All four texts explore the relationship between humans and the natural world, but Khaldun and Montesquieu focus more on the ways in which nature impacts and shapes human civilizations, thought, and physiologies, whereas Buffon and Humboldt discuss mainly the ways in which humans interact with and alter their environment. I found Khaldun’s argument interesting because he attributed variations in skin color purely to the “composition of the air” and the amount of sun present in different regions, which is impressively accurate given the time period in which this was written. He even discusses the idea that humans who migrate to different regions of the earth will produce offspring whose skin color gradually turns the color characteristic of that region. Montesquieu takes a similar approach in his discussion of human-nature relationships, but he focuses more on how environmental factors impact human disposition and state of mind. In particular, he discusses how men in colder climates possess more courage, have higher tolerances for pain, and have less sensibility for pleasure. I also thought his argument that people in colder climates are better equipped to drink alcohol was interesting. In Buffon’s work, there is a shift from discussing nature’s impact on humans to a discussion of how humans control and alter the natural environment. He provides evidence for this phenomenon - specifically using the example of deforestation and its link with increased temperature. Finally, in Humboldt's work, he takes a very philosophical viewpoint of the human-nature relationship. He discusses the importance of scientific inquiry and how it can deepen our understanding and appreciation of the natural world. His view seems a little self-righteous at times, given that he adamantly argues for the superiority of rational scientific inquiry over what he considers to be a more primitive enjoyment of nature adopted by “less civilized” nations and humans of the past. That being said, I like how much reverence he seems to have for the pursuit of knowledge and efforts to acquire greater understanding of the universe.