What role does nature play in shaping human identity? Painting

What role does nature play in shaping human identity and consciousness? Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that humans are inherently good and that their natural state is one of purity and harmony with nature. In his view, it is civilization, with its artificial constructs and societal pressures, that corrupts human beings. Rousseau argued that nature plays a foundational role in shaping human identity by connecting us to our authentic selves. He advocated for a return to a simpler, more natural way of life, where individuals could rediscover their innate goodness and live in accordance with their true nature. Sigmund Freud, however, might argue that nature influences human identity and consciousness through the primal instincts and drives that form the foundation of our psyche. Freud saw the natural world as a place where our unconscious desires and fears are projected. He believed that the natural environment could evoke deep-seated emotions and memories, shaping our consciousness in ways that are not always rational or conscious.