When Nature Isn't a Gift: A Biologist's Take on the Serviceberry by Andrew A. Davinack

Biologist Andrew A. Davinack challenges Robin Wall Kimmerer's portrayal of nature as a "gift economy," arguing that such metaphors blur the line between moral philosophy and biological reality. Drawing on examples from parasitology, he contends that nature's balance arises not from generosity but from feedback, constraint, and adaptation—an amoral equilibrium that teaches humility rather than reciprocity. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/when-nature-isnt-a-gift-a-biologists-take-on-the-serviceberry/ About the Author: Andrew Davinack, PhD, is an assistant professor of biology at Wheaton College in Massachusetts. He is an expert on marine parasites and host-parasite coevolution, and he teaches a variety of courses, including genetics, molecular ecology, and zoology. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/