Saber tradicional, ética de la tierra y sustentabilidad

Abstract

This is the crucial moment to take on sustainable forms of life, and hence it is now of primary importance to adopt a land ethic that takes into account not only the use value but also the intrinsic value of the beings that make up our natural environment. In this essay I begin by focusing on the obstacles that the development of a land ethic has to face, obstacles that are due to limitations in knowledge and to mistaken assumptions. As a way to resolve these practical difficulties I first point out the existence of our natural inclinations toward the land and life. Furthermore, I propose that the traditional knowledge of those peoples that have lived for extended periods with their environments can serve us as models for the development of a culture of appreciation for the earth and its inhabitants.