ABSTRACT
The purpose of Chapter 4 is to examine both how the idea of “commons” arose and how the concept was used in reciprocal relationships between humans and Nature over the millennia. Simply stated, commons are something owned by everyone and so by no one. Moreover, the global commons are the “birthright“ of every living thing-not just humans. From a human perspective, however, it is the vast realm of our shared heritage, which we typically enjoy and use free of toll or price. Air, water, and soil; sunlight and warmth; wind and stars; mountains and oceans; languages and cultures; knowledge and wisdom; peace and quiet; sharing and community; and the genetic building blocks of life-these are all aspects of the commons. The chapter ends with an accounting of the social principles of engagement that we, as present-day humans, must relearn if the biophysical aspects of the commons are to be sustainable.
