The Biophilia Hypothesis

The term "biophilia" means "love of life or living systems." It was first used by Erich Fromm to describe a psychological orientation of being attracted to all that is alive and vital, E.O. Wilson uses the term in the same sense when he suggests that biophilia describes "the connections that human beings subconsciously seek with the rest of life." He proposed the possibility that the deep affiliations humans have with other life forms and nature as a whole are rooted in our biology. However, technological advancements and built environments have assisted our separation and disconnection from nature. This leads to further ecosystem degradation and species loss. Based on this premise, restoring our relationship to, and with nature is essential to healing the damage of our perceived separation at a crucial time for our planet.