Why exactly should we care for the Earth? There are many arguments as to why we should, and in the 7th chapter of his book, Steven Bouma Prediger lists ten. I have chosen to break this chapter into 2 parts because it is a long chapter, and also because it has a lot of information in it. I will write about the second part of the chapter on Wednesday. After that I will have one more chapter, and I will probably be done with the book by the end of next week. And so, behold, the first part of the chapter, and five of the ten arguments he lists therein.
“If you breathe, thank a tree,” what a catchy phrase! That is actually his name for the first argument. It argues that it is in our self interest to take care of the Earth. We should not cut down trees because we depend on them for air. We should not let companies drain out their waste into lakes, because that is our source of water. Some people find this statement compelling, and it is. It looks at Earth-care as to our benefit. But Prediger says that “we must move beyond mere prudence.” Most people are looking for more than that in an argument.
“On loan from our children,” the second argument, states that our descendants need to inhabit this planet, so we have duties to protect it and to take care of it. Prediger thinks that this is persuasive for many people, and would compel them to watch out for the Earth.
The third statement is actually a song. “Tis a gift to be simple”. This argument argues that simply caring for the Earth is a more joyful way to live than not. But some object that most people do not live like this and doing so will separate people from culture. Still, Prediger states this is an argument to consider.
“The Poor and Oppressed Unite” is an argument that says simply that we should care for the Earth because all oppression is linked. The depression of the Earth will result in our depression. We need to care for the Earth and for other forms of oppression. But some rightly, (at least in my opinion,) object, it takes so much time to focus on everything, wouldn’t it just be better to focus on one thing?
“If you breathe, thank a tree,” what a catchy phrase! That is actually his name for the first argument. It argues that it is in our self interest to take care of the Earth. We should not cut down trees because we depend on them for air. We should not let companies drain out their waste into lakes, because that is our source of water. Some people find this statement compelling, and it is. It looks at Earth-care as to our benefit. But Prediger says that “we must move beyond mere prudence.” Most people are looking for more than that in an argument.
“On loan from our children,” the second argument, states that our descendants need to inhabit this planet, so we have duties to protect it and to take care of it. Prediger thinks that this is persuasive for many people, and would compel them to watch out for the Earth.
The third statement is actually a song. “Tis a gift to be simple”. This argument argues that simply caring for the Earth is a more joyful way to live than not. But some object that most people do not live like this and doing so will separate people from culture. Still, Prediger states this is an argument to consider.
“The Poor and Oppressed Unite” is an argument that says simply that we should care for the Earth because all oppression is linked. The depression of the Earth will result in our depression. We need to care for the Earth and for other forms of oppression. But some rightly, (at least in my opinion,) object, it takes so much time to focus on everything, wouldn’t it just be better to focus on one thing?
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