Related articles
Edit |
Discuss Article
Nature- For alternative meanings, see nature (disambiguation).
 move rapidly around the nucleus.]]
Nature (also called the material world, the material universe, the natural world, and the natural universe) is all matter and energy, especially in its essential form, untainted by human influence. Nature is the subject of scientific study.
In scale, 'nature' includes everything from the universal to the subatomic. This includes all things animal, plant, and mineral; all natural resources and events (hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes). It also includes the behaviour of living animals, and the processes associated with inanimate objects.
A fundamental difference of view exists between those who include humans (both their consciousness and their activities) within nature, and those who do not.
Nature outside Earth and its atmosphere
Events and phenomenon outside Earth and its atmosphere are in the natural science of astronomy.
Life
Life, the characteristics and behaviors of organisms, how species and individuals come into existence, and the interactions they have with each other and with their environment are all in the natural science of biology.
Chemicals
The structure, properties, composition, and reactions of chemical elements and compounds are part of the natural science of chemistry.
Matter and force
The behaviour and interactions of matter and force are a part of the natural science of physics.
Earth
Everything relating to the planet Earth is a part of earth science.
The supernatural
Some people believe in the existence of a non-material world in a sense beyond that of just mental experience. They rather believe in supernatural beings and in a supernatural reality absolutely different in kind to that of the natural world. Even if such a reality exists, many scientists and other assert that it is beyond the reach of science. On the other hand science has been very successful in bringing apparently inexplicable and supposedly supernatural phenomena within its scope.
Metaphysics
In philosophy, the view that the material world of atoms, animals, gravity, stars, wind, microbes, etc., actually exist independently of our observations of them is termed realism; the opposing view is called idealism.
The natural and the artificial
A distinction is often drawn between the "natural" and the "artificial" (="man-made"). Can such a distinction be justified? One approach is to exclude mind from the realm of the natural; another is to exclude not only mind, but also humans and their influence. In either case, the boundary between the natural and the artificial is a difficult one to draw (see mind-body problem). Some people believe that the problem is best avoided by saying that everything is natural, but that does little to clarify the concept of the "artificial". In any event, ambiguities about the distinction between the natural and the artificial animate much of art, literature and philosophy.
Related concepts
The term natural science is used in a variety of ways, primarily:
The term natural philosophy formerly named the scientific discipline now known as physics.
Natural theology straddles the disciplines of theology and philosophy of religion.
In education and related areas, the contrast "natural/artificial" can appear as " nature/nurture".
See also: praeternatural, unnatural and supernatural.
Etymology
The word nature comes from the Latin word, natura, meaning birth or character (see nature (innate)). In English, its first recorded use in the sense of the material world was in 1662.
See also
External links
- James Randi Educational Foundation The JREF organization investigates claims that seem to contradict established science and attempts to verify them in controlled experimental conditions. There has been no success yet finding any evidence of anything not explainable by established science.
Source | Copyright
|
 |
 |
|
Webmasters: Add your website here:
Readers: Edit |
Discuss Listings
Rare Species Conservatory: Stuff to Do
Educational site offers puzzles, games and downloads for kids of all ages.
http://www.rarespecies.org/kids/stuff.htm
Art and Nature Fun for Kids
For the young naturalist who enjoys exploring nature and art activities.
http://www.angelfire.com/ma/pondart/kidsfun.html
Make a Half-Barrel Pond
Instructions and tips for making a half barrel pond.
http://www.jeffcook.com/hbpond.html
Nature Crafts
Kids' crafts that make the most of natural materials, like leaves, fruits, vegetables, and seeds.
http://kidsartscrafts.about.com/kids/kidsartscrafts/cs/naturecrafts/
Nature Crafts
Find many craft projects using natural items such as sticks, stones, leaves, shells, flowers, and sand.
http://familycrafts.about.com/parenting/familycrafts/cs/naturecrafts/
Nature Crafts
Small collection of ideas from Better Homes and Gardens.
http://www.bhg.com/home/Nature-Crafts.html
Bird Treats
Easy recipes for several kinds of treats for wild birds.
http://www.bcpl.net/~tross/by/birdtret.html
Nature Crafts
Dozens of nature crafts from a Girl Guide.
http://guidezone.e-guiding.com/nature.htm
|
