Realm Of Nature Research Articles

Ecophobia and Social Class Identity: An Ecocritical Approach to the Nature/Culture Divide in Oscar Wilde’s Fairy Tales “The Young King” and “The Star Child”

This article applies an ecocritical approach to the analysis of the nature/culture divide in Oscar Wilde’s “The Young King” and “The Star-Child”. These two tales contrast the realm of nature, embodied in the forest, and the realm of civilisation, represented by the city. Both stories focus on the protagonists’ journey from wilderness to the city, where not only do they need to become civilised subjects, but they are expected to govern as kings. This physical journey is matched by an internal one since both characters simultaneously undergo a transition from an animal-like state to a human one. I argue that these tales’ use of the nature/culture and animal/human dichotomies is closely connected to Wilde’s reflections about the Victorian social class system included in The Soul of Man under Socialism. Class struggle is indeed a major preoccupation in traditional folktales, where protagonists tend to magically escape from an initial disadvantaged position. Applying an ecocritical perspective to “The Young King” and “The Star-Child” helps to illustrate how these two tales manage to question the legitimacy of the hierarchical social structure by blurring the lines that separate the civilised subject from the animal one.

Exploring the hidden canvas: Conceptualisations of nature in early years curricula and standard documents in Turkey

AbstractThis paper examines underlying beliefs and values about nature within the early years education in Turkey, as reflected in the curricula and standards documents guiding instruction. Given that not every child has the opportunity for nature‐based education, it becomes essential to incorporate nature‐based learning into indoor classrooms. Employing a document analysis, we comprehensively analyse the Ministry of Education's Preschool Education Program (2013), Activity Book‐1 (2013a), and Activity Book‐2 (2018), which guides teachers in shaping their classroom practices, therefore providing in‐depth insights into the conceptualisations of nature. Our analysis reveals that ‘nature’ in these documents is characterised by its connection to and intersections of specific settings, concepts, and resources. Moreover, we found out that the identified patterns of relationships in the examined curriculum and standards documents demonstrate a purposeful initiative to engage preschool children in the realm of nature through various means, including conceptual comprehension, hands‐on interaction with materials, and direct involvement in natural surroundings. The intersections among these elements unveil a complex network of opportunities to promote an enhanced learning journey. By fostering a deeper understanding of the relationship between curriculum guidelines and nature activities, we aim to empower early childhood educators to embrace nature as an integral part of their classroom practices.

Postcolonial ecocritical reading of Satyajit Ray’s Sikkim and Goutam Ghose’s Padma Nadir Majhi

This article aims to offer an interpretive analysis of two seminal cinematic works: Satyajit Ray’s Sikkim (1971) and Goutam Ghose’s Padma Nadir Majhi (1993). It posits these films as modes of inquiry, elucidating the ecological issues that have spurred a transformative reconsideration of humanity’s relationship with the nonhuman world. Moreover, this study underscores the intricate comprehension of the interdependence between human and natural realms, portraying it as a foundational facet of postcolonial discourse. Postcolonialism has long recognized the inseparable linkage between the ideological constructs of nature and the exploitation of marginalized populations and their respective environments. The psychological ramifications of colonial rule have wrought an indelible impact upon the ecological landscape and the hallowed rapport shared between indigenous communities and their natural surroundings. The indigenous populace’s allure towards Western cultural paradigms, preconceptions, and institutions has often induced a forfeiture of their own cultural heritage in favor of the ex-colonizers’ ideologies. Both of these venerable cinematographers, through their cinematic oeuvre, have meticulously documented the enduring significance of nature within the tapestry of Indian culture, especially in the context of contemporary, globalized milieu.

