LAND ETHICS PAPER

Land Ethics Paper

Land Ethics Paper

Point 01

The land ethic simply enlarges the boundaries of the community to include dirt, waters, plants, and animals, or collectively: the land. Certainly not the waters, which we suppose have no function except to turn turbines, float barges, and carry off sewage. A land ethic of course cannot prevent the alteration, management, and use of these 'resources,' but it does affirm their right to continued existence, (Leopold 1990: 102) and, at least in spots, their continued existence in a natural state. Leopold's A Sand County Almanac, and the concept of the land ethic itself, is ultimately about values. Our values form our activities, both in the individual sense and as they concern to our humanity as a whole. (Leopold 1990)Values and their relationship to individual and community decisions are extremely layered and complex, which can make it hard to find common ground to discuss them in an open, neutral setting.

Point 02

Much of the discussion of ecological matters in American society today focuses on recognizing difficulties and formulating solutions. (Comstock 2010: 101) It is prescriptive rather than reflective. Very little time or space is granted to contemplating the origin causes of these troubles, their ethical significances, or our individual and communal attachments with the natural world.

One of Aldo Leopold's great power as a researcher and communicator was his ability to weave reflections on history, social tendencies, and ethics into his deliberation of environmental issues. To pursue his lead today, we address it significant to conceive possibilities for dialogue about humanity's relationships to the natural world that is not enclosed by a need to produce answers to exact problems. (Newton 2006)Out of these contemplative conversations will naturally arise new ideas and inspiration for active engagement?

Point 03

“It has deepened my understanding that the Land Ethic is tied ...