ABSTRACT
Recent environmental problems, such as the loss of biodiversity or pollution, are a global or ‘universal’ phenomenon, rather than restricted to certain cultures, societies, or countries. In the words of psychologist Peter Kahn, in fostering the human relationship with nature, we need to pay attention not only to nature but to human nature. It is helpful to distinguish between constant or universal features of human interaction with the environment, as well as ‘cultural variance’ factors. Universal forms are comprised of features of culture, society, language, behaviour, and psyche for which there are no significant exceptions within the cross-cultural perspective. These so-called universals are certainly not set in stone – they are rather tendencies, capabilities and propensities, which could be broadly generalized to humans. Certain capacities, such as our technical aptitude (and by implication, ability to create – and destroy – our own environment) are salient features that act in aggregate with the structural characteristics of modernity.
