Light Pollution and the Human Experience
Our society has become more technologically advanced and has attained a greater level of comfort than ever before in human history. Yet in spite of all of this, people do not seem to be happier. Depression, stress and anxiety are each at an all time high. Increasingly often, people are reporting that they feel a lack of meaning in their lives. While there are many potential sources for this problem, I personally believe that one of them is light pollution, of all things. Ninety-nine percent of the modern United States and continental Europe experience some form of light pollution. Among more severe environmental consequences, such as disrupting the balance of the environment, the most noticeable consequence of light pollution is that it makes it more difficult to see the stars. The stars have served a vital function throughout human history, and the modern world has been disconnected from their grandeur because of light pollution, which eliminates a wonderful source of existential motivation. When people aren’t readily reminded of the beauty, mystery and grandiosity of the universe, it makes them more likely to feel meaningless and become nihilistic.
When members of ancient societies would walk outside, they would be met with an astounding sight: thousands of brilliant and sparkling stars gazing down at them from the heavens above. These stars serve as a testament of the grandiosity of the universe. In an unusual paradox, they make one feel insignificant yet ultimately significant at the same time. Merely looking at them inspires one with a sense of wonder and amazement; it stirs rapture in one’s soul. It’s really no wonder that our ancestors would project myths onto the stars and call them constellations. They effectively serve as a reflection of humanity, glimpses of light among a sea of chaos. As our society produces more and more light pollution, we become disconnected from this source of meaning, and we start to lose something that was once fundamental to the human experience.
We can often become distracted and frustrated by the business and stresses of everyday living. In a very stoic sense, the sky is a reminder that there is so much outside of our control, and the scope of our lives is small compared to the totality of the universe. There is peace in that thought. Compare the image of the bustling stressful New York sidewalk against the silent cosmos, with everything moving in its respective element. The sight of such an image can help to put one’s thoughts and life into perspective.
We as students at Utah State University have a great yet often underappreciated resource. If you drive 30 minutes into Logan Canyon on a clear night, you’ll get a glimpse of that very same image that inspired ancient civilizations with wonder and meaning. Be sure not to become disconnected from that.
Kristian Fors is a student at Utah State University majoring in Economics and Philosophy and is an opinion columnist for the Utah Statesman. He can be reached at krfors@gmail.com.