The Artificial Nature: Ways In Which Modes of Perception Operate

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Ways In Which Modes of Perception Operate
In ‘Desert World’, Zwinger presents an interesting yet fascinating image of desert life and how different forms of life coexist within a closed ecological setting. The text depicts diverse forms of perception. First and foremost, animals have fond memories of the Great Basin Desert. “Once the waters of the Great Salt Lake sparkled and flickered, where once a prehistoric people made a living and shared in the bounty of a wetter climate" (Zwinger, 415). This statement depicts a change of climatic condition, hence the desert climatic features. It seems as though the prehistoric people were environmentally conscious as they shared in ‘a wetter climate’. Thus a perception is cast that the prehistoric people were more sensitive and caring for the environment. Their lifestyle, predominantly migratory, characterized by hunting, fishing and gathering, perhaps was the lowest form of life. Given the lifestyles of the ancient archaic desert communities, animals felt endangered and constantly at risk. Animals perceived other animals as competitors and a threat to their individual survival. Still, certain animals viewed others as significant threat particularly those that feed on other animals, carnivores.
Animals perceived plants as providing ecological habitation, “…permanent residence”(Zwinger,415). Plants provided shelter and were also food for some animals. Thus all animals viewed destruction of plants as destruction of their permanent residence, and hence a danger to their future survival. Climate features were also critical for the survival of animals. Therefore all animals perceived good climatic conditions as a blessing and bad climate as a threat to their wellbeing. Animals would perceive wetter and sunny climate both as good and bad. They would view it as good because plants would blossom and provide a bounty supply of food (Zwinger, 416). On the contrary, they would view it as bad as it would make their permanent residence uncomfortable and uninhabitable. Some Animals would also view dry, sunny climate as good and conducive for their existence. Still, others viewed the desert landscape both as a blessing and a curse. A bushy landscape would be a blessing to certain animals particularly those hunted by humans and other animals as it would provide cover (Darwin 68). At the same time, it would be a viewed as a curse by carnivore’s animals that hunt for food. A hilly landscape would be perceived by some animals as posing accessibility hindrance hence it would be viewed both as a blessing and a threat to the plant and animal kingdoms. Plants perceive other plants as a threat to their survival as they compete for the same natural resources. This perception is critical as it helps them understand that their continued survival solely depends on their ability to outcompete other plants (Darwin 69). Plants perceived good climatic features, especially sunny and wet conditions as a blessing; and dry conditions as a threat to their survival. Changing climatic features were important in helping plants understand the concept of death and lifespan. Most plants died during extreme dry, sun...