The Social Construction of Nature Quiz

Social construction is the theory that any category, condition, or thing is understood to have certain characteristics because people agree that it does. In the context of nature and wilderness, social construction refers to how these concepts are constructed as separate from society, and how people's beliefs and practices shape how they understand and interact with the natural world.

The Thomas Theorem states that situations perceived as real are real in their consequences. It emphasizes that it matters less what something IS compared to what we THINK it is or AGREE that it is. This directly relates to the perception of reality as it highlights the impact of people's beliefs and perceptions on shaping their understanding and experiences of the world.

The phrase 'So You Say It’s “Natural”' challenges the commonly accepted understanding of what is 'natural' and questions the social construction of nature. It prompts a critical examination of how the concept of 'natural' is defined and used in environmental discourse, highlighting the role of social constructs and perceptions in shaping our understanding of the natural world.

<p>In common understanding, 'wilderness' is often associated with untouched, remote, and pristine natural areas, while 'jungle' conveys dense, tropical, and exotic environments. 'Nature' is a broader term encompassing all natural elements and ecosystems. These distinctions reflect how social construction influences the perception and categorization of different natural environments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main argument is that the practices and findings of science are socially constructed, and that humans in a social context decide what to observe and what our observations mean.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The concern is about who decides what counts as 'good science' and what topics interest the scientific community and the agencies that fund them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The threat of relativism is the theory that all beliefs, truths, and facts are socially constructed in a particular social context, raising questions about what information can be believed or acted upon.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Constructivist Paradox is that relativism relies on objectivism to prove its point, meaning that science is used to test underlying assumptions about knowledge but objectivism is not fully trusted.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The alternative concept is co-production, which argues that humans and nonhumans produce and change one another through interactions, acknowledging that there are things and systems that operate outside of human behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They challenge it by showing that the practices and findings of science are socially constructed, and that humans in a social context decide what to observe and what our observations mean.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The concern is about who decides what topics interest the scientific community and the agencies that fund them, and what counts as 'good science'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main concern is about who benefits from this challenge and change in knowledge, as science is used to test underlying assumptions about knowledge but objectivism is not fully trusted.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Essential quality, inherent force, and the material world itself.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It often separates humans from nature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Social context.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cultural and economic factors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Race.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Displacement of indigenous societies by Europeans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Discourse, including narrative, concept, ideology, and signifying practices.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Supported by powerful institutions and people; its origins may be forgotten over time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By conflicting evidence and interests.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The concept of wilderness; specific to Western European cultures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The social construction of nature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Destabilizing accepted power dynamics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>For environmental resource control and societal power dynamics.</p> Signup and view all the answers