ipl-logo

Review: The Land Ethic And A Sand County Almanac By Aldo Leopold

458 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay on aldo leopolds sand county almanac

The philosophy of environmental ethics emerged to the forefront of mainstream cultures in the early 1970s when philosophers and academics questioned mankind's superiority in the world, and the impact a global population will continue to have on the environment. During this era, government officials observed a trending surge in the global population which heightened awareness about an environmental crisis that would ensue. Before the emergence of environmental ethics in mainstream cultures, a forester, ecologist, and environmentalist named Aldo Leopold worked for the United States Forest Services where he crusaded for wildlife management and environmental ethics (A&E Television Networks, 2014). After Aldo Leopold's employment with the United States Forest Services, he published several books including The Land Ethic and A Sand County Almanac. In these publications, Leopold writes about how the ethics of …show more content…

In addition, the importance of Aldo Leopold's philosophy about environmental ethics is paramount considering the devastation reported around the increasing need for natural resources as the global population is projected to reach eight billion by the year 2025.

The mention of global population growth and the exploitation of natural resources has given way for careful thought about how to provide a solution while acting as a proposal for societies to consider in relation to existing environmental ethics issues. Nearly two thirds of all wildlife round the globe is in decline (ActionBioscience, 2000). The most likely reason for the alarming decline of wildlife is deforestation. Common deforestation techniques utilize heavy equipment to rapidly clear cut native trees while disrupting soil balance, and breaching wildlife habitat. Instead of utilizing antiquated clear cutting techniques from a cultural

Show More
Related
633 Words | 3 Pages

The book A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold is filled with many themes. One main theme I found in part four in the essay “Wilderness” was the connection between humans and nature. Aldo Leopold states, “The rich diversity of the world’s cultures reflects a corresponding diversity in the wilds that gave them birth” (264). This statement contributes nature to creating culture. In the essay “Wildlife in American Culture”

Read More
590 Words | 3 Pages

Summary Aldo Leopold is considered the most influential conservationist in the 20th century. His greatest idea was the “land ethic.” A quote from the movie says: “All ethics so far evolved rest upon a single premise that the individual is a member of a community of individual parts—land ethic includes soils, waters, plants and animals.” Although, Leopold died in 1948, his ideas are still current.

Read More
751 Words | 4 Pages

President Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, was known for his love of nature. This was conveyed most strongly in his speeches, such as “Conservation as a National Duty”, in which he advocated for the preservation of natural resources in the interests of the nation and its people. In this speech as well as others he gave during his term as President, he stressed that conservation did not just pertain to preserving natural resources or deferring their exhaustion; rather, it was closely intertwined with the patriotic duty of ensuring that the nation would be able to provide for future generations, and was second only to the “great fundamental questions of morality”. One such example of how Roosevelt connected conservation with morality is found in his “The New Nationalism” speech, given in Osawatomie, Kansas in 1910. Here, he compares the way he believes the nation must behave in terms of conservation to the manner in which a farmer acts in reference to his children and the land that provides for them.

Read More
676 Words | 3 Pages

Within Aldo Leopold’s novel, A Sand County Almanac, the concept of trophic cascade is brought forth with his idealistic mindset for “a land ethic”. To Leopold, the land ethic “changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and citizen of it. It implies respect for his fellow-members and also respect for the community as such” (Leopold 871). Utilizing this mindset, the actions, consequences, and events from Timothy Treadwell’s life depicted in the documentary Grizzly Man have an understanding and purpose for why they transpire the way they do.

Read More
704 Words | 3 Pages

Chapter 6 of the Echohawk article is called “Toward an American Land Ethic”. In the beginning of the article the author mentions that the Declaration not only serves to protect and preserve the indigenous habitat but also the related land and use of rights of the indigenous peoples and their cultural survival. Chapter 6 examines all the ways that the human family has originally/traditionally looked at the land. This chapter explores the forces that stymie a land ethic in our own country the United States and explains the congruency between protecting the rights of indigenous people and developing a land ethic for a American setting. What is a land ethic?

Read More
193 Words | 1 Pages

This paper intends to investigate Jon Krakauer’s book Into the Wild (1996) through ecological perspectives, and how man takes/claims his own place in/above nature. Human beings are continuations of natural evolution/universe, but humans enjoy and are the centre of everything. Krakauer uses William Cronon’s essay The Trouble with Wilderness, where he argues the idea of sublimity in which the concept of anthropocene comes into being. Additionally, politicised nature, evidenced in, for example, The Wilderness Act of 1964, authorizes Congress to designate wilderness areas, reinforcing and legitimizing colonial expansion, blurring the line between nature and culture. I shall also discuss John Krakauer’s Into Thin Air (1997), where we see how climbing