퇴계 감정이해방식과 적용에 관한 연구 - 퇴계 리발기수 개념의 창조적 변용과 확장 -

Toegye is a thorough theorist on the basis of Neo-Confucianism, but he can be seen as a representative thinker who brought the philosophical characteristics mainly appearing in the history of Chinese philosophy, the cosmological characteristics centered on the concept of selfishness, to the theory of human nature and emotions, the realm of human nature and emotion. Toegye deepened this further, and made an unprecedented argument in the history of intellectuals, namely, Gobong and the four main emotions, regarding the understanding of the emotions called the four main emotions expressed in the pure nature and the emotions called the seven emotions expressed in the nature that was enshrined in the spirit and revealed through learning ten diagrams to become a saint ｢聖學十圖｣ and the Four Seven Debate that emotions must also be rational in the theory of nature, which is the core of Neo-Confucianism.
 In this paper, along with a conceptual analysis of Toegye's way of understanding emotions, we try to make creative transformation and expansion by applying it to the main concepts shown in the a Variorum of the Four Books(四書集註), which can be said to be the representative scriptures of Confucianism. There are often questionable passages among the contents that are generally introduced while reading librarians, but there are times when I wonder if it is not possible to present different judgments and thoughts due to the professional authority and weight. In fact, to mention it by leaps and bounds, violence against knowledge power is also implied in its source.
 However, Toegye's method of understanding emotions is of great significance in that it analyzes and corrects the method of understanding our daily thinking structure, rather than simply dealing with it as a subject of the Four-Seven Debate argument. Therefore, in this paper, by examining some of the major concepts of the librarian with Toegye's way of understanding emotions, that is, with Toegye's logical structure of thought, we can transform our thinking structure in dealing with things and situations into a thinking structure toward the truth, a true philosophy (Philo + Sophia) to try to convert to thinking.

Temporal and spatial patterns of traditional village distribution evolution in Xiangxi, China: identifying multidimensional influential factors and conservation significance

This study systematically investigates the spatio-temporal distribution, influential factors, and conservation significance of 413 traditional villages in Xiangxi, China. Employing methods such as ArcGIS spatial analysis, geographic statistical analysis, and historical literature review, this work meticulously delineates the intricate interplay of natural, societal, and cultural elements in shaping the evolution of village distributions. As pillars of China's rich traditional culture, these villages encapsulate profound historical, folkloric, and architectural values. Their spatial and temporal transformations are instrumental in unraveling Xiangxi’s historical and cultural tapestry, thereby informing strategic conservation efforts. The research findings are as follows: (1) from a spatial perspective, traditional villages in Xiangxi, China, exhibit an overall clustering tendency, characterized by a distribution pattern of "more in the core, fewer on the periphery, with small clusters and significant dispersion." These villages are distributed in multiple bands along ancient postal routes, the Wuling Mountains, the Xuefeng Mountains, and river basins. (2) Traditional villages in Xiangxi primarily originated prior to the Yuan Dynasty, with a predominant north–south spatial orientation. Over successive dynasties, the distribution center gradually shifted northeastward, resulting in an expansion of the spatial distribution range and a decrease in directional bias. (3) The formation and distribution evolution of traditional villages are influenced by a combination of natural factors, socio-economic factors, and historical-cultural factors. Natural factors and cultural elements influence the selection and layout of traditional village sites, while socio-economic and historical-cultural factors impact their development and evolution. In conclusion, the distribution evolution of traditional villages in Xiangxi, China, underscores the intricate interplay of diverse factors, spanning the realms of nature, society, and culture. Recognizing this complexity is essential in comprehending the historical and cultural tapestry of Xiangxi and in formulating strategies for the preservation of these invaluable cultural and historical assets. The preservation of traditional villages transcends mere heritage conservation; it represents a pivotal step towards safeguarding the multifaceted heritage of Xiangxi.

Deviating from Monstrosity

Between 1800 and 1807, Napoleonic reforms to obstetrics exposed more physicians to “monstrous births” (congenital anomalies). These reforms followed post-Revolutionary France’s need to re-define the “individual” and the Enlightenment’s attempts to naturalize the “monstrous.” Drawing on foundational eighteenth-century natural historical and medical texts, the article argues that the French Revolution was a major turning point in the conceptualization of dis/ability. To illustrate this, the illuminated volume Les Ecarts de la Nature (1775) by Nicolas-François and Geneviève Regnault and its 1808 edition revised by the physician Jacques-Louis Moreau de la Sarthe are analyzed through contemporary disability studies. The late eighteenth-century’s eventual eradication of monstrosities from the natural realm would lead to certain human bodies becoming normalized and others pathologized. This pathologization involved systematically categorizing human beings into forced binaries. Yet, by attempting to order that which does not fit into a binary, Les Ecarts attests that the dichotomy between “normal” and “abnormal” is a false narrative.

Chlorogenic acid: a review on its mechanisms of anti-inflammation, disease treatment, and related delivery systems.

Chlorogenic acid is a bioactive compound ubiquitously present in the natural realm, lauded for its salient anti-inflammatory and antioxidant attributes. It executes its anti-inflammatory function by moderating the synthesis and secretion of inflammatory mediators, namely, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, NO, and PGE2. Concurrently, it modulates key signaling pathways and associated factors, including NF-κB, MAPK, Nrf2, and others, bestowing protection upon cells and tissues against afflictions such as cardio-cerebrovascular and diabetes mellitus. Nevertheless, the inherent low bioavailability of chlorogenic acid poses challenges in practical deployments. To surmount this limitation, sophisticated delivery systems, encompassing liposomes, micelles, and nanoparticles, have been devised, accentuating their stability, release mechanisms, and bioactivity. Given its innate anti-inflammatory prowess and safety profile, chlorogenic acid stands as a promising contender for advanced biomedical investigations and translational clinical endeavors.

