The protagonist's failure to build a fire exemplifies the philosophy of naturalism which is that nature is stronger than man and that only natural laws and forces exist in the earth or universe.
The author paints the gory image of the man's thoughts as he desperately seeks ways to warm himself having failed to light a fire.
One of the options he thinks up is killing the dog that has helped him survive all the while, hence the naturalistic tendencies of man.
From the information provided, the man may be described as:
The man relies mostly on his judgment. His judgment is based on his senses and what he knows to do under such circumstances which in this case are limited.
The dog on the other hand possesses enhanced senses such as taste, smell, and hearing and animal instincts that are built for such conditions.
By making these contrasts, London demotes the man in his ability to deal with the harsh nature of his environment.
It redeems the image of the man and the epitome he represents. It means that the man is able at least to learn from his mistakes. Hence, an attempt to exert the superiority of man over nature.
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