Nature is not a thing, says natural philosopher Myriam Gerhard. In this interview, she explains what this means from a philosophical perspective for our relationship to and interaction with nature.

Mrs Gerhard, what is "nature" from a philosophical perspective?

Talking about nature seems to us to be the most natural thing of all. Nature is there, we need it, but it doesn't need us. Yet nature does not exist. There are natural objects, such as stones, trees, rivers or mountains, but there is no one nature. Nature is not a thing, but a concept. This concept can be traced back in various forms to antiquity - and it is closely linked to the history of human thought and ideas.

What is the function of this concept?

We use it to distinguish ourselves as humans from what we are not - which, unlike artefacts, was not created by us. This idea of nature as the Other helps people to reflect on their position in and in relation to nature: On the one hand, we use nature for our purposes. On the other hand, nature is not completely available to us. It is a force independent of humans.

What does this mean for our interaction with nature?

As humans, we are in a position to intervene irreversibly in nature - as climate change shows us. But the relationship between humans and nature remains the same. The concept of nature as the other side of ourselves enables us to constantly scrutinise this relationship. This is because technical innovations or political changes, for example, constantly alter the balance between nature and humans. The public debate should not only be about a scientific view of nature, but also about an aesthetic, political or economic view. By reflecting critically in this way, we can protect not only nature but also ourselves from extinction.