Play space in plain sight: the disruptive alliances between street trees and skateboarders

ABSTRACT This article is an ethnographic account of searches for play space in Newcastle, Australia, specifically for skateboarding. Street skateboarding is predicated on unstructured play at ‘found’ spots in the urban landscape assembled from surfaces, objects, and obstacles. Without access to established skateparks during COVID-19 lockdowns, the search for play space became an exciting part of lockdown life, and street trees were surprising guideposts for locating unpredictable surfaces and angles. Through these observations, this article explores the potential of street trees in generating play space through skateboarding, making three arguments. First, street trees are overlooked as potential play space compared to trees living in parks, reserves, and playgrounds. Crucially, street trees generate play space by assembling and re-assembling the urban landscape in unpredictable ways. Second, skateboarders and trees are unexpected allies in unstructured play and the disruption of urban order. Third, street trees produce skate spots by modifying the built environment, challenging ideas of mutually exclusive realms of nature vs. city, grey vs. green, play vs. passivity, and use vs. misuse. These examples may not fit idealised notions of human-tree relations, but they open new possibilities for thinking about these relations and where we seek and find play space.

Modern soil aggregates–colluvium generated by overland flow – stratigraphy and physical experiments

ABSTRACTIn tropical and subtropical zones, sandy colluviums composed of soil aggregates are highly significant for the understanding of depositional processes in the natural realm. The formation processes of soil aggregates–colluviums (pedosediments in other climate zones) are poorly defined. Deeper knowledge on the origin of soil aggregates–colluviums from low‐density or high‐density overland flows is essential for improved understanding of colluviums found in modern, Quaternary and ancient stratigraphic records. The understanding of depositional processes of soil aggregates–colluviums has been integrated into this study by combining macrostratigraphy and microstratigraphy and laboratory experimental techniques. The actualism principle was applied using a sedimentological description of a modern soil aggregates–colluvium deposit generated by overland flows. In addition, physical experiments were performed to simulate the natural sedimentation processes of overland flows composed of various sediment concentrations. The results indicate the maximum grain size (granules and pebbles) of the soil aggregates–colluvium beds originating from high competence overland flows involving large volumes of local rainfall (storms). Overland flows are responsible for laminated beds of soil aggregates–colluviums; however, the laminations are heterogeneous sequences compared to those of low‐density flows, which have homogeneous sequences. The microstratigraphy of the natural, modern soil aggregates–colluviums shows varied structures in overland flow laminations, implying several types of flow density. The internal organization of the laminae suggests that the accretion of the colluvium deposit occurred through high‐density flows and high to low‐transitional density flows. Low‐density flows were less frequent and may constitute either single or more diluted tail flows. Finally, overland flow can generate facies with similar end members to mass movements, being distinguished only by bed thickness. Linking field observations with experimental results, as in the present study, leads to deeper understanding of overland flow sedimentation processes, especially in tropical and subtropical zones.

‘Apart from the Experiences of Subjects There Is Nothing, Nothing, Nothing, Bare Nothingness’—Nature and Subjectivity in Alfred North Whitehead

While long ignored, the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead has attracted considerable interest and wide academic reception since the 2000s. One reason for the renewed interest in Whitehead’s work is most certainly that his philosophy and concepts offer a way out of dualistic schemes of thought that have dominated the conceptual framework of the West since modernity. In my paper, I focus on Whitehead’s undoing of the opposition between nature and subjectivity, for it is a crucial aspect of Whitehead’s concept of nature not to exclude subjectivity from the ‘realm of nature’. For Whitehead, subjectivity is a fundamental feature of the whole of reality and by no means exclusively human, leading to a radically non-anthropocentric, pluralistic notion of the subject.

