Sometimes it feels as though everything is awful. Does that feeling obscure how wonderful the world is? Or is it, in fact, not full of wonder?
It’s a simple fact that humanity faces existential-level crises, from climate change to species extinction. In addition, ongoing wars, uncertainty over artificial intelligence, political unrest add to an uneasy sensation that sometimes feels like it permeates everything.
And yet, there is great wonder in the world. There is stunning natural beauty, like waterfalls or mountain ranges. There are is an amazing variety of animals, birds, and fish that populate every nook and cranny of the world. In addition, there are man-made wonders that are a testament to our species’ ingenuity. We understand the world as never before, and have ever-increasing ability to improve things.
Of course, some of these are in conflict: our ability to impact the world is putting our climate future in jeopardy. We risk losing the amazing diversity that exists in the animal and plant world, which in turn endangers our own future.
But shouldn’t that add to the wonder, in fact? Just because the ecosystem is fragile doesn’t take away from how special it is. In fact, just the opposite: fragile, impermanent things can be the most wonderful. Think of, say, the intricacies of an individual snowflake, which exists for such a short moment in time.
As the famous song begins:
“I see trees of green/Red roses tooI see them bloom/For me and youAnd I think to myself What a wonderful world.”
Is that, in fact, true? Or does the peril we face, human stupidity and greed, and our uncertain future detract from it? Is the world wonderful?
Related questions: How can we maintain wonder? What’s the most amazing natural wonder you’ve experienced? What is the greatest problem facing humanity? Is it a cruel world?