Aldo Leopold's "The Land Ethic"

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Aldo Leopold’s “The Land Ethic” begins with discussing the term “ethic.” Here Leopold describes it in two ways, ecologically and philosophically. Ecologically an ethic is described as a “limitation on freedom of action in the struggle for existence”(Leopold 58). Philosophically an ethic is a “differentiation of social from antisocial” (Leopold 58). These are two different definitions for the exact same word, which Leopold brings about the idea of co-operation, or symbioses. It is mentioned that when talking about ethics it usually relates to the relationship between individuals and society, but there really is not a relation between an individual and the land along with the plants and animals that live there. Leopold’s reasoning for this is that the land relation entails privileges, but not obligations. I agree with Leopold in the fact that people take the world around them for granted. Since the beginning of the human race people have just seized whatever land they fancy and do with it what they will with no regard for what was there before. I do believe that an ethic must be put forth to better take care of the world we live in, one that will make people realize what they are doing to the world around them. “A land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and citizen of it” (Leopold 60).

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“An ethical obligation on the part of the private owner is the only visible remedy for these situations” (Leopold 68). This is arguing that the government cannot control things that are too complex or too widely dispersed and it is then up to the private owner. I agree with this to an extent, but I believe the government has much more control over things than we think it does. If the government gets more actively involved in conservation more people are going to become educated on the topic, more

people are going to become passionate about it, and more people will change their ways to better conserve the land. When conservation becomes more of a prominent feature in our society, people will be less resistant to jump in and make a difference.

“Obligations have no meaning without conscience, and the problem we face is the extension of the social conscience from people to land” (Leopold 64). I understand what Leopold is saying here, but shouldn’t the social conscience include both people and the land? The idea of being social is interaction, something shared. People interacting and being social is something that can really help

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conservation efforts, getting together and making a difference. We have to be conscious of both the people and the land around us because no one person can change the world. It takes a group of committed people who continue to gather others who are made aware of the problems and are willing to help create a better land, a better future for those who come after us.