Contextualizing Revitalization of Panai Malay Archaic Vocabularies Through Formal Learning

The study of the disappearance of local languages throughout the world continues to spark the interest of linguists. Even though this fear has been raised in several Indonesian government initiatives, academics have completed a comparatively limited study on local language vocabulary in Indonesia, particularly The Panai Malay Language (PML), which continues to decrease in its usage by its speakers. The objectives of this study are to describe the features of archaic vocabularies of the Panai Malay language and to investigate the pattern of Panai Malay language revitalization. The research was conducted using a qualitative research method with the ethnography research design by using 591 vocabularies as research data sources. The results of this study reveal that PML archaic vocabularies are found in 10 domains, namely the realm of family, agriculture, housing, food-beverage, customs, health, marine, human body, clothing, and human nature. The archaic domains of PML vocabularies are more dominantly found in the domains of human nature, namely 30 vocabularies or 8.15% for teenage respondents, while according to adult respondents 13 vocabulary (9.70%), and older people by 12 words (13.48%). The revitalization of archaic vocabularies of PML should be implemented through formal efforts by integrating the language material in the formal learning process through the Local Content Curriculum as well as by writing the PML Dictionary which should be shared through social media such as Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Revitalization through non-formal channels should be carried out through communication training, publishing folklore by incorporating PML archaic vocabularies, and reactivating PML cultural activities.

Promote Chinese traditional garden culture and explore the beauty of classical gardens and Qinghui Garden

In traditional Chinese architecture, classical gardens are unique and have major achievements. Classical Chinese gardens are a rich world cultural heritage and the culmination of oriental aesthetics. Chinese gardening art takes the pursuit of the spiritual realm of nature as the ultimate and highest goal, to achieve the aesthetic purpose of "although it is made by man, it seems to be opened from heaven". It is deeply immersed in the connotation of Chinese culture, an artistic treasure created by China's 5,000-year cultural history, a vivid portrayal of the inner spiritual character of a nation, and a magnificent cause that we need to inherit and develop today.

Landscape in Middle English Romance: The Medieval Imagination and the Natural World

Landscape in Middle English Romance: The Medieval Imagination and the Natural World

Pedagogies of place: conserving forms of place-based environmental education during a pandemic

ABSTRACT Can on-line ‘place-based learning’ be more than a facsimile or ritual? Using a phenomenology of my pandemic practice, I investigate the meaning of ‘place-based learning:’ entertaining Aristotle’s seminal thought on place as a container to venture into contemporary phenomenological inquiries where places and things are not only conceptually implicated by each other, but immanent and potentially powerful elements in learning experiences. Bonnett’s (2021) ecologizing of education shows that authentic forms must be embodied and emplaced in order to open learners to the more in situ, deeply-contextualized and yet ‘transcendental’ and ‘ecstatic’ reception of the more-than-human realm of nature (as what comes-forth, phusis). But this Heideggerian narrative with which I resonate poses challenges for students and place-based educators. Wittgenstein’s philosophical approach, itself modelled on place-based investigation of language (our ‘home city’), draws me back from metaphysical inclinations to dwell constructively on ordinary discourses rooted in educational practices.

Leibniz and Kant

<i>Leibniz and Kant</i>

Teetoy – teeth cleaning device for children revolutionizing children’s dental care with nature-Inspired precision

Addressing the intricacies of dental hygiene in the critical 3-5 age range has presented a persistent challenge, marked by discomfort, taste aversion, and a general lack of enthusiasm. Acknowledging the formative nature of this age for establishing lifelong oral health habits, an exhaustive research initiative unfolded to comprehend the nuanced dental hygiene struggles faced by this demographic and craft an innovative solution. Through direct interviews and comprehensive Google surveys involving 30 children and their parents, a notable 59.1% of children expressed a distinct disinterest in the teeth-brushing ritual. Reasons varied from the perceived hardness of bristles to the monotonous nature of the process, coupled with elements of fear and a lack of parental supervision. Armed with this nuanced data, the research delved into the realm of nature for inspiration, focusing specifically on how animals’ inherent cleanliness habits could in- form a groundbreaking approach to children’s dental care. This journey of inspiration culminated in the conceptualization of “Teetoy” – a visionary teeth cleaning device designed to infuse playfulness, enjoy- ment, and efficacy into the brushing process for children. The device com- prises three integral parts: the head, neck, and handle.

