inkstained

I think it's funny how some people try to cram Henry David Thoreau neatly into a little romantic kind of box. And, yes, this is the guy who went off to live on his own by a pond for a long time. But although I feel that a myriad of "romantic" ideals probably all influence Thoreau to one degree or another, environmentalism for him seems more a concern of economics.

Yes, economics.

I know, I'm a Business major, so everything is money, resources, efficiency, for me. But think about it.

He places a certain value on everything and speaks frequently of opportunity cost. Instead of saying, "Gee, this tree is awfully pretty; it's such a shame to see such beauty leave the world," or "It's wrong to chop down trees," or "Somebody should stop these damn lumberjacks," or "We should worship trees," I think Thoreau is more saying, "Would it not be better to preserve the value--aesthetically, ethically, politically, religiously--of this tree than to waste its value in a lumber mill?"

Thoreau is concerned that the present generation is not taking pleasure from nature and that because of this future generations will not have the opportunity to enjoy--or, if you will, gain utility from--the beauty of nature, which is a real waste of value.