All Guides: Recreation Theory and Philosophy: Biophilia / Identity & Environment (2024)

The Biophilia Hypothesis

The Biophilia Hypothesis brings together the views of some of the most creative scientists of our time, each attempting to amplify and refine the concept of biophilia. The variety of perspectives -- psychological, biological, cultural, symbolic, and aesthetic -- frame the theoretical issues by presenting empirical evidence that supports or refutes the hypothesis. Numerous examples illustrate the idea that biophilia and its converse, biophobia, have a genetic component: fear, and even full-blown phobias of snakes and spiders are quick to develop with very little negative reinforcement, while more threatening modern artifacts -- knives, guns, automobiles -- rarely elicit such a response people find trees that are climbable and have a broad, umbrella-like canopy more attractive than trees without these characteristics people would rather look at water, green vegetation, or flowers than built structures of glass and concrete The biophilia hypothesis, if substantiated, provides a powerful argument for the conservation of biological diversity. More important, it implies serious consequences for our well-being as society becomes further estranged from the natural world. Relentless environmental destruction could have a significant impact on our quality of life, not just materially but psychologically and even spiritually.

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All Guides: Recreation Theory and Philosophy: Biophilia / Identity & Environment (2024)

FAQs

What is the biophilia hypothesis in Wilson's 1984? ›

Wilson defines biophilia as 'the innate tendency [in human beings] to focus on life and lifelike process. To an extent still undervalued in philosophy and religion, our existence depends on this propensity, our spirit is woven from it, hopes rise on its currents.

What is the philosophy of biophilia? ›

The biophilia hypothesis is the belief that humans are genetically predisposed to be attracted to nature. It states that all humans inherently love the natural world. This idea that we are drawn to and need nature was first put forth by a man named Edward O. Wilson in his book, Biophilia, published in 1984.

What is the Wilson hypothesis? ›

The biophilia hypothesis (also called BET) suggests that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. Edward O. Wilson introduced and popularized the hypothesis in his book, Biophilia (1984).

What is the biophilia theory in psychology? ›

The 'Biophilia' hypothesis highlighting humans' innate, positive response to nature is both increasingly accepted and questioned. Studies support an updated Biophilia. The interplay between inheritance and environment, including culture, governs an individual's response, from positive to negative.

What is the biophilia effect summary? ›

The preference for nature has a name: biophilia, which literally means “love of life,” an affinity for living things and the natural world. The “biophilia effect” describes any of a number of positive impacts experienced when this affinity is evoked through a sensory experience of nature: sight, sound, smell, or feel.

What is an example of a biophilia hypothesis? ›

Anecdotal and qualitative evidence suggests that humans are innately attracted to nature. For example, the appearance of the natural world, with its rich diversity of shapes, colours, and life, is universally appreciated. This appreciation is often invoked as evidence of biophilia.

What are the three pillars of biophilia? ›

Biophilic design rests on three key pillars:
  • Nature in the space.
  • Nature of the space.
  • Natural analogues.

What is biophilia in simple words? ›

The word biophilia originates from the Greek, 'philia' meaning 'love of'. It literally means a love of life or living things. Humans have a deeply engrained love of nature which is an intuitive and natural drive imprinted into our DNA.

Can a person be biophilic? ›

The short answer is YES! Biophilia: a natural affinity to plants, animals, water – basically all things living and green.

What is the Wilson's rule? ›

In algebra and number theory, Wilson's theorem states that a natural number n > 1 is a prime number if and only if the product of all the positive integers less than n is one less than a multiple of n. That is (using the notations of modular arithmetic), the factorial. satisfies. exactly when n is a prime number.

What is Wilson's theory called? ›

Wilson developed his theory of "plate tectonics" after several brilliant insights. First was the curious case of the Hawaiian Islands. Flying over the islands he saw something that the ancient Hawaiians had always suspected.

What was E. O. Wilson's famous quote? ›

If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago.

What is an example of biophilia in philosophy? ›

Numerous examples illustrate the idea that biophilia and its converse, biophobia, have a genetic component: fear, and even full-blown phobias of snakes and spiders are quick to develop with very little negative reinforcement, while more threatening modern artifacts -- knives, guns, automobiles -- rarely elicit such a ...

What is the power of biophilia? ›

Biophilic design has been found to support cognitive function, physical health, and psychological well-being. Biophilia is defined as the innate human instinct to connect with nature and other living beings.

What is the principle of biophilia? ›

focuses on human adaptations to the natural world that in the course of evolution have improved people's health, fitness and well-being. creates interconnected and integrated environments and architectural solutions in which an ecological whole is experienced rather than individual parts.

What is the evidence for biophilia hypothesis? ›

The primary findings indicated that exposure to natural environments had a medium to large effect on both increasing positive affect and decreasing negative affect. This finding supported the anticipated emotional dimension of the biophilia hypothesis and lends credibility to biophilic design theory.

What is the biophilia hypothesis of animals? ›

The biophilia hypothesis further postulates that humans are innately interested in animals due to evolutionary forces that made attention to animals beneficial for survival (Wilson, 1984). Biophilia, however, does not mean that humans are instinctively kind to animals, but that they are attuned to animals.

What is the biophilia hypothesis for children? ›

Children have an innate biological tendency to bond with the natural world known as biophilia. For children's natural inclination of biophilia to develop they must be given developmentally appropriate opportunities to learn about the natural world based on sound principles of child development and learning.

What is the biophilia hypothesis animal assisted therapy? ›

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) has its theoretical foundations in the Biophilia hypothesis and the experiential learning model. E.O.'s Wilson's Biophilia Hypothesis states that, “humans possess a genetically based propensity to attend to, and be attracted by, other living organisms” (Fine, 2010).

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