Paul Shepard

Paul Shepard (1925-1996) was an influential American environmentalist, historian, and philosopher known for his pioneering work in human ecology and the concept of rewilding. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Shepard developed an early fascination with the natural world, a passion he would nurture throughout his academic career. He earned degrees from the University of Missouri and Yale University, where his interdisciplinary approach began to take shape.

Shepard's groundbreaking work challenged conventional notions about humanity's relationship with the natural environment. He argued that many modern psychological and societal issues stem from humanity's disconnection from its evolutionary habitat—wild nature. His book "The Tender Carnivore and the Sacred Game" (1973) and later works such as "Nature and Madness" (1982) and "Coming Home to the Pleistocene" (1998) profoundly influenced the fields of environmental philosophy and conservation biology.

Throughout his career, Shepard held teaching positions at several institutions, including Dartmouth College and Claremont Graduate School. He was revered for his thought-provoking lectures and passionate advocacy for conservation and ecological sustainability. Shepard's enduring legacy lies in his ability to blend rigorous academic inquiry with a deep, almost poetic understanding of nature, advocating for a return to a more harmonious, ancestral way of living. His ideas continue to inspire environmentalists, biologists, and philosophers seeking a more sustainable future.