Andrew Taylor
Bio 1400
February 9, 2013
Land Ethics
In reading The Land Ethic I noticed that many humans are greedier, or more
economically minded, than wise when it comes to using the land. I was able to fully
comprehend the section about the land pyramid, because we had gone over it in class.
Then I was fascinated with the idea that “land is something [man] has outgrown.” First, I
think the biggest idea of the reading was that man is more concerned with the economical
side of environmental ethics than any moral side. If farmers are asked to change the way
they farm In order to benefit the ecosystem, and prolong the life of the soil, they start
asking questions. Is this going to affect my crop yield? How much profit will I lose if I
take these suggestions? Is everybody else doing this too? Society’s priorities have
changed over time. When most people think of issues today, they think of themselves and
the little bubbles they live in. The majority of humans don’t spend much time thinking
about conservation and being sustainable. Next, The Land Ethic mentioned the land
pyramid. The basic idea is that there are different levels that are all interconnected. There
are many organisms at the bottom to provide food, energy, for the organisms or creatures
at the next level. Changes do occur, and the ecosystem evolves to account for the
change. The issue is that man these days has so many tools for “rapid” change that the
environment cannot keep up. These tools for what is supposed to be “beneficial” change
end up being detrimental to the ecosystem. When one level, ex) the soil, is harmed it
affects all levels of the pyramid. Thirdly Man has “outgrown” the land. The average
person now days takes the environment for granted. When I read this I thought about
what we talked about in class. When we need food, we go to the grocery store. When we
need heat, we turn up the thermostat. I know I never think twice about where my food is
coming from, or if the farmer growing my corn is over plowing his soil. I do not think
about where my trash is going. The reading also mentioned that man does not notice the
land around him unless it is scenic or there is something for him or her to gain. I think it
will take more than education to fix these problems. These issues require individuals to
have a sense of moral responsibility and to take action.
Element 2
1.
I would characterize my conservation philosophy as informed yet
powerless. I feel I can only do my part as an individual, and hope my actions can
positively influence the ones around me. What does this look like for me? I
recycle, try not to waste water, do not litter, and when hunting or fishing I’m
mindful of the limit and the environment that I’m privileged to be a part of. In the
grand scheme of things though, at least in the U.S., I think land is viewed as
money.
2.
I agree with the idea that I am a part of a bigger community, which
includes the land. I believe I already do put this ethic into practice as I mentioned
in question 1. I suppose I could also try to be mindful of this idea on a more
regular basis. I do not tend to think about this ethic on a daily basis just because
our society is so distanced from nature. Though I live on the land everyday it does
not feel like real “land” because I’m in the city. When the book was talking about
land, my mind goes straight to nature. I think about the woods or the plains. I feel
I might be more conscious now about land in an urban setting.
3.
I would say in today’s society our land relation is still mostly economic. I
do think land relations depend on the individual. There are people today that live
for backcountry skiing and hiking. I believe these people who spend more time
away from the city tend to have more respect for land. These people love the land
for what it is, and not what they can gain from it.
4.
I think extending a community’s sensibilities to all members of the
community would be not acting superior towards others; by others I mean plants,
animals, and other humans. I thought of our first lab when reading this question.
If there was an eagle nesting on a plot of land that I wanted to build a house on
there are ways of being sensible towards the eagle, since it is a part of the
community. For example, I could build the house somewhere else.
5.
I think there is a fine line between what is right and what is wrong
concerning land ethics. I think it is extreme to say that doing something that
affects the biotic community is wrong. We are also part of the biotic community.
We have to build shelters, hospitals, schools, and generally live off the land.
Having said that, I think that it is wrong to force a species out of their natural
territory. I think it is also wrong to deplete the soil’s nutrients by over-plowing. I
do not agree with the fact that doing any little thing to affect the biotic community
is wrong.
6.
Honestly I think the beauty of the land is more motivational to me than my
ethical duty. I spend plenty of time in southern Utah and hiking around the
Wasatch, so I have a deep appreciation for the wilderness. I feel obligated to treat
the land with respect, because I believe it has treated me with respect thus far.
7.
I think my personal land ethic is based off the idea of respecting the
wildlife. I was raised in a family that hunts, and practices conservation of our
land. If I had to choose between being a “group A” conservationist or a “group B”
conservationist, I would fall in with “group A.” My land ethic did not emanate
from self-interest. As I grew up I chose to continue practicing responsible land
ethics, because I feel it is a small step in the right direction.
Element 3
I enjoyed reading The Land Ethic more than most required school
readings I have done in the past. This non-fiction informative style really catches
my attention. My favorite part was the idea that man has outgrown land. I
mentioned this idea to my buddy on the chairlift yesterday, and had a long debate
about it. I find it so illogical and profound at the same time. Part of me thinks
about this literally and knows that it does not make sense. We use the land
everyday. The other part of me thinks about the average person who never leaves
the city perimeter, the person who takes their car, convenience stores, and other
amenities for granted. There is much to be said about that statement. Next, I
completely agree with the idea that the average person views land in relation to an
economic value. I did not like the beginning of the reading with the Odyssey
reference. It almost lost my interest. Overall I enjoyed this reading, and would be
interested in learning more about similar issues.