Living in the forest as a pluriverse: nature conservation and indigeneity in India’s Western Ghats

This study examines the multi-tiered manifestation of the natural environment and social-ecological milieu of people living in a tiger reserve, located in the Uttara Kannada district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The Kali Tiger Reserve is in the northwestern part of the Western Ghats, which is a designated biodiversity hotspot and home to wildlife such as the Bengal tiger and the Indian elephant. After the forest was designated as a tiger reserve, the Kunbi people living in this area were excluded from the laws and policies designed to promote nature conservation. Their traditional hunter-gatherer activities and agricultural practices became severely restricted and were subjected to management and surveillance by the Forest Department. This demonstrates the operation of biopower acting in line with the distinction between rare animal species deemed worthy of being kept alive and human beings who are not, and are thus left destitute. In this situation, the Kunbi attempt to recover their legal rights to land and forest resources by invoking the Forest Rights Act and petitioning the state government to designate them as a scheduled tribe. Moreover, they struggle to maintain their emotional ties to the forest by creatively modifying their ritualistic hunting groups. The Kunbi's attempt to deal with their plight by participating in the modern political arena, while placing themselves within the realm of nature, shows that modernity and indigeneity exist in an inseparable duality. This study examines the experiences of people living in this duality by focusing on their emotions regarding the forest and efforts to deal with conflicts over the tiger reserve, which is simultaneously considered to be the natural environment as well as their intimate Umwelt.

The natural world harmony in V. K. Arsenyev’s works: a linguistic and stylistic analysis of the travel novel "Across the Ussuri Krai" (to the 150th anniversary of the birth)

K. Arsenyev’s writings have repeatedly become the object of ethnographic and literary studies. However, the linguistic aspect of the writer’s works often remained outside the scope of serious in-depth research. Much attention in the literature concerning V. K. Arsenyev’s writings was directed to the characterisation of the flora and fauna of the taiga. At the same time, the scientific aspect of V. K. Arsenyev’s works was especially emphasized. There exists detailed research of Dersu Uzala’s (a Goldi-guide) vivid image. The paper aims to analyse the linguistic means employed to create the harmonious natural world in V. K. Arsenyev’s travel novel "Across the Ussuri Krai". The study used linguo-stylistic and integrating methods as well as the method of contextual-semantic analysis which takes into account distant connections in the text and reveals the content-semantic load of its components. Additionally, componential analysis of the usual and contextual tropes was employed. The paper describes the devices of depicting the harmonious life of the taiga brotherhood. The comparison between the world of people and the world of nature resulted in the conclusion that civilisation influenced the flora and fauna of the Ussuri Krai destructively. Moreover, the paper argues that the lack of harmony in the people’s world ruins the wild realm of nature.

Law and Transitions to Capitalism

Embedded in early debates about the transition to capitalism is the idea that law and legal relations play a pre-determined yet artificial role. While this reflects Marx's general claims about law and capitalism, the more that the legal sphere is held as the realm of fiction, the more that the economic sphere's association to the natural realm grows in concert. This undermines Marx's broader objective to interrogate the apparent naturalization of economic rationales in Capital I. In this essay, I dissect the notion of law as artifice not simply to displace the conceptual association between law and derivation, externality, or fakery, but to rethink the definitive transformation of labour compulsion as it is portrayed in the transition debates. Aided by Elleni Centime Zeleke's Ethiopia in Theory, I ascertain the Eurocentric limits of the early debates, and I recuperate a constructive notion of artifice in a way that does not treat law as a derivative phenomenon prone to stagist interpretations. This perspective informs my call for an approach to law and ‘transitions to capitalism’ that is less enthralled by law's mystifying force and more attentive to the material conditions of labour compulsion.

Revisiting procedural requirements for the assessment of environmental impacts arising from the different stages of deep seabed mining: Current practices at the International Seabed Authority and recommendations for improvement

More than five decades ago, Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) emerged in domestic legislation as a tool to respond to increased human pressures on the natural realm. Although the theory and practice of conducting EIAs have evolved over the years, several shortcomings for an effective implementation remain, hampering it from consolidating as a tool to promote Ecosystem-based Management (EBM). The challenges undermining an effective implementation of EIAs are magnified when considered under the scope of offshore extractive activities taking place in areas beyond national jurisdiction, such as deep seabed mining (DSM) on the international seabed (or ‘the Area’), which is governed by an international organization known as the International Seabed Authority (ISA). DSM activities are anticipated to cause extensive environmental harm, which may compromise the still poorly understood processes, functions, and services in the deep ocean. Since its inception, the ISA has taken measures to address the assessment of environmental impacts arising from DSM activities at the various stages of the mining process, which range from prospecting, exploration, and future exploitation. Nevertheless, a detailed description of the procedures to assess impacts at different stages of mining is absent in the literature, remaining a puzzled topic. This paper seeks to clarify the ISA's procedural framework for the assessment of environmental impacts arising from the different mining stages and reveals that its current practices do not represent a comprehensive, transparent, or participative EIA process that conforms with EBM. Consequently, the ISA's existing approach to the EIA process and its potential to support informed decision-making is doubtful. Based on the identified shortcomings, this paper provides some recommendations for improvement of EIA practices at the ISA.