Published by Ave Maria University
Vol. 2 | November 2024
St e wa rds h i p a n d Har v e st Samuel Shephard, Ph.D.
H
umans have caused widespread loss of ecosystems and species. Many of us experience these impacts on a daily basis. There might be invasive insects in our garden, toxic algal blooms at our favorite lake, or plastics washing ashore on the beach. Damage to the beautiful places that we love can be painful. Some people are left feeling powerless and wondering what’s left of wild, undamaged nature. A common argument is that the world is better off without us and that human use of ecosystems must be substantially reduced. Others are uncomfortable with a
conclusion that diminishes humanity and limits access to its surrounding ecology, and have a sense that we are in some way special and bear explicit responsibility to look after the earth. They consider whether caring for nature is something that we can do best by wise participation rather than retreat or exclusion. Navigating this environmental dilemma is tough. Like other pressing social questions, the solution hinges on what a human being actually is, what the world is for, and even whether God has anything to do with it. In other words, environmental sustainability requires a