Maria Gomez
Biology 1120
Kristen Taylor
Environmental Ethics: Virtues over Power
Part I: Summary
Aldo Leopold, environmentalist and author of “The Sand County Almanac” features a
collection of forty one essays published in 1948. According to Leopold humanity has damaged
the environment with recreational activities based on economical and political advantages.
“Land Ethic” emphasizes the development of an ecological conscience beyond the limitations of
society. The author questions the definition of humanity and environmental virtues that are
require for land conservation.
The Land Pyramid illustrates the ecosystem as biotic levels consisting of soil, plants,
animals, and larger carnivores. According to the concept each level are interdependent parts of
fuel dependency. Leopold argues that the lowest structure is essential to thriving species as the
biotic community is correlated to with each other. The last section title “The Outlook,” explores
the concept of self-preservation and conservation. The idea portrays Leopold’s conservational
ethics, which according to him are philosophical instead of economic.
Part II: Questions and Answers
What is environmental philosophy or how would one characterize their own conservation
beliefs? Leopold stimulates this discussion in “The Sand County Almanac” regarding the
environmental issues, the biotic community, and the role humanity plays in nature. My
principles consist of providing care for animals and natural resources such as recycling,
minimizing fuel, or planting a tree. As a volunteer for the Humane Society of Utah, I’ll like to
believe that I have an understanding relationship with the environment. However, as humans
we tend to be materialistic and egotistical, often when particular objectives are displayed
between ecological and economic issues. Leopold discuses this barrier that society benefits
themselves with the land only when it’s profitable, but are disregarded once the resources are
deem undesirable.
In 1872 Congress established Yellowstone National Park to preserve the region
from spoliation, which began the movement to restore national parks worldwide. According to
Leopold’s perspective recreational parks were fashioned to illustrate the grandeur of the land,
rather than be displayed for profit. Leopold argues that ethical obligation is witness when
commercial value is present and that National Parks do more harm than good. I believe that
society has a moderate relationship with the land when barriers of political and environmental
circumstances are debated.
Leopold states “A land ethic changes the role of humans from conqueror of the land
community to plain members and citizens of it. It implies respect for his fellow-members, and
also respect for the community as such,” (Leopold, 1949) his philosophy extends the
boundaries between animals, nature, water, plants, and land. I thought a mutual relationship
was between the environment and animals; I never visualize Leopold’s idea about forming a
spiritual value with other resources of our biotic system.
Our role as humanity is to preserve the environment by improving the quality of our natural
resources and the damages inflicted. As a volunteer for the Humane Society of Utah, I’ll like to
imaging that I contribute to our community. There are occasions that I don’t have direct
interaction with any animal, but the smallest actions often make a great impact, such as
cleaning the cages or washing food bowls. My belief is that as global citizens our responsibility
lies within the environment and society. Leopold argues that a balance for specific foundations
should be considered, as both are essential. In land ethic Leopold states “A thing is right when it
tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when
it tends otherwise.” The concept, in my opinion, reflects nature as another member of society
that shouldn’t be disregarded or corrupted from the purity that the environment has.
Leopold believes that humanity should have consideration for the land, by giving the same
respect that is essential given to a member of society. As Leopold states “It is inconceivable to
me that an ethical relationship [with land] can exist without love, respect, admiration, and a
high regard for its value,” that is categorized by aesthetics and ethics. Aesthetics and ethics I
believe are essential, what is beauty if it’s not flourishing or lacks purity. I also think that people
should provide care for our environment.
Humanity is a concept that is broad, upon reading Aldo Leopold’s essay I thought of diverse
issues in “land ethic.” Leopold discusses the concepts of materialism and corruption with past
historical references; portraying humans as conquers that eventually demolish their
surroundings. I believe that there should be equilibrium of limitations or balance between our
biotic communities by forming spiritual values with natural resources. In America significant
events altered the territories and lifestyle of society, for example the Dust Bowl and the nearextinction of the buffalo by the Native Americans. There is no self-preservation if there is
damaged to the ecology and agriculture that civilization relies on.
Part III: Critique
It’s evident that Leopold and Carson are two significant environmental books published
that impacted the perspective on environmentalism. The authors establish conservational
issues in respect to the human relationships between animals, land, and nature. Leopold’s book
illustrates similar concepts to Henry Thoreau and Rachel Carson, the books share philosophical
ideas and were passionate naturalist that establish controversial ideologies in America. The
concept of “nature equality” was question and environmental virtues within society were
emphasized.
Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring declared that “Our heedless and destructive acts
enter into the vast cycles of the earth and in time return to bring hazard to ourselves”
(Griswold, 2012). Carson established an environmental movement for society to acknowledge
the damage of pesticides entering the biosphere and eventually compromising every living
species. The same ideologies appear in Land Ethics, Leopold defines philosophical concepts
within nature.
The essay establishes one to question the role and relationship within the environment
as well, are we citizens of the reclusive community or do we have global awareness? I believe
that as people, who are capable of protecting and manufacturing diverse products its essential
our responsibility to maintain the environment and the beings that inhabit it, both human and
non-human. As a global society, our objective should be to preserve the quality of the
environment.
WORKS CITED
Griswold, Eliza. “How Silent Spring Ignited the Environmental Movement”. The New York Times.
2012.
Leopold, Aldo. “A Sand County Almanac, With Essays on Conservation from Round River.”
Toronto: The Random House Publishing Group.1949. Print.