ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Aldo Leopold's Ecology as a War of Taste

publication · 2026-04-24

The May 2015 issue of artpress features a review of Aldo Leopold's 'A Sand County Almanac,' highlighting the pioneering ecologist's provocative opening line: 'There are people who can live without wild things, and others who cannot.' Leopold (1887-1948) is presented as a figure whose ecological thought can be interpreted as a war of taste, challenging conventional aesthetic and ethical relationships with nature. The article situates Leopold's work within broader debates on ecology and culture, emphasizing his enduring relevance.

Key facts

  • Aldo Leopold lived from 1887 to 1948.
  • The article appears in artpress issue 422, May 2015, page 78.
  • Leopold's book 'A Sand County Almanac' opens with the line about people who can or cannot live without wild things.
  • The article frames Leopold's ecology as a 'war of taste.'
  • The review discusses Leopold's challenge to conventional aesthetics and ethics regarding nature.

Entities

Artists

  • Aldo Leopold

Institutions

  • artpress

Sources