The landscape, a useful concept to relate aesthetics, ethics and politics

Abstract

This article is based on the previous participation of the author in the "III Symposium on Esthetics of Surroundings: Landscape and Public Works" of the CEHOPU in 2009 (Centre of Historical Studies of Public Works and Urban Planning) which was never published. It wishes to develop a common thread relating different views and practices which use the concept of landscape but which hardly interact. The consideration of landscape gathers the attention of artists, scientists and technical experts through a historical sequence which culminates in present times with the attribution of a large range of social values (quality of life and cultural identity). The reflection is supported by a selection of pictorial images and literary and scientific texts.