Die mens se (versteurde) verhouding met die natuur, en die opvoedingsimplikasies daarvan

Abstract

One of the most important topics for discussion in the area of educational philosophy is the matter of man's relationship with and his responsibility towards nature. Nature is the non-human part of all created reality. The problem is that the world population is steadily growing whereas natural resources are divining, with the result that man is lining himself to destruction. To complicate matters, mankind does not behave responsibly towards his home, that is nature. Evidence for this statement can be found in the air and the water which is continually being polluted. Add to this also other forms of pollution like excessive sound and the results of modern technology and it becomes dear that the problem of man’s relationship with nature has already assumed grave proportions. A solution to the problem may be found in the education of children to not only understand the problem but also to see a way in which to strike a sensible balance between the exploitation of nature and ways and means to combat and neutralize the. detrimental effects of such exploitation. Even if there had been no sin or a fall into sin man would have required education to acquaint him with the correct ways to use nature and live in it, but the fall into sin has complicated matters considerably. Sin is responsible for man’s misbehavior concerning nature, and education is the main apparatus with which to combat this ill behavior.