And the One That Destroys the Land?
We ought to thank God for that. Yes, the man who tills the land is more worthy of respect than any.
— Nikolai Gogol (1809-1852)
You Left Your Son on the Field
And the One That Destroys the Land?
We ought to thank God for that. Yes, the man who tills the land is more worthy of respect than any.
— Nikolai Gogol (1809-1852)
At first glance, Gogol's quote might seem a bit old-fashioned. After all, in our modern, industrialized world, it's easy to forget the importance of agriculture and the hard work of those who work the land. But Gogol's quote is a reminder that agriculture is the foundation of human civilization. Without it, we would not have food or raw materials to build our homes and cities.
From a philosophical perspective, this idea is reminiscent of the concept of "virtue ethics," which emphasizes the importance of moral character and virtues like hard work, honesty, and respect. The farmer who works the land embodies these virtues. They work hard to produce food for their community, are honest in their dealings with others, and have a deep respect for the land and the environment.
But there is another side to Gogol's quote that is worth exploring. He suggests the farmer is "more worthy of respect than any." This is a bold claim, one that might be hard to accept at first. After all, what about doctors, scientists, artists, and other professionals who contribute so much to society? Surely they are worthy of respect too.
But perhaps Gogol is suggesting something deeper. Perhaps he is suggesting that the farmer is worthy of respect because they are closer to the land, the earth, and the rhythms of nature. They understand the importance of hard work and perseverance, patience and persistence. They deeply respect the natural world and the cycles of life and death that govern it.
In a way, this is a reminder that we are all connected to the natural world, whether we realize it or not. We may live in cities, work in offices, and spend our days staring at screens, but at the end of the day, we still depend on the land and the natural world for survival.
From a philosophical perspective, it is reminiscent of the concept of virtue ethics, emphasizing the importance of moral character and virtues like hard work, honesty, and respect. But it is also a reminder that we are all connected to the natural world and depend on it for survival. And if all else fails, we can always take comfort in the fact that at least we're not tumbleweeds. They don't even have the capacity to till the land or contribute to society.
A prodigal placement, if I have ever seen one, cultivated from a distance; the agrarian with roots in the Aegean. Sea, that is!
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Daniel Sanderson