An agrarian model of farming is one that places emphasis on the realization of a multi-faceted notion of health, one encompassing the cultural, ecological, and moral health on the farm and in farm communities. As a means to recovering such health, Wendell Berry proposes the conversational approach to farming. While the idea that a farmer can engage in a conversation with nature is intriguing, there are lots of ambiguities revolving around what this actually means. If the conversational approach leads to agrarian health, its dimensions must be made clear.
In this thesis, I offer one account by which to understand Berrys proposal. My argument begins in chapter two, where I identify three impediments to the conversational approach: objective science and reductionism, arrogance, and abstract language use. Next, in chapter three, I turn to Christopher Prestons view of epistemology; it can account for the embodied skill set acquired by means of the conversational approach. Despite this, however, Preston poses a challenge to what he calls the conversation metaphor. In chapter four, I respond by embracing what Jim Cheney and Anthony Weston refer to as an ethics-based epistemology. This ethics-first approach not only shields the conversation metaphor against Prestons criticism, but it also provides insights into the pre-requisite values for participating in Berrys conversation. Drawing from Cheney and Weston, I develop the notion of conversational etiquette, focusing particularly on how it counters the impediments of arrogance and reductionism. Because the conversational etiquette of agrarian farmers is rather mature, they are offered instruction from their embodied, sensual experiences in the world.
I, therefore, claim that agrarian health can be realized by means of the conversational approach insofar as human practice makes clear that nature is a conversational partner. By attending to our embodied existence in the world, we can again participate in Berrys conversation, employing the practices necessary to agrarian health. Doing so is the difference between defending nature and allowing for its further exploitation; it is the difference between living a life of virtue and living one that continues to be diminished. Nature speaks. Listen.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MONTANA/oai:etd.lib.umt.edu:etd-08172014-224754 |
| Date | 24 October 2014 |
| Creators | Redig, Nicholas Brian |
| Contributors | Dr. Christopher Preston, Dr. Deborah Slicer, Dr. Albert Borgmann |
| Publisher | The University of Montana |
| Source Sets | University of Montana Missoula |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.lib.umt.edu/theses/available/etd-08172014-224754/ |
| Rights | restricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Montana or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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