“Land, like
Odysseus' slave-girls, is still property” (Leopold 59).
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I am immediately
struck by the brutal honesty of Leopold’s statement. The repulsion I feel for
the possession of an individual faces the saddening realization that land is as
“owned” as Odysseus’ slave-girls. Possession creates inequality that is then
expressed in the possessor’s actions. Leopold acknowledges the growth in
human-to-human ethics but reveals it does not extend to the environment. Why
isn’t the environment as precious as a human life? Leopold states that movement
into the “third element” of ethics it is an evolutionary possibility and an
ecological necessity. I agree with Leopold’s statement and believe ethics
should extend into the third element.
“In short, a
land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land
community to plain member and citizen of it. It implies respect for his
fellow-members, and also respect for the community as such” (Leopold 59).
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Is it possible
for humans to respect the land when many hold large economic ties to it? Leopold is
talking abut how people only care about our their own interests, specifically,
things that render a profit. Cows give us milk, chickens with eggs, and plants can
be eaten or sold. People are not concerned about the environment if it does not
affect them personally. This lack of concern gives no thought to the
interconnectedness of everything. Every single action will have a counter
action in the future. Humans are
crippled by their close-mindedness and inability to consider the long-term
consequences to their actions. When I think of the human lifespan in contrast
to nature I can’t help but think how minute and insignificant a human life
really is.
“Synthetic
substitutes for wood, leather, wool, and other natural land products suit him better than the
originals. In short, land is something he has 'outgrown.” (Leopold 76)
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Would humanity
be able to separate itself from nature by producing everything in a lab? I am
skeptical of the human body’s adaption to fake products. Although production of
food within the laboratory setting has been around for over a decade, we are
just beginning to understand and suffer the side effects. All the processed
foods we consume are killing us. I do believe the human body is highly adaptable
but only to a certain extent. If good generated within a laboratory, like
genetically modified food, why would the market for food that is not
genetically modified and organic be on the rise. With the availability of statistics
on long-term health trends in this country, I do not think I’m unreasonable to
claim the food people eat on a daily basis is detrimental to their health. Food
production should go back to basics.
