sense of survival. Oppression is not present inside
natures original state. There are no oppressors or oppressed, as Mary Wollstonecraft


refers to; there are predators and preys. There are no stronger or weaker species.
According to Darwin, organisms are selected by nature (Natural Selection) due to their
capacity to survive and reproduce fertile offspring (Montogomery, 2009). This does not
mean that one organism has stronger genes than the other. It simply means that there are
some that are more suited or adapted to a specific ecosystem.
Perception
Humans should perceive in order to understand their surroundings. They could
delve into the World of the Five Sense (Kantinian concept) in order to understand what
exists, what is present, and what the limits are. If resources, such as water, are limited,
then to understand its existence would avoid its overuse. The way I perceive nature on a
daily routines basis is by running. I train in natural areas that give me the space to listen,
see, touch, and smell. It is pleasurable to observe nature as Taoists do. I can observe
changes occurring day by day in the area where I run. I see a river grow and then dry
out. Other times, I see plants flowering and the next day they have become dried shrubs.
This process of transformation is part of Taoism. Taoists have greatly contributed to
modern scientific theories (Capra, 1992). For example, elements of nature are not
destroyed nor created, they are transformed. This is the Theory of the Conservation of
Matter. Atoms are rearranged to change matter from its original state (The Free
Dictionary, 2014).
Conclusion
As we, humans, take over the world we are being ignorant of our annihilation. We
depend on the paradigms of nature, but we are breaking them and destroying our
existence. If we could sustainably live with nature then we could possibly flow with and
within it to save ourselves. As a result, harmony between organisms and their
environments could be attained and then the world could improve. The destruction


caused by our anthropocentrism could be reduced if our sense of perceiving our
surroundings was increased.



















Chapter 3: Tasting
Introduction
When humans are self-centered they ignore the fact that they are equally
important to all other species on Planet Earth. Even though, certain cognitive and
physical characteristics have separated us from other species, we also lack other
evolutionary skills that define other organisms. The ideas that make us believe we are
superior are causes of a self-destruction. If we, humans, could become more collective
and sensible with nature by reducing our sense of anthropocentrism we could possibly
save our own existence.
Short-Term Role
For years, I have been willing to become a scientist for my future professional
life. Now, that I have decided to study medicine, I have chosen to take a Major on
Biology. As I increase my contact with nature, through observation, hearing, and
touchmy perceptionI will attain a more sensitive sense of the nature that surrounds
me. Biology students are not reading books and writing paper throughout the whole
course. They are also out in the fields testing, analyzing, inferring, questioning, and
observing. As they work with nature they use techniques that are sustainable. Scientists
cannot overuse natural resources for their research.
My relationship with nature will not be between oppressor and victim, but
between daughter and mother. Nature is not an object. It is the mother of all beings.
Interestingly, in Ecuadors 2008 Constitution, the rights of nature were for the first time
in the entire human history, declared. Though, this ideas were published six years ago,
setting it in practice could be impactful not only to the country, but to the entire world.
Unfortunately, this section, known as Suma Kawsay, has not been applied (Hermida
Bustos, 2014).


Once I leave my country to study abroad I will be studying nature to comprehend
it. Through my philosophy I am willing to remind myself I have to feel nature rather
than use it. I have to perceive it and understand its existence as a system of beings.
Ignoring our ability to perceive would lead us to think about the superficial matter,
causing us to become more individualistic and insensible human beings.
Long-Term Role
For the long-term role I hope to have passed the MCAT exam and form part of a
medical school in which I begin the actual study of medicine. By this time, I should
have become a well-rounded student that has a basis on Biology and a profound
understanding on the world of nature. This is the time when I have to think about my
Kant and Wollstonecraft influences. Their ideologies cover the human side, especially
morality. The first one talked about freedom and the latter one about oppression. As a
future doctor I have to care for the freedom of people to choose where to access medical
treatment. No one should be banned from any type of medical service. In the same way,
everyone should be treated equally at a medical care center. There should be no
oppression among people.
Role in the Community and World
As I mentioned before, I aim to become a doctor, which would be my role in my
community and the world. My goal is to perceive the world by using my five senses. I
see that a one-to-one contact is important to link a doctor to its patient. Feeling,
touching, speaking, hearing, and observing are essential to understand a patients
condition. The way one perceives others is through his or her senses. In a way, one
becomes more human as contact is pure and profound among individuals. My role as a
doctor is to keep a sense of collectivism and sensibility with my patients in my
community and even my world. I have to sense humans rather than test them


