Millstein, Roberta L. (2015) Re-examining the Darwinian Basis for Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Many philosophers have become familiar with Leopold’s land ethic through the writings of J. Baird Callicott, who claims that Leopold bases his land ethic on a “protosociobiological” argument that Darwin gives in the Descent of Man. On this view, which has become the canonical interpretation, Leopold’s land ethic is based on extending our moral sentiments to ecosystems. I argue that the evidence weighs in favor of an alternative interpretation of Leopold; his reference to Darwin does not refer to the Descent, but rather to the Origin of Species, where Darwin discusses the interdependencies between organisms in the struggle for existence.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Millstein, Roberta L. rlmillstein@ucdavis.edu
Additional Information:	Forthcoming in Ethics, Policy & Environment. There may be small differences between this version and the published version.
Keywords:	Leopold, Darwin, Land Ethic, ecosystem, community, land pyramid, stability, interdependence, Descent of Man, Origin of Species, moral sentiment
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Ecology/Conservation General Issues > Ethical Issues General Issues > History of Science Case Studies
Depositing User:	Dr. Roberta L. Millstein
Date Deposited:	01 Feb 2015 00:52
Last Modified:	25 Mar 2016 02:16
Item ID:	11283
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Ecology/Conservation General Issues > Ethical Issues General Issues > History of Science Case Studies
Date:	29 January 2015
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/11283

Available Versions of this Item

• Re-examining the Darwinian Basis for Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic. (deposited 01 Feb 2015 00:52) [Currently Displayed]
  • Re-examining the Darwinian Basis for Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic. (deposited 25 Mar 2016 02:16)

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