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| ==Origin== | | ==Origin== |
− | [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''wilde'', from [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English]; akin to Old High German ''wildi'' wild, Welsh ''gwyllt'' | + | [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''wilde'', from [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English]; akin to Old High German ''wildi'' wild, Welsh ''gwyllt'' |
− | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_century before 12th Century] | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_century before 12th Century] |
| ==Definitions== | | ==Definitions== |
| *1a : living in a [[state]] of [[nature]] and not ordinarily tame or domesticated <wild ducks> | | *1a : living in a [[state]] of [[nature]] and not ordinarily tame or domesticated <wild ducks> |
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| :d : indicative of strong [[passion]], [[desire]], or [[emotion]] <a wild gleam of delight in his eyes — Irish Digest> | | :d : indicative of strong [[passion]], [[desire]], or [[emotion]] <a wild gleam of delight in his eyes — Irish Digest> |
| *4: uncivilized, [[barbaric]] | | *4: uncivilized, [[barbaric]] |
− | *5: characteristic of, appropriate to, or [[expressive]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilderness wilderness], wildlife, or a [[simple]] or uncivilized [[society]] | + | *5: characteristic of, appropriate to, or [[expressive]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilderness wilderness], wildlife, or a [[simple]] or uncivilized [[society]] |
| *6a : deviating from the intended or expected [[course]] <wild spelling — C. W. Cunnington> <the throw was wild>; also : tending to throw inaccurately <a wild pitcher> | | *6a : deviating from the intended or expected [[course]] <wild spelling — C. W. Cunnington> <the throw was wild>; also : tending to throw inaccurately <a wild pitcher> |
| :b : having no basis in known or surmised [[fact]] <a wild guess> | | :b : having no basis in known or surmised [[fact]] <a wild guess> |
| *7: of a playing card : able to represent any card designated by the holder | | *7: of a playing card : able to represent any card designated by the holder |
| ==Description== | | ==Description== |
− | '''Wildness''' is [[literally]] the [[quality]] of being ''wild'' or untamed, but further to this, it has been defined as a quality produced in [[nature]] (Thoreau 1906), as that which emerges from a forest (Micoud 1993), and as a level of achievement in nature (Cookson 2004). It differs from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilderness wilderness], which is a place where wildness occurs. | + | '''Wildness''' is [[literally]] the [[quality]] of being ''wild'' or untamed, but further to this, it has been defined as a quality produced in [[nature]] (Thoreau 1906), as that which emerges from a forest (Micoud 1993), and as a level of achievement in nature (Cookson 2004). It differs from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilderness wilderness], which is a place where wildness occurs. |
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− | Wildness is often mentioned in the [[writings]] of naturalists, such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Muir John Muir] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Brower David Brower], where it is admired for its freshness and otherness. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau Henry David Thoreau] wrote the famous phrase, “In wildness is the preservation of the world.” Some artists and photographers such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliot_Porter Eliot Porter] explore wildness in the [[themes]] of their works. The benefits of reconnecting with [[nature]] by seeing the achievements of wildness is an area being investigated by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecopsychology ecopsychology]. | + | Wildness is often mentioned in the [[writings]] of naturalists, such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Muir John Muir] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Brower David Brower], where it is admired for its freshness and otherness. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau Henry David Thoreau] wrote the famous phrase, “In wildness is the preservation of the world.” Some artists and photographers such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliot_Porter Eliot Porter] explore wildness in the [[themes]] of their works. The benefits of reconnecting with [[nature]] by seeing the achievements of wildness is an area being investigated by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecopsychology ecopsychology]. |
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| Attempts to identify the characteristics of wildness are varied. One [[consideration]] sees wildness as that part of [[nature]] which is not controllable by [[humans]]. Nature retains a measure of [[autonomy]], or wildness, apart from human constructions. Another version of this theme is that wildness produces things that are [[natural]], while humans produce things that are [[artificial]] (man-made). [[Ambiguities]] about the distinction between the natural and the artificial animate much of [[art]], [[literature]] and [[philosophy]]. There is the [[perception]] that naturally produced items have a greater elegance over artificial things. Modern zoos seek to improve the [[health]] and [[vigour]] of [[animals]] by simulating natural settings, in a move away from stark man-made structures. | | Attempts to identify the characteristics of wildness are varied. One [[consideration]] sees wildness as that part of [[nature]] which is not controllable by [[humans]]. Nature retains a measure of [[autonomy]], or wildness, apart from human constructions. Another version of this theme is that wildness produces things that are [[natural]], while humans produce things that are [[artificial]] (man-made). [[Ambiguities]] about the distinction between the natural and the artificial animate much of [[art]], [[literature]] and [[philosophy]]. There is the [[perception]] that naturally produced items have a greater elegance over artificial things. Modern zoos seek to improve the [[health]] and [[vigour]] of [[animals]] by simulating natural settings, in a move away from stark man-made structures. |
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| Another view of wildness is that it is a [[social]] construct, and that humans cannot be considered innately ‘unnatural’. As wildness is claimed to be a [[quality]] that builds from [[animals]] and ecosystems, it often fails to be considered within [[reductionist]] [[theories]] for [[nature]]. | | Another view of wildness is that it is a [[social]] construct, and that humans cannot be considered innately ‘unnatural’. As wildness is claimed to be a [[quality]] that builds from [[animals]] and ecosystems, it often fails to be considered within [[reductionist]] [[theories]] for [[nature]]. |
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− | Meanwhile, an ecological [[perspective]] sees wildness as "(the degree of) subjection to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection natural selection] pressures", many of which emerge independently from the biosphere. Thus [[modern]] [[civilization]] - contrasted with all [[humanity]] - can be seen as an 'unnatural' force (lacking wildness) as it strongly insulates its [[population]] from many natural selection [[mechanisms]], including interspecific [[competition]] such as predation and [[disease]], as well as some intraspecific phenomena.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildness] | + | Meanwhile, an ecological [[perspective]] sees wildness as "(the degree of) subjection to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection natural selection] pressures", many of which emerge independently from the biosphere. Thus [[modern]] [[civilization]] - contrasted with all [[humanity]] - can be seen as an 'unnatural' force (lacking wildness) as it strongly insulates its [[population]] from many natural selection [[mechanisms]], including interspecific [[competition]] such as predation and [[disease]], as well as some intraspecific phenomena.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildness] |
| + | ==See also== |
| + | *'''''[[Tame]]''''' |
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| [[Category: Biology]] | | [[Category: Biology]] |
| [[Category: Ecology]] | | [[Category: Ecology]] |