Island Civilization Summary and Response

            Island Civilization: a vision for human occupancy of Earth, written by Roderick Frazier Nash, is an essay designed to prompt awareness of the “History and future of wilderness and civilization on planet Earth” (Nash 371). The essay discusses the development of the human attitude and treatment of nature throughout the past millennia. During the first and the majority of the second millennium, wilderness was viewed by the human race as something in need of dominance – “For thousands of years the success of civilizations seemed to mandate the destruction of wild places, wild animals, and wild peoples” (373). English settlers utilized items such as barbed wire, axes, and rifles to overpower and eliminate the Indians residing in the untamed land. This quest for dominance has been further strengthened by the use of dams and freeways, and has left the wilderness in what Nash refers to as “scattered remnants” (373).

            Towards the end of the second millennium, the idea that “Wildness held the key to the preservation of the world –” suggested by Henry David Thoreau – became more prevalent (373). However, it was not until the last fifty years of the millennium that its intrinsic value was fully recognized and the preservation of Earth became a priority for more than simply the benefit of humankind.

            Nash then discusses what he foresees as potential outcomes for the environment. The first of the proposed scenarios is described as a desolate wasteland only capable of supporting a “Pathetic remnant of its once-miraculous biodiversity and civilization” (376). Nash then discusses the possibility of both a civilization in which biodiversity is essentially destroyed and one in which mankind reverts back to primitive instincts of hunting and gathering. The final scenario Nash discusses is his proposal of an “Island Civilization,” in which the integration of civilization into nature would come to an end, and the population would be limited to a mere one and half billion inhabitants living in small, isolated, and self-sufficient “cities.”          

            I have mixed emotions in regards to Nash’s proposal. While I do believe the basis for his “Island Civilization” is sound and much needed, I do not feel that his ideas are practical. Mankind has, without a doubt, misused the Earth and its available resources; and there is a definite need to develop a plan to attempt to slow and perhaps reverse the parasitic effects the human race has had on the planet. However, Nash’s suggestion of limiting the Earth’s population to a confined area is both controversial and impractical. It is highly unlikely that the majority of the Earth’s population would willingly agree to sacrifice the many luxuries to which they are so accustomed to live in the “cities,” and even more unlikely that they would adhere to the idea of releasing their children into the wild to obtain the hunting and gathering skills of their ancestors. In fact, I believe that any attempt made by the government to enforce such policies would result in riot.

            I feel that the most practical and effective way to improve the state of the Earth is by continuing to develop technology. If scientists are successful in finding and enhancing alternative renewable sources for the planet’s energy needs, the condition of the Earth will improve dramatically. I also believe that a stronger enforcement of recycling policies would help a considerable amount. My final proposal to slow the negative effects of the human race would be to develop a way to efficiently slow and stabilize population growth. By doing so, food shortages, resource deficiency, and nearly every other issue would be confronted.