Attributing nature with justifications

I claim that concepts such as competition, evolution of the fittest and reg ulation through hierarchical constructs are all attributions we make to nat ure based on our culture. I think these concepts, and others of like ilk, a re the results of a particular manner of emotioning, sensing and acting tha t is now common to most of our modern cultures. Once attributed to nature, we use these concepts as grounding premises, or as justification, to contin ue the manner of emotioning, sensing and acting which gave rise to them. I see this as a disquieting circularity, a blindness, that results in a way o f being that we do not want, but feel compelled to. However, since we have the ability to reflect on our beliefs and to consider whether we want the c onsequences of maintaining them, I also see the possibility of living in a. manner that we find more ethical and more pleasurable. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.