Nature's Influence on Human Behavior
- Poet and artist Frieda Hughes explores how nature plays a role in shaping human behavior.
- The article argues that people are inherently influenced by nature in various aspects of their lives.
- Hughes emphasizes that our choices, including whether to eat meat, are influenced by our natural instincts.
In a reflective narrative, the author recounts a past encounter with two men whose strong beliefs about dietary choices created a rift in their conversation. The men, staunch advocates for vegetarianism, argued that meat-eating should be replaced with a more plant-based approach, likening it to the peaceful nature of pandas. The author, however, countered their arguments by highlighting the ecological balance that carnivores maintain in the animal kingdom, suggesting that without them, various species would face dire consequences. The author vividly illustrates the potential chaos in nature if carnivores were removed, painting a picture of starving tigers, overpopulated rabbits, and the collapse of food chains. This argument emphasizes the interconnectedness of species and the vital role that each plays in maintaining ecological harmony. The conversation ultimately ended with the men departing, leaving the author to ponder the complexities of dietary beliefs. Years later, the author reflects on this encounter while observing a cranefly caught in a spider's web. This moment serves as a metaphor for the natural order of predation, where the spider's instinct to hunt is as intrinsic to its existence as the cranefly's struggle for survival. The author’s contemplation reveals a deeper understanding of the necessity of predation in nature, suggesting that dietary choices are not merely personal preferences but are rooted in the fundamental dynamics of life itself.