"Nature is trying very hard to make us succeed, but nature does not depend on us. We are not the only experiment"

R. Buckminster Fuller’s words reflect a profound perspective on the relationship between humanity and the natural world. Rather than casting nature as a passive setting or resource, the statement treats nature as an active, dynamic force that fosters life and adaptation. The suggestion that nature is “trying very hard to make us succeed” implies that the evolutionary processes, environmental conditions, and resources available are not indifferent to human well-being; instead, they continuously provide opportunities for our survival, growth, and advancement. Despite this, the assertion that “nature does not depend on us” is a humbling reminder of our position. Humanity often behaves as if it holds dominion over the planet, yet nature existed long before us and will persist after us. Our extinction would not spell the end of life or the Earth’s ongoing processes. This realization tempers human arrogance and invites respect for the larger, interconnected web of existence.

Moreover, Fuller’s claim that “we are not the only experiment” speaks to the vast diversity and constant experimentation intrinsic to life itself. Through processes like evolution and natural selection, myriad species, forms, and ecosystems have come into being. Human beings are a remarkable development but not the pinnacle or final purpose of nature’s creative power. Other life forms, past, present, and future, are also products of these natural experiments, adapting, thriving, and sometimes vanishing. This awareness provides both comfort and warning: comfort, because our struggles or failures are not the end of the story for life on Earth; warning, because it challenges the anthropocentric view that all of nature’s endeavors serve human needs. Fulfillment of our potential does not guarantee our perpetual survival, nor does our downfall mean cessation of creativity or vitality in the world. Understanding this broader context encourages humility and stewardship rather than entitlement and exploitation.