Does Mother Nature exist.

[Technosoul]

This post is not about the existance of a creator or a biblical God.

But about the existance of a overshadowing spirit of concsciousness that influences everything in nature. Our observations of nature show that there is a balance in the eco-systems which are maintained by different events that will automatically come into play when needed.
So is there something intelligent happening that has a central source of control over the whole system of nature? It would appear to be so.

I cannot prove the existance of consciousness anymore then can science, we know it only because we have experienced consciousness as part of our own nature.

But do the happenings in nature, and the overall organization of it, represent that proof due to such being self evident, that Mother Nature does exist. (used that name for this debate but other names have been used by other people).

Most paganistic religions would agree, but what about the rest of you?

[sdbest]

Quote by: Technosoul T So is there something intelligent happening that has a central source of control over the whole system of nature? It would appear to be so.

None has been found. And, natural phenomena has natural explanations--no "something intelligent" is required.

Regards
S.

[Jubloz]

Quote by: sdbest None has been found. And, natural phenomena has natural explanations--no "something intelligent" is required. Regards S.

I'm with SD on this one, I haven't seen, nor have I heard, anything to suggest that a "Mother Nature" exists.

[Milton Bradley]

I would suggest that the things attributed to Mother Nature are nothing more than cosmic coincidences ( DNA "evolving" ), or the appearent way the earths organisms evolved to exploit the existing natural environment.

[texasdave]

There is no "Mother Nature". There is a Father God.

[Jubloz]

Quote by: texasdave There is no "Mother Nature". There is a Father God.

Who lacks a penis, mind you. So, given that, does it matter if He is called Mother God or Father God?

[Jack]

Nature abides by its own rules, which we attempt to ascertain. We are the ones who attempt to make the workings of nature sensible to us by applying words and metaphors that make it more understandable. Nature's processes are complex, yet their goal is simple; to preserve the balance. No one aspect of nature is allowed to imbalance the whole of nature.

[Jubloz]

Quote by: Isherwood Nature's processes are complex, yet their goal is simple; to preserve the balance. No one aspect of nature is allowed to imbalance the whole of nature.

Humanity has done a pretty good job of defying that.

[Jack]

When we get too far out of line, natural "disasters", plagues and the results of our stupidity toward our own kind help get us back into balance.

[Jubloz]

Quote by: Isherwood When we get too far out of line, natural "disasters", plagues and the results of our stupidity toward our own kind help get us back into balance.

I understand what you're getting at, but I'm not really so sure I agree with you. To what extent are we defining 'the balance'? A species that can destroy just about every living creature on the earth hardly seems like a balancing act.

[Jack]

Potential doesn't count until it becomes actual. Sure, we could destroy the atmosphere and thus every living thing on the planet. But anything short of that causes a temporary imbalance, which natural processes then attempt to rectify.
Balance (equilibrium) isn't a point, it's a general state that swings this way and that over time. It may take thousands, even millions of years to balance out. As long as the basic elements for life exist, nature will find a way to maintain itself. Someday, when the sun begins to expand, that will no longer be true.

[Jubloz]

Quote by: Isherwood Potential doesn't count until it becomes actual. Sure, we could destroy the atmosphere and thus every living thing on the planet. But anything short of that causes a temporary imbalance, which natural processes then attempt to rectify. Balance (equilibrium) isn't a point, it's a general state that swings this way and that over time. It may take thousands, even millions of years to balance out. As long as the basic elements for life exist, nature will find a way to maintain itself. Someday, when the sun begins to expand, that will no longer be true.

Ish, are you into Eastern philosophy?

Anyways, it sort of depends on how you define balance and nature, I guess. Truthfully, anything happening is nature, including car accidents, but we don't typically define nature that way. I also suppose the earth looking reminiscent of the moon could be considered 'balance', but my own personal assumptions of the word contradict that idea.

[Jack]

Philosophically, I'm an existential Taoist...whatever that is.

[rez]

Quote by: Technosoul But about the existance of a overshadowing spirit of concsciousness that influences everything in nature.

Whenever a particular subjective explanation does not line up with someone else's particular subjective explanation we call it a superstition. Since when has superstition ever resulted in good fortune? Has any discoveries been made from such a method of thinking?

Here is an example:

Quote by: texasdave There is no "Mother Nature". There is a Father God.

When are people going to learn that this type of thinking is utterly useless?

But do the happenings in nature, and the overall organization of it, represent that proof due to such being self evident, that Mother Nature does exist. (used that name for this debate but other names have been used by other people).

Nature is mindless and random. In order to explain mysteries humans do not call upon mother nature with prayers to give us answers. Humans have to put the puzzle together by ourselves without having the answers told to us.

I really don't understand why you think otherwise.

[texasdave]

To say that the order and balance in nature is simply random or accidental is going against historical observation. Historically, mankind has observed order and balance as a result of intelligence. Saying nature is responsible for its own order and balance is to impart intelligence to nature and now we're back to God.

[Jack]

The oriental view of nature predates the Christian one by centuries. If you want to appeal to history to support your opinion, you should accept the views that have existed the longest. Buddha existed 500 years before Jesus, assuming Jesus did exist.

[Technosoul]

Or Texasdave might read the Opening Post where I said this has nothing to do with concepts about a Biblical God or a Creator Being. This is about Mother Nature, the concept that preceded the God concept.

A concept can and does exist. Some debate if we humans are stupid or intelligent if we agree or do not agree with the concept.

Is the Balance of Nature non-existant? If no, is that Balance of Nature stupid and confused, or intelligent and wise?

It would not matter if that wisdom evolved as egosystems and creatures related one to another, as long as it became so, and is. Is it?

A baby is not what we call intelligent - but it can become so. Could the whole of nature as "One System" become a collective Intelligence over millions upon millions of years, like unto maturity in humans?

I would call her Mother Nature, others might call her TAO. The "name" is more or less unimportant as long as the reader can understand what the name represents.
Useing the term "her" because women give life as a gift (in traditional thinking).

A Democarcy as a government does not exist as person of physical being, or object. Nor as a "god" thing. No one has ever seen such a thing. Yet we see evidence of attempts to maintain balance in society and a sense of order. (of course collective human consciousness is not as smart of that found in Nature, But makes for an anology.) We can name her as "Democarcy" just like I can name the laws of nature as Mother Nature.

[Technosoul]

Quote by: texasdave There is no "Mother Nature". There is a Father God.

Texasdave - you are stomping around in pagan turf and we got a rule "Don't mess around with Mother Nature".

The heavenly father Sun would not like it if you said that His wife, Mother Nature, is non-existant.

(sorry folks, gotta talk to Taxasdave on his level using metaphysical terminology).

Oh yeah... forgot to evidence to prove this idea.

So I will expand upon my above post.

The people knew about the last Ice Age and so they prayed to the Sun and offered gifts and sacrafices to get on His good side, so that Mother Nature would give birth to springtimes and summertimes. The heavenly father sun was well pleased then and so we never had another Ice Age. But low, the humans have again gone astray, abusing Mother Nature and raping her and stabing her with fense posts. Poluting her with our miss-use of chemicals and oils. So another spanking on the butt is needed, Global Warming.

"Do not mess around with Mother Nature"!

So time to once more get out those prayer beads and to become Her servents again, go plant a tree.

[texasdave]

If you are asserting a " Mother Nature" then you are asserting a god.

[Jack]

Nonsense. And if you'd really read the OP, you'd have seen the very first sentence..."This post is not about the existance of a creator or a biblical God." Care to contribute to the actual topic?