Agricola’s fish analogy aimed to free mining from organic-nature restraint.

Evidence

Agricola, in his response to the detractors of mining, pointed out the congruences in the need to catch fish and to construct metal tools for the well-being of the human race. His effort can be interpreted as an attempt to liberate the activity of mining from the constraints imposed by the organic framework and the nurturing earth image, so that new values could sanction and hasten its development and progress. — Carolyn Merchant, The Death of Nature, 216

Categorization

• DEFINE: The ‘concealment’ topos — what is hidden (fish in water, ore in earth) is legitimately sought — neutralizes the mother-earth ethic.
• XREF: connects to: Agricola reframed mining as legitimate by marshaling and refuting its ancient critics — Carolyn Merchant, The Death of Nature: Women, Ecology,…, 208; Animist vitalism functioned as an ethic restraining exploitation of nature — Carolyn Merchant, The Death of Nature: Women, Ecology,…, 158

Broader Connections

• Animist vitalism functioned as an ethic restraining exploitation of nature #expands (0.85) — Carolyn Merchant, The Death of Nature, 158