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A God Within is a nonfiction book written by René Dubos. Released in 1972, it details Dubos' philosophical opinions on man's place within nature.
Publisher's summary[]
A scientist discusses man's relationship with nature and urges individuals to cultivate positive values to create a meaningful life.
Summary[]
Introduction: The Hidden Aspects of Reality[]
Before humans became aware of the true nature of reality, they believed that nature was ruled over by various divine figures. While Dubos does not believe in deities, he does state that there is a natural force - the creative spirit - that drives human creativity. This force is largely unconscious and is fostered by interactions with nature. As humans became more and more technologically advanced, they moved away from this force.
Chapter 1: Worlds Within a World[]
While Dubos states that humans should treat their planet as though they are the pilots of a spaceship, he says that they should not think of it as "One World" but rather a series of interlocking worlds. He believes that the diversity of human nature is what makes it truly unique. Along with this, he believes that this diversity is effectively driven by forces of nature - with this being the basis of the title "A God Within".
Chapter 2: A Theology of the Earth[]
According to Dubos, humanity has been fostered by contact with the wilderness. Environments such as the Moon and even lifeless deserts are viewed as "alien" due to the lack of life within them. Dubos claims that the unfettered spread of technology will destroy this link and that we need a return of "primitive" belief in the spiritualism of nature.
Chapter 3: Deep Are the Roots[]
Dubos claims that human nature is influenced by various things that are beyond our own bodies. According to him, humans are deeply affected by the cycles of the moon and daily rhythms (using this to explain jet lag). Along with this, human nature is deeply invested to the psychology of our ancestors. While he rejects the idea that humans are naturally aggressive, he claims that we are naturally resistant to outsiders and are largely bound to smaller groups due to our hunter-gatherer ancestry. Along with this, Dubos claims that humans thrive around other life and that our mental state tends to decline when we are in stagnant, lifeless environments.
Chapter 4: Individuality, Personality, and Collectivity[]
According to Dubos, humans cannot be thought of as a singular mass (though there are some shared characteristics among humanity) but as individuals. These individuals retain characteristics throughout life which is not completely determined throughout genetics. Along with this, there is "personality" - which is separate from "individuality". Personality is completely separate from genetics and (according to Dubos) is largely shown through art. Dubos claims that humans are the only species with the true capacity to create meaningful art (as other animals that create art do not do it as a way to represent themselves) which serves as a way to contextualize our surroundings. Though Dubos stresses the idea of the individual, he also stresses that humans require community and the constraints of a society. These requirements are almost hardcoded by our biology. Indeed, the society around us helps to shape and form our personalities.
Chapter 5: Of Places, Persons, and Nations[]
According to Dubos, human beings are closely shaped by the culture and place that they live within. While some of Dubos' contemporaries stated that this was due to genetic differences, Dubos rejects this and instead believes that culture and even location are more important forces in the construction of character than simple genes.
Chapter 6: Persistence of Place[]
Dubos states that locations have an innate persistence. According to him, the most powerful changes made by humanity unto the landscape of Earth were done in their early history - forests were leveled and the ecosystems of entire continents were radically altered before the Silk Road was made. Despite (or perhaps because) of their propensity to radically alter Earth's landscapes, humans tend to form cultures around location which last for centuries. Though they may change their appearance, the spirit of major regions, cities, and even roads persist throughout the ages. Though humanity may become homogenized in the future, these regional differences will never completely fade.
Chapter 7: Humanized Nature[]
According to Dubos, humans have frequently manipulated nature. Locations of America are almost completely devoid of true nature and most of the wilderness in these locations have been "humanized" in some way. This process is largely not intentional (or at least, not thought out) but is rather because humans find nature that has not been humanized uncomfortable. While Dubos thinks of this process as being somewhat negative, he also claims that "humanization" gives meaning to wilderness.
Chapter 8: Franciscan Conservation Versus Benedictine Stewardship[]
During the 1970s, a somewhat common viewpoint within environmentalist circles was that the Judeo-Christian mindset and its view of humans as masters of the world was the source of humanity's assaults on their planet. Dubos partially rejects this view, as he believes that all major prehistoric cultures on Earth accidentally destroyed some wilderness due to simply not thinking ahead. Dubos also mentions two Christian figures who he believes were major figures in the formulation of environmentalism. These are Saint Francis of Assissi (who believed that man was equal to all other things in creation instead of their master) and Saint Benedict of Nursia (who believed in the importance of wilderness and its careful stewardship).
Chapter 9: Fitness, Change, and Design[]
According to Dubos, landscapes that seem timeless are usually the result of constant change and evolution. Most cultures and civilizations that last for seemingly endless aeons do it because they are able to adapt and flex with the times. Even social norms, customs, and the arts constantly adapt and change over time.
Chapter 10: A Demon Within[]
After discussing the changing nature of society, Dubos discusses a major threat to humanity - the impact of technology. Though scholars such as Ellul and Galbraith view the negative impact of technology as being like Frankenstein's monster, Dubos thinks that the real issue is complacency - the use of technology to try to fix every societal issue instead of thinking out solutions.
Chapter 11: Industrial Society and Humane Civilizations[]
Having discussed the problems of the present, Dubos turns his lens to the future. As he believes that most predictions of the future are flawed, Dubos tries to avoid the pitfalls of others and simply speak on how attitudes towards the environment will change in the future. According to Dubos, thinking of the future instead of present conditions (at least when it comes to the environment and society) was something that most people only started thinking about recently. Along with this, public perception towards the "growth model" of innovation has changed and Dubos leads that this will lead towards positive change in the world as the third millennium nears.
Chapter 12: On Being Human[]
According to Dubos, human nature is not solely controlled by biological processes. He believes that attempting to control your life through homeostasis will only cause problems, as homeostatic balance is negative in the long run. He also believes that societies can be radically altered by small groups of people (and possibly even a single person) if the society they live within has gone stagnant. Along with this, Dubos claims that works of art (such as the voyage of Ulysses) and belief systems are constantly viewed through the ever-shifting lens of societal contexts and expectations.
Chapter 13: Arcadian Life Versus Faustian Civilization[]
According to Dubos, the life of the earliest humans was almost Arcadian in nature - not usually a savage fight against nature but a somewhat peaceful life. As human civilization progressed, it became Promethean in nature - humanity mastered fire and began to view nature as a canvas to be manipulated. Now, the greatest ill of human society is the Faustian bargain - thinking only of personal or societal concerns instead of the preservation of Earth for the future. Dubos is optimistic that humanity will shrug off these Faustian bargains in the near future and will make the twenty-first century a century of harmony with nature.
Notes[]
- According to the Preface, this book was written roughly simulatenously with Only One Earth.
See also[]
| Title | Author | Release date | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Man, Medicine, and Environment | René Dubos | 1968 | A nonfiction book by the same author with similar themes |
| Man and Nature | George Perkins Marsh | 1864 | A work which prefaces this book's themes |
| So Human an Animal | René Dubos | 1968 | A nonfiction book by the same author with similar themes |
Sources[]
- Goodreads