Environment vs. Nature: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 7, 2023
Environment encompasses all surroundings affecting organisms, while Nature refers to the inherent characteristics and phenomena in the world.
Key Differences
The terms Environment and Nature, while interconnected, hold distinct meanings in various contexts. Environment refers broadly to the surroundings in which organisms live, work, or operate. It includes both natural elements, like forests and rivers, and human-made ones, such as cities and infrastructure. On the contrary, Nature embodies the inherent features, behaviors, and phenomena in the world, often excluding human interventions or influences.
Environment often captures the relationship between living organisms and their external conditions, emphasizing adaptability and interactions. For instance, a polar bear's environment consists of icy landscapes and cold temperatures. Conversely, Nature speaks to the essence of living and non-living things and the principles governing them. In this context, the very existence and characteristics of the polar bear, independent of its surroundings, would be described by Nature.
Environment can be modified or shaped, especially with human intervention. Building infrastructure, urban development, and creating artificial landscapes are instances where the environment undergoes change. In contrast, Nature consists of inherent processes, principles, and characteristics that remain consistent unless acted upon by external forces. The water cycle, photosynthesis, or the innate behavior of animals reflect Nature's workings.
From a human perspective, we often discuss preserving the Environment, which typically refers to ensuring sustainability, reducing pollution, and countering deforestation. Nature conservation, however, leans more towards safeguarding species, ecosystems, and natural processes from disruptions, especially those induced by human actions.
In literature and art, Environment might describe a setting or backdrop, focusing on visual, auditory, or emotional cues. Nature, in this realm, delves into themes about life, existence, and the inherent beauty and chaos in the world's phenomena.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Surroundings affecting organisms.
Inherent characteristics and phenomena in the world.
Human Influence
Can be both natural and man-made.
Often excludes human-made aspects.
Changeability
Can be shaped or modified.
Relatively consistent unless acted upon.
Conservation Focus
Sustainability, pollution reduction.
Safeguarding species, ecosystems.
In Literature/Art
Describes setting or backdrop.
Themes about life, existence, and inherent beauty.
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Environment and Nature Definitions
Environment
The totality of ecosystems in a particular area.
The rainforest environment is rich in biodiversity.
Nature
The inherent force responsible for physical phenomena.
Nature has its way of balancing ecosystems.
Environment
Social and cultural conditions impacting individuals.
The work environment plays a role in employee satisfaction.
Nature
The basic or fundamental qualities of something.
The nature of the substance remains a mystery.
Environment
The surroundings in which organisms live.
Fish adapt to their aquatic environment.
Nature
The material world and its phenomena
Scientists analyzing nature.
Environment
The conditions influencing development or growth.
A stimulating environment fosters creativity.
Nature
The forces and processes that produce and control these phenomena
The balance of nature.
Environment
The totality of the natural world, often excluding humans
"Technology, of course, lies at the heart of man's relationship with the environment" (Mark Hertsgaard).
Nature
The world of living things and the outdoors
Spent the day enjoying nature.
Environment
A subset of the natural world; an ecosystem
The coastal environment.
Nature
A primitive state of existence, untouched and uninfluenced by civilization or social constraints
When people lived in a state of nature.
Environment
The combination of external physical conditions that affect and influence the growth, development, behavior, and survival of organisms
"Conditions in a lion's environment ... can drive it to hunt people" (Philip Caputo).
Nature
The basic character or qualities of humanity
It is only human nature to worry about the future.
Environment
The complex of social and cultural conditions affecting the nature of an individual person or community.
Nature
The fundamental character or disposition of a person; temperament
A man of an irascible nature.
Environment
The general set of conditions or circumstances
A terrible environment for doing business.
Nature
The set of inherent characteristics or properties that distinguish something
Trying to determine the nature of a newly discovered phenomenon.
Environment
The entire set of conditions under which one operates a computer, as it relates to the hardware, operating platform, or operating system.
Nature
A kind or sort
Confidences of a personal nature.
Environment
An area of a computer's memory used by the operating system and some programs to store certain variables to which they need frequent access.
Nature
The processes and functions of the body, as in healing
The doctor decided not to do anything and let nature take its course.
Environment
The surroundings of, and influences on, a particular item of interest.
Nature
Heredity
Behavior more influenced by nature than nurture.
Environment
The natural world or ecosystem.
Nature
The way things are, the totality of all things in the physical universe and their order, especially the physical world in contrast to spiritual realms and flora and fauna as distinct from human conventions, art, and technology.
Nature doesn't lie.
The laws of nature are written in the language of mathematics.
Tectonic activity is part of nature, so there's no way to stop earthquakes.
Environment
All the elements that affect a system or its inputs and outputs.
Nature
The particular way someone or something is, especially
Environment
A particular political or social setting, arena or condition.
Nature
The essential or innate characteristics of a person or thing which will always tend to manifest, especially in contrast to specific contexts, reason, religious duty, upbringing, and personal pretense or effort.
It's not in my nature to steal.
You can't help feeling that way. It's human nature.
Power corrupts. That's just the nature of the beast.
Environment
(computing) The software and/or hardware existing on any particular computer system.
That program uses the Microsoft Windows environment.
Nature
The distinguishing characteristic of a person or thing, understood as its general class, sort, type, etc.
What was the nature of your relationship with the deceased?
The best medium might be petroleum, liquified gas, or something of that nature.
Environment
(programming) The environment of a function at a point during the execution of a program is the set of identifiers in the function's scope and their bindings at that point.
Nature
Synonym of caliber: the class of a gun.
Environment
(computing) The set of variables and their values in a namespace that an operating system associates with a process.
