Socrates Visits the Amazon Spheres
PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE: SOCRATES; STEVE of SAN FRANCISCO
SCENE: Denny Regrade, Seattle, Washington. Outside of the Amazon Spheres on 7th Avenue.
SOCRATES. Greetings, good man. My name is Socrates, and I am a visitor to Seattle. Do you reside here?
STEVE of SAN FRANCISCO. I do indeed. I am Steve, and although I was born in the city of San Francisco, I moved here to take a job with Amazon.
Soc. These are certainly remarkable buildings, are they not?
Ste. Indeed, quite remarkable, and an ingenious accomplishment which will benefit lovers of nature and technological innovation.
Soc. Ah, is this the stated reason for the construction of the Spheres?
Ste. Yes, Socrates. The spheres provide us with an opportunity to learn more about the plants we share the world with, and to inspire curiosity about them.
Soc. How delightful! As a lover of nature, my curiosity is indeed piqued. So tell me, how does one enter the spheres so that one may learn about the plant life therein for one’s self?
Ste. You may enter the “Understory,” through those doors there, and visit a number of exhibits describing the spheres and their contents.
Soc. And from there, I can enter the buildings themselves?
Ste. Oh, only employees of Amazon.com are able to enter the buildings themselves. The public cannot do so, as they would disrupt the employees working therein.
Soc. Ah. But this “Understory” surely allows us a view into the structures, no?
Ste. No, you cannot see into them from the “Understory.” However, you can look into the spheres by walking around them.
Soc. I have circumnavigated the buildings already, and found it difficult to really make out the plants therein.
Ste. Well, it is a workplace. It would be difficult for our employees to work if anyone who wanted to could peer into their work space all day.
Soc. I see. I can always return later then. The public must be able to go in during off hours?
Ste. Er, no, Socrates; the Understory is still the only part of the spheres open to the public, at any time.
Soc. So when one’s curiosity about plants is sparked, they are invited to go learn about plants elsewhere?
Ste. It would seem this is the case. But, there are plants in the “Understory” which represent the ones in the spheres themselves.
Soc. Ah, lovely! And how many plant species can one view in the Understory?
Ste. Well, let’s see… there is a panel of “Living Wall,” and there are three additional plants on view.
Soc. Three plants plus a portion of a wall?
Ste. Plus a large video projection, as well as a collection of dioramas.
Soc. Ah. So visitors who are curious about plants can see approximately ten plants, and can watch some images of plants?
Ste. Yes, that’s right.
Soc. Unless they are employees of Amazon, in which case they can visit the spheres.
Ste. Some employees.
Soc. Some employees?
Ste. They can’t be open to *all* employees.
Soc. Why not?
Ste. Amazon has half a million employees, worldwide! Why, it would be untenable if they were accessible to all employees. Can you imagine if someone who works in a warehouse decided to just drop in? It would be very disruptive.
Soc. Ah. And have you entered the spheres?
Ste. Not yet. My tour is scheduled for next week.
Soc. Hm. Well, never mind. I suppose the greater purpose of the spheres — to bring nature to the city — is admirable, no?
Ste. Yes, of course, Socrates. I am very much a lover of nature.
Soc. Me too! What is your favorite bacterium?
Ste. I don’t follow your meaning.
Soc. If you love nature, you must love all of its components. So what is your favorite bacteria? Mine are the rhizobiales.
Ste. I don’t think that’s what is meant by “nature” in this context.
Soc. Ah, I see. And what is meant by “nature,” then? “In this context.”
Ste. Er, the trees and plants and such….
Soc. But there are “trees and plants and such” right here on the street.
Ste. Yes, but the ones inside the spheres are species that are not native to this area.
Soc. Many of the trees on this street are also not native to this area, dear Steve. What makes them different from the ones inside?
Ste. I suppose, Socrates, that the plants within require different climactic conditions to thrive.
Soc. And the conditions within the sphere mirror those conditions?
Ste. Exactly, Socrates.
Soc. So, for example, the soil in which they are planted?
Ste. But this is one of the more remarkable features of the construct. Many of the plants don’t require any soil! They receive water and nutrients through a process called “fertigation.” It is incredibly innovative!
Soc. Just as in “nature”?
Ste. I wouldn’t know about that, Socrates.
Soc. I can see that, Steve. Regardless, it seems to me that “fertigation” requires human direction and participation for its success, yes?
Ste. Yes, Socrates, that’s right.
Soc. And how does this fit in with bringing “nature” to urban areas? Is human participation in a living system like this “natural?”
Ste. I would argue that it is, indeed, “natural.”
Soc. As would I, my friend. So the living systems that already exist in the city, such as these street trees, which also require human participation, are also part of “nature”?
Ste. Most assuredly.
Soc. Let us, then, clarify something. The spheres are “innovative” because Amazon claims they bring nature into the urban world and spark curiosity about the plant life therein. But, who “fertigates” the plants?
Ste. We have horticulturalists who determine how this is accomplished.
Soc. Ah, so “nature,” in this case, requires human participation — without the humans who “fertigate” the plants, the plants wouldn’t survive. Am I correct so far?
Ste. Yes, Socrates.
Soc. However, only a few individuals are allowed to access the reproduction of Nature within the spheres. The rest of us are relegated to the “Understory.”
Ste. Yes, that’s correct.
Soc. However, living systems in which humans participate can be found on the street, and can also be considered “nature,” yes?
Ste. Indeed.
Soc. Why, then, spend… how much did it cost to construct the spheres?
Ste. $4 billion.
Soc. Remarkable. So, why spend $4 billion to build these structures to “bring nature into the urban world and spark interest about plants” when you could just as easily have invested that amount in natural systems that are available to everyone, many of which are already here?
Ste. I… I’m not sure, Socrates.
Soc. In a sense, doesn’t this project actually make nature — the nature therein — less accessible to urban people?
Ste. Go on….
Soc. It seems to me, and correct me if I’m wrong — you’re the Amazon employee, after all — that the environment within the spheres is nature, but is also unnatural inasmuch as it is only available to a privileged few. Unless one has whatever clearance Amazon requires to enter the spheres, one is relegated to learning about their contents through a series of images — examples, dioramas, projections on screens — instead of by experiencing the real processes of nature.
Ste. Okay.
Soc. However, since humans are participants in nature, the real processes of nature can be learned just as easily, and for free, by anyone, at any time, simply by walking around outside and observing the interactions between living things. Would you agree that this makes sense?
Ste. Sure.
Soc. So if the people behind the spheres really cared about nature, they would understand that nature isn’t a closed environment accessible only to a very small segment of the population. Nature isn’t something you go to. Instead, they would invest that $4 billion in programs that would actually benefit everyone, not just a few hundred people with special access.
Ste. They could, I suppose. But then we wouldn’t have these unique and impressive buildings here in Seattle.
Soc. I suppose you’re correct, my friend. I suppose you’re correct. Well, if you’ll excuse me, I believe I’ll wander into the “Understory” now and see the fifteen plants on display. When your ticket is called and you’re allowed on your tour, I hope you’ll enjoy wandering through the spheres. Goodbye, Steve.
