The evolution of the concept of wilderness in America
The evolution of the concept of wilderness in America

Summary/Abstract: This paper presents some of the critical stages in the evolution of the concept of wildernessin American thought and its revisions. First, it shows the transformation of the idea ofwilderness in American culture from something to be feared, to something to be conquered,to something to be cherished by modern environmentalism and demonstrates how naturediscourse may perpetuate dualistic relations with wilderness. Than it analyzes some criticismsand responses to the traditional idea of wilderness known as the great new wilderness debateand attempts to put the concept of wilderness not only into American but also a more globalperspective.

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