Q&A: God and Nature
God and Nature
Question
Is there such a view that says that a human being is part of nature, and therefore just as in nature the strong survive, and just as in nature there are hierarchies among animals, so too human beings should behave that way? In contrast to this view, there is the Jewish view, which claims that beyond nature there is God, and that the human being is a divine part from above, and should resemble God, who is not part of nature, and therefore should act not according to nature?
Answer
There are all kinds of views held by all kinds of people. Why does it matter whether such a view exists or not? What matters is clarifying what is true in your opinion, and that’s it.
The claim that a person ought to behave only in a survival-oriented way does not follow from the fact that evolution operates on the basis of survival. That is the naturalistic fallacy. You cannot derive norms from facts.
Whether a person is part of nature or not is an empty slogan. Why is that important, and why is it interesting? It has no connection to the question of one’s moral outlook. Even so, I do agree that without belief in God, morality has no validity. See the fourth notebook, vol. 3.