Research On Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic

Development of human society so far,science and technology has made great progress,but the deterioration of the relationship between human beings with nature and has not improved.Leopold’s land ethic has an important influence on the development of environmental ethics,especially the masterpiece "A Sand County Almanac," published sparked widespread concern about environmental issues.In this paper to explore the value of its era and inspiration for the construction of ecological civilization in China by studying land ethic.The first chapter mainly sorts out the origin of land ethic.Leopold proposed the ethics of the land because people have unrestricted access to natural resources,causing tensions between man and nature.Although the gradually emerging resource conservation movement has achieved certain successes,it also has drawbacks.The formation of land ethic has gone through three stages.With Leopold’s practice and thinking in life and work,his thinking has gradually become more mature and clear.Land ethic has absorbed the ideas of evolution and holism on the basis of inheriting the previous theories,so it has a profound theoretical foundation.The second chapter conducts an in-depth study on the theory of land ethic.From the standpoint of the land ethic,the main content of the land ethic,and the disputes about the existence of the land ethic,the theory of the land ethic is elaborated.These include the transformation of philosophical methods of understanding and the re-understanding of natural values.There are also the scope of the expansion of land ethic,the specific connotation of the earth ethical community and the principles of land ethic.Research on the three criticisms and defenses of naturalistic fallacy,environmental fascism,and deontological dilemma.The third chapter studies the practical orientation of land ethic.First,Leopold’s wilderness protection practices are described.Leopold paid attention to the remaining wilderness after being developed by humans.He explored the value of wilderness from the aspects of leisure,scientific research,and the survival of wild animals.He pointed out that humans should protect these remaining wilderness.Secondly,Leopold thought about how to realize the land ethic.Leopold proposed the method he recognized to solve environmental problems: through education to make individuals shoulder the responsibility of environmental protection.Finally,it discusses the enlightenment of land ethic to the construction of China’s ecological civilization.It is mainly divided into three aspects: treating the natural environment well,promoting environmental education,and paying attention to environmental justice.Based on the above research,although Leopold’s land ethic has a history of nearly a hundred years,it still has important value.The ecological wisdom contained in it has important reference significance for China’s construction of ecological civilization."A Sand County Almanac" is the crystallization of Leopold’s thoughts.His land ethic promoted the transformation of people’s values and attitudes towards nature,making it possible for people to care for nature from the heart.It is a great change in ecological protection thinking and practice.