L. Miller
Writing 2
Assignment #1: Science, Humans, and Nature: In the 19th century, American George
Perkins Marsh moved to Europe and was dismayed to see how overpopulated and
deforested countries like Italy and Greece had become. In response, he wrote Man and
Nature, a comprehensive ecological plan for preserving America’s natural resources,
resources that many then thought were endless. Yet more than 100 years later,
overpopulation and deforestation still threaten us and ask us to be held accountable for
our attempts to adapt our natural environment to suit our own needs.
This assignment asks you to propose a solution to the following complex question:
What role should humans’ scientific inquiry play with regard to nature?
This assignment aims to help you understand the complexity of a controversial issue and
construct an argument that both acknowledges this complexity and proposes a solution.
In your writing you should state your thesis clearly, be specific in your explanations, and
use at least three sources* to help you prove your points.
We will spend time in class helping you get started. Please address two or three of the
following questions in your response to the question:
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When is it appropriate/inappropriate to utilize nature to our own ends?
When can nature help science?
When can science help nature?
Are scientific advances more important than other ways of understanding
humans’ role in nature?
Is there a ticking clock on this issue? If so, what should we do right now to help
make changes? And what should our role be in the long run?
Are we caretakers of nature, small parts of nature, or controllers of nature?
What role do personal faith and belief play in how we conceive the relationship of
humans to their environment? How might we account for cultural differences
when we consider environmental policy?
Are people more important than plants and animals?
This essay should be:
 4 to 5 pages in length
 double spaced
 Times New Roman font
 with 1" margins
 APA format.
*Sources might include class readings, like: the introduction to Newton’s Principia,
George Perkins Marsh: Man and Nature, Rachel Carson: “The Obligation to Endure,”
Fritjof Capra: “The Tao of Physics,” Albert Einstein, “Religion and Science,” Jared
Diamond, “The Erosion of Civilization,” and Roald Hoffman, “How Should Chemists
Think?” Sources might also include other selections from our text, journal articles, etc, as
needed.