Nicolas Pol - Outside Material 4

 One of the most distinct conservationists is John Muir. From the John Muir Foundation, the following is a summary of what Muir accomplished in his life:

The last 25 years of Muir's life were consumed with constant travel, writing, and oversight of the Sierra Club—for which he served as president from its creation in 1892. He lobbied successfully for the creation of Yosemite Park in 1890 and then asked for additional protections when he toured President Theodore Roosevelt in the park in 1903. Muir's persuasive words to Roosevelt and state authorities led to the return of Yosemite Grant to the federal government in 1906. His published writings were also instrumental in the creation of Grand Canyon and Sequoia national parks.

I think that Muir's lifestyle heavily follows what this class has taught, which is to find a balance between nature (the mountain) and urban life (the tower). Muir's trips to Yosemite were often in-between periods of living in California with his wife, Louisa. 

His approach towards nature itself was that it should not be considered a commodity for humanity. This would later inspire Aldo Leopold's land ethic, which was the concept that nature should be considered as a fellow citizen. 

It is also interesting to note that modern scholars align Muir's religious beliefs more with Zen Buddhism than any of the Judeo-Christian faiths. Though Muir identified as a Christian, the concept of manifest destiny was still pervasive in many American churches, making his official religion at odds with his own personal beliefs.