Introduction
Conservation Esthetic is a chapter of Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac that discusses recreation and conservation. In the chapter, the author defends his position on the meaning of leisure and outdoor activities for hobbyists and sportspeople; he uses argumentative and persuasive language, supporting his ideas with scientific and naturalistic terms. By the end of the essay, he shows worry and remorse for the nature affected by recreation, criticizing those who do not value land for its mere existence. In contrast, Wildlife in American Culture is a chapter of reflection and consideration; as he contemplates the effect of gadgets and the mechanization of outdoor hobbies, Leopold writes in a simpler, more direct language. The tone of the essay is more delicate and understanding compared to the previous text.
The Reason Behind the Differences
I believe that the differences between the writing of the Almanac readings derive from Leopold’s state of mind and sense of his text. Since the essays were taken from his diaries, the Almanac passes the author’s thought process; such an example is the Wildlife in American Culture chapter. It was written simply, as if directly from Leopold’s mind; the text communicates his understanding and worry; having hunted himself, he comprehends the feelings of such a sport (Hudson 651). In contrast, the Conservation Esthetic is an argumentative essay in which the author’s claim is defined; due to this, the language was transformed into more philosophical and sophisticated. The chapter’s tone is more ill-disposed because the author is determined in his critique of the harmful behavior of the hobbyists.
Environmental Ethics in the Modern World
The way Aldo Leopold describes nature comes from his sincere love and respect. The current environmental ethics is influenced by Leopold’s works because he was an important part of the ecological movement and left a profound impact on the human relationship with the land (Puig and Echarri 680). For this reason, the environmental ethics of today is described similarly to Leopold’s. He highlighted essential elements of ecology and biodiversity and established the science of wildlife management (Puig and Echarri 680). I admire his approach to writing about nature and wildlife and would like to incorporate his views and ideas into my culture. For example, having read his essays, I realized the enormity of the number of gadgets that clutter the man-earth relationship, depriving humanity of its union with nature (Leopold 182). This concept inspired me to change the way I live my daily life and spend more time outdoors.
The Outstanding Concepts of the Essays
A Sand Country Almanac is an incredible piece of literature with many astonishing philosophies, ideas, and concepts. After reading Conservation Esthetic, I was left in a depressive state of worry about land and the environment. The trophy-seeking paradox of human nature fuels the desire to possess, invade, and appropriate wildlife to be able to enjoy it (Leopold 177). Such blindness to the beauty of the mere existence of hinterlands and forests is the most unforgettable and haunting part of the essay. In Wildlife in American Culture, the most distinguished idea Aldo Leopold has produced revolves around the absurdity of the human desire to excel in a hobby by depriving the activity of the initial challenge. It is seen in the example of a sportsman utilizing any gadget possible to acquire a game (Leopold 181); the described scene is ridiculous and perfectly portrays many spheres of contemporary life.
Works Cited
Hudson, Marc. “Aldo Leopold Among Mountains.” Journal of the Southwest, vol. 61, no. 3, 2019, pp. 640-657.
Leopold, Aldo. A Sand County Almanac: And Sketches Here and There. Penguin Books Limited, 2020.
Puig, Jordi, and Fernando, Echarri. “Environmentally Significant Life Experiences: The Look of a Wolf in the Lives of Ernest T. Seton, Aldo Leopold and Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente.” Environmental Education Research, vol. 24, no. 5, 2018, pp. 678-693.