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
Jan's Page - Channeling Nature, Devas, Angels & Spirit Guides
Large collection of channeled nature spirits with many photos, high guidance from Auron'a and other spirit guides, meditations, workshops and contact information for Janet Dane of The Lightwork Centre.
http://www.devas.org/
Angels of the Botanic Garden
Discusses angel's, faeries, gnomes, out of body experience, and learning to see other planes.
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Nook/9896/
Do Fairies Exist?
Story of a woman who see's faeries.
http://www.innerself.com/Miscellaneous/do_fairies_exist.htm
Dialogues with Undines, Mermaids, and Nature Spirits
Offers poems, meditations and essays discussing undines.
http://www.geocities.com/ubarim/
Pixie's Play Ground
Offers information on pixies, faeries, sabats, and goddess sinn.
http://angelfire.com/realm2/pixiesplayground
Ayreans FairyLand
Offers meditative insights as well as calendar of sabats and explanation of the runes used by faeries. Also some faery graphics and a gallery.
http://www.ayreans-lore.myfoolmoon.com/fairy.html
Angelic Connections
Discusses different types of angels. Offers angel stories, a discussion board, book store and links.
http://www.signet.bw/angelicconnections
Devas- Many Pathways to Nature
An article by Christan Hummel "Many Pathways to Nature," one of a series on these nature spirits.
http://www.earthtransitions.com/devas.htm
NatureSpirits Sanctuary.
Discusses love, spirits of nature and other related topics.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/3262/
Franz Bardon Hermetics, Fairy Tales, and Transpersonal Psychology
The following articles and dialogues with nature and divine spirits derive from 23 years of study in the western hermetic tradition of Franz Bardon.
http://www.lava.net/~pagios/
Perelandra - Center for Nature Research
Extensive information on nature gardening, flower essences, events, books, tapes, and other topics.
http://www.perelandra-ltd.com/
Nature Spirits, Devas, Elementals, Trees
Explains nature devas, how the elemental kingdom works, gnomes, and the tree of life.
http://www.crystalinks.com/nature_spirits.html
Nature Spirits and Gardening Shows
Explains why nature spirits dislike gardening shows.
http://www3.adnc.com/~chew/garden.html
The Faerie Realm
A faerie tradition mega-site, containing resources of literature, lore, myth, and magic.
http://geancanach_fae.tripod.com
About the Elementals
A description of elementals and how they differ from faeries.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/7841/elementals.html
|