systematically. We have to form part of the world of phenomena to experience our
surroundings.
Conclusion
With globalization human collectivism and sensibility diminishes. There is a loss
of a one-to-one contact between individuals; therefore, there is no perception among
them. Relationships occurring through technology are unreal. They are mere words
transferred through wires. Today, this form of communication is a life style. We are
connected to wires that limit our knowledge of the true human essence because
sensibility as well as collectivism are reduced into vestiges. When our perceptions are
limited, our knowledge is also limited. Humans begin to lose their essence as humans
get lost inside a fog of ignorance and superficiality.












REFERENCE
BBC (2014, January 21). Sea Otters: Saving Kelp Forest and Our Climate. Retrieved
June 10, 2014 from: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140121-sea-otters-our-
ocean-protectors
Capra, F. (1991). Taoism. Retrieved June 10, 2014 from: http://www.staff.uni-
giessen.de/~gk1415/taoism.htm
Matchman, D. (2014). Kant and the Thing-in-itself. Retrieved May 27th, 2014 from:
http://www.academia.edu/211479/Kant_and_the_Thing-in-itself#
Merriam Webster (2914). Anthropocentrism. Retrieved May 27th, 2014 from:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropocentric
Montgomery, S. (2009). Natural Selection. Retrieved June 10, 2014 from:
http://darwin200.christs.cam.ac.uk/pages/index.php?page_id=d3
National Geographic Society (2014). The Development on Agriculture. Retrieved June
10, 2014 from: https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/development-of-agriculture/

Pearson Education (n.d.). Concept 2 Review: Isotonic, Hypotonic, and Hypertonic
Solutions. Retrieved June 10, 2014 from:
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/biomembrane1/solutio
ns.htm
The Free Dictionary (2014). The Theory of the Conservation of Matter. Retrieved May 1,
2014: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/law+of+conservation+of+matter
Todd, J. (2011). Mary Wollstonecraft: A 'Speculative and Dissenting Spirit.' Retrieved
May 1, 2014:
from:__**http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/wollstonecraft_
01.shtml**__
Tomaselli, S (2013). Mary Wollstonecraft. Retrieved May 27, 2014 from:
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/wollstonecraft/#Rep
Wollstonecraft, M. (1792). A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Retrieved June 10,
2014 from: http://www.bartleby.com/144/13.html
Hermida Bustos, C. (2014, March 01). Sumak Kawsay. Retrieved June 10, 2014 from:
http://www.telegrafo.com.ec/opinion/columnistas/item/sumak-kawsay.html



APPENDIX A: Source Cards










SOURCE A

Billington, Ray (1997). Understanding Eastern Philosophy.
London: Routledge.

This short story is the evidence I attempt to use for the concept
of wholeness in Eastern philosophy. Even though, it is a
Hindu tale, religion and philosophy are untied as one, which
reflects the collective aspect of the type of philosophy
influencing this text.
SOURCE B

Matchman, D. (2014). Kant and the Thing-in-itself.
Retrieved May 27th, 2014 from:
http://www.academia.edu/211479/Kant_and_the_Thing-in-
itself#

This infomercial about Immanuel Kant is an overview of his
formulation on noumena, opposite of phenomena
(appearances). He approaches the real world and the
perceived world, which for me is influential. How I chose to
see the world with my 5 senses and how it actually is.
SOURCE C

Contains information about moral and political writings. We
can see her independence and strength to write about themes
that are not feminine during that time, on a moral basis
(women should have the right to write or express about
anything). Her reputation is also mentioned.
Tomaselli, S (2013). Mary Wollstonecraft. Retrieved May 27,
2014 from: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/wollstonecraft/#Rep
General background information:
http://www.philosophypages.com/ph/woll.htm