Question

Answer the following question in not more than 150 words.

Explain the naturalisation of humans.

Answer 1

Human beings interact with their physical environment through technology. It is not important what human beings produce and create, but it is extremely important to consider the tools and techniques they use to do so. Technology reflects the level of a society’s social and cultural development.

In the early stages of their interaction with the environment, human beings relied on primitive technology; nature played a dominant role over humans. Human beings were greatly influenced by nature and adapted to its dictates. This type of interaction, when human society was at a primitive stage of development and hence adapted itself to nature, is called the naturalisation of humans, also known as environmental determinism. This is a stage of naturalised humans who listen to nature, fear its fury, and worship it. All human actions are guided by nature, especially by climate, wild animals, and the availability of water and edible plants. At this stage, due to a lack of technological advancement and understanding of nature, human beings are unable to loosen the shackles of nature and thus follow it; all their actions are guided by nature. This type of interaction can still be seen in tribal societies, where tribal life revolves around nature and their daily routines are closely knit with natural processes.

Example: Tribals depend on edible plants and plant parts gathered from nature, and some hunter tribes hunt wild animals using primitive tools. They use medicines made from available natural plants. Their religious practices involve worshipping trees, natural forces, and wild groves.