Who Invented the Balance of Nature? Tracing a Concept's History

December 23, 2025 •

3 min read

The notion of a "balance of nature" stretches back over two millennia to the ancient Greeks and was not invented by a single person, but rather evolved through the contributions of many thinkers over centuries. The idea itself has undergone dramatic shifts in interpretation, challenging the simple concept of a static equilibrium.

Quick Summary

The concept of a stable and self-regulating "balance of nature" evolved over millennia, rooted in ancient Greek philosophy and religious beliefs. It was shaped by many, from early naturalists to Charles Darwin, before modern ecological science largely rejected the static equilibrium idea in favor of a more dynamic and chaotic view of natural systems.

Key Points

No Single Inventor: The concept of a Balance of Nature was not invented by one person but evolved over millennia through philosophical and scientific interpretation.
Ancient Greek Roots: Early thinkers like Herodotus, Plato, and Cicero developed the idea, often attributing it to a divine order or inherent structure in creation.
Theological Influence: For centuries, the balance was viewed as a providential design set by God, as seen in the work of figures like William Derham.
Darwin's Revolutionary Shift: Charles Darwin fundamentally changed the basis of the concept from divine design to natural selection and competition, framing it as a dynamic, evolving process.
Modern Ecological Rejection: In the 20th century, academic ecologists, including Charles Elton and Aldo Leopold, largely abandoned the static balance metaphor in favor of a more dynamic and chaotic view of ecosystems.
Emphasis on Flux and Resilience: Contemporary ecology focuses on the concepts of flux, constant disturbance, and ecosystem resilience rather than a fixed state of equilibrium.
Enduring Public Appeal: Despite its dismissal in academic circles, the metaphor of a fragile "balance of nature" persists in public consciousness and environmental messaging.

The question of who invented the Balance of Nature is complex because the concept was never created by a single individual or at one moment in history. Instead, it represents a long-evolving human understanding of the natural world, changing dramatically as scientific thought progressed. The idea began as a philosophical and religious belief, was reinterpreted through evolutionary theory, and was eventually critiqued and largely discarded by modern ecologists who emphasize the dynamic and ever-changing nature of ecosystems.

Ancient Roots and Philosophical Beliefs

The earliest origins of the balance of nature can be traced to ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, where the idea was often linked to a divine order. Early Greek thinkers like Herodotus sought biological evidence for a balanced system. Philosophers including Plato and Cicero expanded on this, suggesting species were created to maintain stability and cosmic harmony, reflecting divine wisdom.

Theological and Early Scientific Interpretations

Following the Middle Ages, the concept reappeared with the Reformation, viewed by naturalists as a providentially determined system. William Derham, in his 1714 work Physico-theology, used the term "balance" to describe nature's self-regulation, rooted in a theological perspective. Richard Bradley, an early 18th-century contemporary, focused more on biological evidence of species dependency, noting that disruptions could throw the system "out of order".

Darwin and the Evolutionary Shift

Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species in 1859 significantly reinterpreted the balance of nature. Darwin's theory explained population checks through a "struggle for existence" involving natural selection and competition, shifting from a static, designed balance to a dynamic, evolving one. Alfred Russel Wallace also questioned the testability of a truly balanced nature.

The Twentieth-Century Challenge and Modern Perspectives

By the mid-20th century, ecologists, using quantitative data and observing natural disturbances, began to move away from a static view. Aldo Leopold and Charles Elton were among those who expressed skepticism about the metaphor. By the late 20th century, the term was largely replaced in scientific discourse by concepts emphasizing flux and constant change.

Modern ecology views ecosystems not as static but as dynamically equilibrating, constantly adjusting to pressures. This involves resilience—the capacity to absorb disturbance and reorganize while retaining function. This focus on dynamic adaptation is vital for addressing modern environmental issues.

Comparison of Classic vs. Modern Views of Natural Balance


Feature	Classic View (Pre-20th Century)	Modern View (Post-1970s)
Equilibrium State	A single, fixed, and ideal state of perfect balance and harmony.	A dynamic, fluctuating state where populations and conditions vary within a viable range.
Driving Force	Divine creation or providential design that established a stable order.	Complex interactions like natural selection, competition, and constant disturbance.
Response to Disturbance	Disturbances are unnatural disruptions that destabilize the system.	Disturbances (like floods, fires, etc.) are natural and integral parts of ecosystem dynamics.
Key Concepts	Divine purpose, inherent order, and predictable climax communities.	Resilience, adaptive capacity, and multiple stable states.

Conclusion: The Enduring Metaphor

The Balance of Nature was not invented by one person but evolved through history, reflecting changing human understanding. While science favors a dynamic view, the metaphor of a fragile balance remains influential in public discourse and conservation. This history shows how our perception of nature has shifted from a static, external order to a complex, dynamic process. You can find an in-depth evolutionary perspective on the concept of the "balance of nature" from the National Institutes of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, while Darwin fundamentally reinterpreted the concept through natural selection, the idea itself is far older, with roots in ancient Greek philosophy from figures like Herodotus and Plato.

Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers like Plato and Cicero saw the balance of nature as an expression of divine order. They believed species were created with traits and interactions that maintained a cosmic harmony and stability.

Modern ecologists have largely abandoned the idea of a perfect, static balance. Instead, they view ecosystems as dynamic, constantly changing, and subject to natural disturbances. The focus is on a system's resilience and adaptive capacity rather than a fixed equilibrium.

Scientific observations showed that ecosystems were not static but were in constant flux, experiencing natural disturbances like fires and floods. Early ecological theories that viewed nature as a 'superorganism' were replaced by more mathematical and individualistic models that better described nature's complex, chaotic reality.

Darwin's theory of natural selection shifted the explanation for how populations are kept in check from divine purpose to a constant 'struggle for existence.' This meant the balance was not preordained but a dynamic outcome of competition and survival.

From a modern scientific standpoint, the classic idea of a perfect and static balance is considered a metaphor, not a scientific reality. However, the underlying truth of interconnectedness in ecosystems is valid, though the systems are far more dynamic and complex than previously imagined.

William Derham was an 18th-century English naturalist who explicitly used the term "balance" in an ecological sense in his work Physico-theology. He saw nature's stability as a demonstration of God's existence and attributes.