Read More
988 Words | 4 Pages

Protecting the nature and preserving the forests was a vital part of countless environmentalists in the past. From the godfather of environmentalism, to the woman who pioneered the study of chimpanzees in the wild, many scientists and environmentalists have shown significant importance towards the nature and the beautiful world around them. To name a few, John Muir, Jane Goodall, Ansel Adams, and Rachel Carson are examples of inspiring people who gave importance to forests and natural landscapes for America. One of the vital people in the world who helped develop a movement towards the nature was John Muir. From the article in Source #2, “Is Conservationist Muir Still Important?”, the author states that, “He's a larger-than-life figure

Read More
530 Words | 3 Pages

In the essay Leopold talks about preserving and loving nature (265). I also feel it is necessary to preserve and enjoy the wild. People go to museums to enjoy the past. It would be unacceptable to destroy a sculpture in the Louvre or to ruin a priceless relic in the Smithsonian, so humans should not destroy our greatest piece of history earth has to offer, nature. Aldo Leopold states, “This is a plea for the preservation of some tag-ends of wilderness, as museum pieces, for the edification of those who may one day wish to see, feel, or study the origins of their cultural inheritance” (265).

Read More
1621 Words | 7 Pages

At this point, the ideas of conservation and preservation had split. People now had to decide whether to advocate for the preservation of nature or for the sustainable use of nature’s natural resources. John Muir argued that “everywhere, everywhere over all the blessed continent, there was beauty, and melody, and kindly, wholesome, foodful abundance” (American Forests). On the other hand, people like Gifford Pinchot argued that natural resources should be sustainably used, but should also meet the needs of humanity (Keel). In the end, the

Read More
844 Words | 4 Pages

Everyone wants something in their life. A new phone, new clothes, jewelry, toys, and other luxuries. But did you realize the price tag does not show the full price? “Saving The Worlds”, and “The Race to Save the Elephants” by Mary Kate Frank believes that because of our negligence and cupidity, animals and environments are the ones actually paying for your decisions. Mankind are incessantly ruining their lives by obliterating their habitats, overfishing, poaching, producing pollution, and other nefarious methods.

Read More
2424 Words | 10 Pages

“In wilderness is the salvation of the world,” writes Aldo Leopold in his book, A Sand County Almanac. Wilderness isn’t defined solely by the wolves that set out for prey, or the dangerous weather conditions that nature drops on humankind. Wilderness is the trees outside one’s window, the wind on a cheek when walking outside, the dog that has evolved to love its human. Nature improves human well-being through its vast array of life, it connects humans to their home, Earth. It is through the wild, through nature, that individuals are able to look away from their painful lives and instead look to something beautiful, beyond the makings of man.

Read More
884 Words | 4 Pages

Deforestation is still an unbeleafable issue even to this day. With our trees being cut down to make supplies and furniture, we struggle with keeping our ratio of trees being destroyed and trees being planted equal. It seems like that was also the case in the past. There was a significant amount of trees being cut down in 1920, the land looking much more barren than it did in 1650 (Document A, map). These trees, some of them taking more than three thousand years to rise tall, are being cut down.

Read More
1712 Words | 7 Pages

Homelessness and the Viability of Grassroots Sustainability Programs According to National Resources Defense Council, “40 percent of food in the United States today goes uneaten” (Gunders 4). As good, edible food is being discarded, a survey by the United States Department of Agriculture revealed that, “97 percent [of people who identify as having very low food security] reported that…food…did not last, and they did not have money to get more” (“Definitions Of Food Security”). Food Forward, a local food recovery and food-sharing organization, simultaneously tackles these two issues by recovering excess produce from private properties, public spaces, farmers, and wholesale markets, and sharing them to the most food insecure in California, the

Read More
1340 Words | 6 Pages

In recent years, the topic of saving the Earth from Humans has shown itself in many conversations amongst the people of the public. Saving the World will be an issue we must solve in the near future because we are causing a mass extinction for animals, and we are harming and killing humans, but we can resolve it by using technology to reduce global warming and setting aside reserves. The most important thing humans must do in regards to this topic is begin to educate themselves and others on how drastic we must be in regards to it. The first major issue that must be made clear is the great peril animals are in, and what this means for the planet and humans.

Read More
1658 Words | 7 Pages

Review of Literature Environmental issues began to be discussed and debated only towards the end of the 20th century. Since then significant amount of literature has been penned down raising awareness about issues of pollution, deforestation, animal rights and several others however it has failed to result in major changes, ideas or even actions to save the environment. Several species of animals have become extinct; pollution level is at an all-time high, global warming is leading to severe climate changes all across the globe but these problems do not seem to alarm the decision makers. Leydier & Martin (2013) also states that, “despite the increasing expression of concern in political and media debates about issues such as climate change, pollution and threats to biodiversity, “political ecology” (operating at the confluence of scientific developments, political engagement and ethical debates) is still trying to find its bearings” (p.7). It is quite evident that environmental issues are not treated in equivalence to political, economic, social or even religious issues.

Read More

More about Review: The Land Ethic And A Sand County Almanac By Aldo Leopold

Related Topics

Open Document