You Can't Spell Us Without Environment

Right from the beginning, I think it is interesting the way that Bower introduces the problem we face today. He makes a point to differentiate the intelligence we hold and the intelligence we need. Being a society that has sent a man to the moon, it would be hard to argue against intelligence in some capacity and Bower recognizes this. Unlike Kolbert, Bower begins with the personal hit that our economic and social endeavors are causing. Believably more attention grabbing, I think that is exactly what he needed to really grab the reader and jump into alternative paths of solvency. I agree that a deeper consequential analysis would bring about better environmental awareness and protection. It is hard to stop harming the environment if we are unaware that our actions are indirectly causing the negative outcome. Reading of the people of the Peruvian Andes responsiveness to the environment, I think back to all of our discussions about separation of ourselves and the environment. This leads me to believe that a part of ecological intelligence is simply listening to our innate sense of being, listening to what nature is already telling us. Going back to Ozeki’s form of writing, Bower reminds us of the interconnectedness of our lives and the importance of the interactions we share.

In this way, I also greatly relate to Zimmer’s writing on having “your own personal ecosystem.” I think it brings light to the idea that we are not only a part of an environment but that we also are an environment. The numerous amounts of cells that our bodies contain is miraculous, and the immensely intricate systems that make up the individual organisms of our body is overwhelming. Both of these pieces bring to light that there is more to what we think of things. There is more to the environment than our simple existence in it, according to Bower. And there is more to our bodies than the “simple,” visual structures. I have never been one to think the body or the environment simplistic, but I can only help to admire the level of depth that it contains. I would want to look further into this depth and even how we interact with our environment on a molecular level. I think that a part of ecological intelligence is not only listening to the environment is telling us but what our bodies are telling us from our environment.