Analyzing Leopold's 'Mosaic Decalogue'
Leopold extend his ethics to the land as opposed to Singer and Taylor. The ethical evolution that Leopold discuss encompasses the interaction between humans and the natural world. His land ethics begins with the understanding of the importance of interactions between individuals. Then he moves onto interactions between individuals and their community. Following, is the most important, and that is human nature relation. Leopold puts an emphasis on this relation, as he believes it is what will incite change. Human’s views on ethics need to evolve and humans must come to an understanding that human-nature relation is key. “It implies respect for his fellow-members and also respect for the community as such” (Williston, 2012, p. 81). As he mentioned,
…show more content…
One misunderstanding that may come up is weather or not Leopold is asking us to return to the wilderness? And to answer this, no he is asking for a shift. At the beginning of his essay to give examples of ethics he goes on about the Mosaic Decalogue, the Ten Commandment as well and the golden rule (Williston, 2012). He mentions how these declarations guide our interactions within others weather it be nature or beings and that we need to consider feelings as well as consequences in order to respect others. Here Leopold want to develop his land ethics in the same vein except with a deeper way of thinking. The point in his essay is not to give us trivial ways to conserve the environment but rather, inspire the land community within us as the land is deserving of the same treatment we give our loved ones. The principle we apply to our everyday interactions with one another we should apply to our interactions with the land. Then by embracing such views we will not only change our outlook on the land but also have a greater understanding, and the concept of land will penetrate our intellectual life (Williston, 2012). In the end we are left with questions such as; has is penetrated our intellectual life? How do we make land ethics a reality? How to know that our actions will not create ecological disasters? Etc. Leopold’s intent is to stir an ecological conscience to expand human-nature relation and inspire many generations of conservation (Williston,
One misunderstanding that may come up is weather or not Leopold is asking us to return to the wilderness? And to answer this, no he is asking for a shift. At the beginning of his essay to give examples of ethics he goes on about the Mosaic Decalogue, the Ten Commandment as well and the golden rule (Williston, 2012). He mentions how these declarations guide our interactions within others weather it be nature or beings and that we need to consider feelings as well as consequences in order to respect others. Here Leopold want to develop his land ethics in the same vein except with a deeper way of thinking. The point in his essay is not to give us trivial ways to conserve the environment but rather, inspire the land community within us as the land is deserving of the same treatment we give our loved ones. The principle we apply to our everyday interactions with one another we should apply to our interactions with the land. Then by embracing such views we will not only change our outlook on the land but also have a greater understanding, and the concept of land will penetrate our intellectual life (Williston, 2012). In the end we are left with questions such as; has is penetrated our intellectual life? How do we make land ethics a reality? How to know that our actions will not create ecological disasters? Etc. Leopold’s intent is to stir an ecological conscience to expand human-nature relation and inspire many generations of conservation (Williston,