Eportfolio Critical Thinking Assignment

Jordan Newbould
HUMA-1100
12/9/2016

Choose any reading from the assigned readings for this semester. Ideally it should be
a reading you feel strongly about.
The Reflection/Reading Assignment that I enjoyed and feel the most strongly about
would have to be, Wildlife in American Culture written by Aldo Leopold. We as humans
impact our multi-cultural society in many different aspects but our culture nevertheless
retains part of its wild roots.
Identify the main argument or message contained.
His essay argues the importance of conserving nature in an American multi-cultural
society. Leopold is considered to be the father of wildlife ecology. He learned to the land
as a living organism and developed the influential concept of ecology as a community.
He compares humans ethical connection to nature and how our culture has ties to our
ecology. Leopold discusses 3 different sets of values when it comes to human
involvement with nature.
The first of Leopolds values consists of, value in any experience which stimulates
American culture and nationalism, and this reminds you of national origins and personal
privileges that you may have an individual. This made reflect on my own personal needs
as a person and the role a play whether as a student or a team member at work. His
second value, insists that there is a humanistic value which reminds us of our
dependency on food cycle. He suggest that we are moving towards more industrial
mass consumption and education is the only way to move towards the soil.
Leopolds, last value states that the conquest of nature by machines has led to much
necessary destruction of resources.
Provide the context for the piece of writing (historical, cultural, political etc)
Leopold is suggest that our traditional American culture is fading as we move into
technological advancements and a mechanized economy. Our cultural and personal
values are shrinking especially our ethical restraints. Mechanization effects has multiple
effects on our air quality as motorized transport and hunting becomes more convenient.

Eportfolio Critical Thinking Assignment

Jordan Newbould
HUMA-1100
12/9/2016

Wildlife management and wildlife research question how this internally and externally
affects our cultural values. We have the potential for whole human enterprise through
encouraging ecological behavior and promoting Wildlife safety. Leopold argues the
importance of nature and how some excess in our society can be curbed.
State your opinion of the writing: did you like it, or not? Agreed with the argument or
not? Was it argued effectively?
I really enjoyed this reading it made me personally reflect on my values as well as my
dependency on nature and life. Causing unnecessary waste impacts all of us living in
cities and communities. Leopold reminds us that we need to shift our values towards
having an effective man-earth relation. Humans of this generation need to have a code
of ethics and a set a values to maintain just like previous generations. I agree with
Leopolds argument, we need to approach this situation delicately before it gets more
out of hand. Destruction of our land and is unethical and not needed. Mechanization will
offer no substitute for our lands and personal beliefs. I think that we each play a play a
role in our society and ass well as with our relationship with nature for it to flourish
successfully, Wildlife and nature provide substantial benefits to our society that help
maintain and benefit our cultures. I personally reflected on my own cultural values and
behavior cycles in our society. If we can productively manage mechanization we can
preserve our wildlife. We must adapt and effective values system and form that
relationship with nature and ecology.
State a counter argument or approach to the main argument you identified in q.2.
(Notice that this is required even if you agree with the argument)
While resource are still abundant, and are biodiversity is still contained and sustainable.
It makes we weary of are growing technological and mechanized economy. Instead of
creating this harmonistic relationship with nature, I feel we are putting this attention into
continually involving current technology, rather than the ecology of our environment. As
traditional American values fade, will we still be able to have the same appreciation
towards nature as previous generations did? As we threated our ecology with our
consumption conundrum, and issue grows more apparent and we risk mechanization
impacting our plant and animal life cycles. If mechanization isnt preventable, that what

Eportfolio Critical Thinking Assignment

Jordan Newbould
HUMA-1100
12/9/2016

is the best way that we can effectively adapt the same set of values towards our
technology and we do towards nature? We each have different sets of values and ethics
that we adhere to daily and throughout our lives. I think it is important to have an ethical
connection with nature, similarly to how we connect to each other through our vast
social communication.