Abstract Many public decisions about the environment seem infused with a worldview that supposes nature is well understood as a machine and that the key purpose of science is the discovery of its rules to then control nature for the betterment of humanity. That nature-as-machine worldview leads to damaging overconfidence in forecasting ecological outcomes. A competing worldview is that nature is better understood to unfold like human history—explainable but critically and inherently unpredictable because of the important influence of historically contingent events. Recent analysis offers compelling support for this idea. This article explores a demanding consequence of such findings—namely, that those involved—directly and indirectly—with environmental decision-making should strive to relax the influence of the nature-as-machine worldview on environmental decisions, including difficult-to-identify influences that have resulted from centuries of this worldview's normalization. This striving includes analyzing decisions about the environment in terms of humility and favoring humbler decisions.

John A Vucetich

Sarah R Hoy

Rolf O Peterson

BioScience

BIOSCIENCE 包括关于研究成果和技术的文章、生物学教育的进步、关于生物学最新前沿的专业撰写的专题文章、专业问题的讨论、书评、关于 AIBS 的新闻、政策专栏（华盛顿观察）和教育专栏（关注教育）。圆桌会议、论坛和观点文章提供意见领袖的观点并邀请进一步评论。

The journal BioScience includes articles on research findings and technologies, advancements in biology education, specialized articles on the latest frontiers in biology, discussions on professional issues, book reviews, news about AIBS, a policy column (Washington Observations), and an education column (Focus on Education). Roundtable discussions, forums, and opinion pieces provide insights from thought leaders and invite further commentary.

《BioScience》期刊涵盖了研究成果和技术的文章、生物学教育的进展、关于生物学前沿的专题文章、专业问题的讨论、书评、AIBS的新闻、政策专栏（华盛顿观察）和教育专栏（关注教育）。此外，期刊还包括圆桌会议、论坛和观点文章，提供意见领袖的见解，并邀请进一步的评论。

Category	Quartile
生物学	1
生物学, 生物学	1

More reason for humility in our relationships with ecological communities

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