Can human beings ever imagine what it is like to be a tree? Is there such a thing as ‘being’ a tree? We use empathy to position ourselves into the life of others or even as animals, plants or things. This empathy can follow Arne Næss’ ecosophy, highlighting the intrinsic value of nature, thus making us conclude there are too many human beings on earth.
GH von Wright says the idea nature needs to be protected from man is the result of comprehensive environmental anthropogenic degradation; ancient man was not environmentally conscious. In this paper I argue we need to develop an environmental consciousness, at the same time we intellectually need to ethically separate a tree from a human being, thereby preventing a non-human environmentalism. Every generation and every human being needs to be environmentally awakened, at the same time learn to accept to live in a world of contradictions.