enviromental ethics
Aldo Leopold's book, A Sand County Almanac offers insight to an issue that will forever be debated. In the book, he guides the reader through the year at his farm in Wisconsin. The beautiful descriptions of nature at his farm lead up to the land ethic that Leopold proposes. He explains his ideas and views on the various issues of environmental ethics. He takes up every side of the story. He includes his explanation for why we should respect the land, the land's economic and ecological value, and the ethical reasons for respecting the land. Leopold explains his opinion wonderfully with much conviction. However, there are always two sides to the story. Several authors in chapter eleven of the textbook, Applying Ethics have different opinions and have just as much conviction about their own ideas. Environmental ethics is an issue that is very important to some people, but means nothing to others. All of the points represented in these two texts give great supporting evidence, facts, and opinions to support any one of the ideas. Leopold's land ethic combines the earth's soils, waters, plants, and animals collectively into one community-the land. He explains that humans are not the master
The owls make their homes in these trees, however lumber companies saw money in the clearing of the land. Taylor's essay "The Ethics of Respect for Nature" shares some of the same feelings as Leopold. It is good to respect our land, but I do not feel that it is necessary to treat it as one of our equals. " He says that we abuse the land, because we regard it as a commodity that belongs to us. I feel that I could apply land ethic to my life in some situations. However, many other people have their own opinions too. Basically, we will do only what helps us to reap our best benefits, while having no regard for how it affects the land. Our society is often too quick to judge the value of something, especially in nature. The oil spill, the spotted owl, the tree hugger story, and the wildlands project could have all been prevented or bettered if society would respect our natural resources and inhabitants. Leopold also discusses the difference between evolutionary changes and man-made changes. He does not even think that any kind of respect should be given to nonhuman organisms. It really opened my eyes to some of the issues that we have today. However he feels that we should look at land ethics from an individualistic point of view. In the end, neither side was happy.
Common topics in this essay:
Applying Ethics,
Leopold Taylor,
County Almanac,
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land ethic,
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William Baxter,
Ed Swann,
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Aldo Leopold's,
economic value,
chapter eleven,
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Paul Taylor's,
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conserve protect,
oil spill,
spotted owl,
land biotic community,
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Acceptance Essays
