MAN & HIS LIVING

ENVIRONMENT

• Conceptual Definition
• Perspective on Man-nature Relationship
• Landscape Architecture

1
Perception of the Relationship
between Man and Nature

■ The way that man deals with himself as part of nature,

and deals with natural world as part of himself.

2
Perceptions of the Relationship
Between
Man and Nature

Two dominant mainstream environmental

worldviews
Men dominant over nature
(nature serves human needs)
Men dominated by nature
(human beings serves nature)

3
Contrasting Worldviews on Man-
nature Relationship

1) Eastern Worldviews
2) Western Worldviews
3) Environmental wisdom world view
4) Islamic Perspectives & Tawhidic
Approach

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GUTKIND THEORY (E.A. Gutkind, 1952)
I-thou and I-it

I-thou:
• a mutual adaptation between man and nature

I-it:
Estrangement towards nature

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GUTKIND THEORY (E.A. Gutkind, 1952)

4 phases of man’s changing attitude to his

environment

1) First Phase (I-though stage):

Fear of the unpredictable forces of nature + the needs
for security
• primitive society, primitive village, tribal settlements
e.g. hunting, self-sustain agriculture
• Direct relationship with nature
• symbolic relationship, organic interdependency
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 GUTKIND THEORY (E.A. Gutkind, 1952)
4 phases of man’s changing attitude to his
environment

2) Second Phase (I-thou stage):

Growing self-confidence towards nature
• Rational adaptation of environment for different needs,
work with nature, understand the process of nature
• Landscape as resources, know limitations on how he
can manipulate nature
• Careful management and land husbandry for crop
cultivation, raising stock.
• Learn irrigation method, respect topography (rice
terraces, irrigation system in the middle east, pyramids,
temples).
• E.g. earliest civilization of China, Egypt and Middle East
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GUTKIND THEORY (E.A. Gutkind, 1952)

4 phases of man’s changing attitude to his

environment

3) Third Phase (I-it stage):

Aggression and conquest of nature, the result of
depersonalization of nature
• Scientific specialization during 19th century,
advanced technological societies,
• exploitation and waste of resources
• Automobile oriented, spreading urban areas
• Polluted rivers, etc
‘Our present situation’ – weak on awareness on total
relationship with nature
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GUTKIND THEORY (E.A. Gutkind, 1952)
4 phases of man’s changing attitude to his
environment

4) Fourth Phase (I-it to I-thou?):

Age of responsibility, unification
• adjustments to environmental conditions
• Science + ecology
• Ecological relationship, sustainable development
• social awareness
The future?
Approaching the age of enlightenment, reshaping of
the environment, see landscape, land and resources
and design them based on principles of natural
science + ecology, then as people’s needs.
(sustainable development?) 9
 Contrasting Worldviews
■ Conceptions of man and nature range between two
wide extremes - Comparison between Western
tradition and Eastern tradition.

■ Western
– man-oriented
– The cosmos is but a pyramid erected to support man on its
pinnacle.

■ Eastern
– A unitary and all encompassing nature within which man
exists, man in nature.
– Nature is omnipotent, revered and man is but an aspect of
nature

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Western Worldview
(masters of the environment)

1) People dominant over nature, man conquest

nature
2) Man created in the image of God
3) Goal oriented, short-term value system
4) Environment to be exploited for people’s use
and benefit.
5) Conquest and exploitation for financial reward
6) Nature as faint decorative backdrop to human
play.

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Eastern Worldview

1) Landscape ecological view- man as part of

nature.
2) People dominated by nature- from ancient times
that last until today
3) Maximise quality of environment, long-term value
system.
4) Every place in the landscape have its own spirit
(Schulz) - human spirit is integrally bound to the
spirit of place
5) Health & well being of human depends on the
health & well being of landscape.

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Environmental wisdom worldview

1) Human beings are part of nature, and nature does not

exist just for them.

2) It emphasizes that the earth’s resources are limited:

• should not be wasted,
• should be used efficiently and sustainably for them and
other species.
Muinul Islam, 2004

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 TAWHIDIC PARADIGM OF THE
ENVIRONMENT

Concept of Environment in Islam

 Islam is considered a comprehensive way of life

whose teachings cover, directly or indirectly, every
possible human relationship including that with
the environment – revealed knowledge comprises
of the Quran and the Sunnah.

 The environmental worldview in Islam is a holistic

one.

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 TAWHIDIC PARADIGM OF THE
ENVIRONMENT

These are three central concepts of Islam:

1) Tawhid (Unity)
2) Khilifa (stewardship)
3) Amana (trust).

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 TAWHIDIC PARADIGM OF THE
ENVIRONMENT

1) Tawhid
The oneness of God, acceptance of Allah - is a
cornerstone of the Islamic faith.

 Agree that Allah is “Rabb” – Lord of the universe -

believers will do things according to what He
wants.

 It recognizes the fact that there is one absolute

Creator and that man is responsible to Him for all
his actions.

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 TAWHIDIC PARADIGM OF THE
ENVIRONMENT

Therefore abusing one of his creations, whether it is

a living being or a natural resource, is a sin.

 Nature is an estate belonging to Allah and it has

been given to man merely as a trust.

 Nature constitutes a testing-ground for man’s

morality and whatever right man possesses to
have dominion over nature is solely due to his
make-up and solidly derives from God’s trust in
His deputy on earth.
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 TAWHIDIC PARADIGM OF THE
ENVIRONMENT

The concepts of khilafa (stewardship) and Amana

(trust), emerge from the principle of tawhid.
2) Khilafa and Amana
 Responsibility as vicegerent, administrator of
Earth
 “Khalifah” is a person who is given the
responsibility
 Each individual is given this task and privilege in the
form of God’s trust.
 Environmental crisis is, in effect, a failure of the
trusteeship, thus nature becomes an index of how
well a particular society has performed its
responsibility towards God. 18
The solar system
Planet earth – its images
 TAWHIDIC PARADIGM OF THE
ENVIRONMENT

Other relevant concepts:

 Rububiyyah
 Understanding of the system, e.g. natural system,
Fitrah

 Tazkiyyatul Nafs (purification of the soul)

 Good, clear intention - Niat

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