Nature
The vital functions or strength of someone or something, especially as requiring nourishment or careful maintenance or (medicine) as a force of regeneration without special treatment.
Environment
Act of environing; state of being environed.
Nature
A requirement or powerful impulse of the body's physical form, especially
Environment
That which environs or surrounds; surrounding conditions, influences, or forces, by which living forms are influenced and modified in their growth and development.
It is no friendly environment, this of thine.
Nature
The need to urinate and defecate.
I hear the call of nature.
Environment
The totality of surrounding conditions;
He longed for the comfortable environment of his livingroom
Nature
Sexual desire.
Environment
The area in which something exists or lives;
The country--the flat agricultural surround
Nature
Spontaneous love, affection, or reverence, especially between parent and child.
Environment
Both natural and human-made surroundings.
Urban areas change the environment drastically.
Nature
A product of the body's physical form, especially semen and vaginal fluids, menstrual fluid, and (obsolete) feces.
Nature
A part of the body's physical form, especially (obsolete) the female genitalia.
Nature
(obsolete) To endow with natural qualities.
Nature
The existing system of things; the universe of matter, energy, time and space; the physical world; all of creation. Contrasted with the world of mankind, with its mental and social phenomena.
But looks through nature up to nature's God.
When, in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bonds which have connected them with another, ans to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal Station which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to the Separation.
Nature has caprices which art can not imitate.
Nature
The personified sum and order of causes and effects; the powers which produce existing phenomena, whether in the total or in detail; the agencies which carry on the processes of creation or of being; - often conceived of as a single and separate entity, embodying the total of all finite agencies and forces as disconnected from a creating or ordering intelligence; as, produced by nature; the forces of nature.
I oft admireHow Nature, wise and frugal, could commitSuch disproportions.
Nature
The established or regular course of things; usual order of events; connection of cause and effect.
Nature
Conformity to that which is natural, as distinguished from that which is artificial, or forced, or remote from actual experience.
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.
Nature
The sum of qualities and attributes which make a person or thing what it is, as distinct from others; native character; inherent or essential qualities or attributes; peculiar constitution or quality of being.
Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem,Their nature also to thy nature join,And be thyself man among men on earth.
Nature
Kind, sort; character; quality.
A dispute of this nature caused mischief.
Nature
Physical constitution or existence; the vital powers; the natural life.
Oppressed nature sleeps.
Nature
Natural affection or reverence.
Have we not seenThe murdering son ascend his parent's bed,Through violated nature force his way?
Nature
Constitution or quality of mind or character.
A born devil, on whose natureNurture can never stick.
That reverence which is due to a superior nature.
Nature
To endow with natural qualities.
He [God] which natureth every kind.
Nature
The essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized;
It is the nature of fire to burn
The true nature of jealousy
Nature
A causal agent creating and controlling things in the universe;
The laws of nature
Nature has seen to it that men are stronger than women
Nature
The natural physical world including plants and animals and landscapes etc.;
They tried to preserve nature as they found it
Nature
The complex of emotional and intellectual attributes that determine a person's characteristic actions and reactions;
It is his nature to help others
Nature
A particular type of thing;
Problems of this type are very difficult to solve
He's interested in trains and things of that nature
Matters of a personal nature
Nature
The inherent characteristics of something.
It's in his nature to help others.
Nature
The physical world collectively, excluding humans.
We took a hike to enjoy the beauty of nature.
Nature
The universe with its intrinsic properties.
The laws of nature govern how planets orbit.
FAQs
How does Environment differ from Nature?
Environment encompasses all surroundings affecting organisms, while Nature refers to inherent characteristics and phenomena.
Can the Environment be controlled or changed?
Yes, the Environment can be modified, especially through human interventions like urban development.
Does Nature include human beings?
While Nature broadly covers all living entities, often it's used to refer to the world excluding human influences.
How do human activities impact the Environment?
Human activities can pollute, degrade, or enhance the Environment, affecting its sustainability.
Can an office setting be termed an Environment?
Yes, an office setting is an environment as it provides surroundings in which people work.
Is the term "Mother Nature" anthropomorphic?
Yes, "Mother Nature" personifies natural processes and phenomena.
Is human behavior part of Nature or Environment?
Human behavior can be influenced by both inherent traits (Nature) and surroundings (Environment).
Can human-made parks be considered part of the Environment?
Yes, human-made parks are part of the Environment as they are surroundings affecting organisms.
Are natural disasters part of Nature?
Yes, natural disasters are phenomena stemming from Nature's processes.
How are Environment and Nature linked?
Nature determines the inherent processes of the world, while the Environment is the setting these processes occur in.
How do urban areas influence the Environment?
Urban areas can modify the Environment through pollution, deforestation, and infrastructural developments.
What role does Nature play in evolution?
Nature, through natural selection, drives the evolution of species.
Can a computer system have an Environment?
Yes, in tech terms, a computer system's operating conditions and settings are its environment.
How do animals adapt to their Environment?
Animals develop physiological, behavioral, or morphological changes to survive in their Environment.
Do laws of physics fall under Nature?
Yes, laws of physics describe the fundamental principles of Nature.
Can an Environment be both natural and artificial?
Yes, an Environment can comprise both natural elements like forests and artificial ones like cities.
How does conservation help Nature?
Conservation safeguards species, ecosystems, and natural processes from disruptions.
How do weather patterns fit into Environment and Nature?
Weather patterns are phenomena stemming from Nature and affect the Environment of regions.
Are human-made lakes a part of Nature or Environment?
While human-made, such lakes become part of the Environment. They may not be "natural" but are influenced by Nature's principles.
Why is understanding Nature important?
Understanding Nature helps in predicting phenomena, conserving biodiversity, and appreciating life's complexities.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
