Next nature

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Next Nature is culturally emerged nature. Related to a concept in postmodern philosophy, stating that through human cultural activity, a next nature arises. Old nature, in the sense of trees, plants, animals, atoms, or climate, is getting increasingly controlled and governed by man. It has turned into a cultural category. At the same time, products of culture, which used to be in control of man, tend to outgrow us and become autonomous. Our common notions of nature and culture are trading places.

The main idea behind next nature is the insight that we should not see nature as something static, but rather as a dynamic force that changes along with us.

1 Significance of next nature
2 Examples of next nature
3 History of next nature
4 History of the term
5 Definitions of next nature
6 See also
7 External links
8 Further reading

[edit] Significance of next nature

Next nature is significant as a paradigm to explain the current relation between culture and nature. The way to do draw the border between the two changed throughout history and different cultures. In the past, the realm of the ‘born’ belonged to nature and culture was seen the realm of the ‘made’. But through human science these categories become blurry. The new way to distinguish culture from nature is to draw a line between ‘controllable’ and ‘autonomous’. Technological developments and new research field like Nanotechnology, Genetic manipulation, Ambient intelligence, Tissue engineering and Neuroscience radically interfere with our sense of what is ‘natural’. They are connected in the next nature view on nature. As culture progresses, the natural powers shift to another field.

[edit] Examples of next nature

Products that grow in their own packaging.
The Enologix company of Sonoma, California, makes software that predicts how a wine will rate in reviews even before it is made. In order to achieve the high rating, winemakers invest in processes rooted not in agriculture but in biochemical information. Wine making becomes an information science.
In cities like Los Angeles, it is almost impossible to live without a car; second nature becomes first nature.
Bioengineered bone tissue enables married couples to wear a ring made out of bone tissue of their partner. In next nature, symbols becomes physical.
When people play games, that’s culture. But when some people start living in games and even manage to earn an income within a virtual world. Then it becomes next nature.
The use of domestic robots is rapidly increasing. People don’t have time to look after their smart alarm clocks, toasters and vacuum cleaners anymore. They will have to organize themselves.
The global economy is such a complex system we are unable to control it. Of course people try to influence it, but we cannot completely control it. It’s a next nature phenomenon.

[edit] History of next nature

The start of next nature as a phenonemon is debated. It is sometimes argued it started with the industrialization. Others take early human activity as its starting point. The emergence of next nature happened over time. Old nature is gradually replaced by next nature.

[edit] History of the term

The term Next Nature was first coined in the essay Exploring Next Nature by the Dutch artist/scientist Koert van Mensvoort. Next Nature theory is influenced by hyperreality and Phenomenology. In 2005 Next Nature was the theme of the Visual Power Show (an intellectual show addressing current cultural issues) in Paradiso (Amsterdam) at which over twenty speakers presented their views on Next Nature. In June 2006 a similar event was organised in Zeche Zollverein (Essen) as a part of Entry 2006, an exhibition about new worlds of design.

[edit] Definitions of next nature

"Next nature is culturally emerged nature." - Koert van Mensvoort
"When second nature becomes first nature."
"Next Nature is a hypocritical term used the bring something formerly invisible into our focus." - Henk Oosterling