Summary:

Esa Ruuskanen, Academic conceptions of the value of peatlands in the Swedish realm, circa 1750–1790

The 18th century appears to be of great significance in the sense that the idea of the distinction between “worthless nature” and “valuable property”, which later became so obvious and natural, began to take shape in Europe. This paper traces the value changes and changing notions regarding Nordic bogs, fens and mires by studying master’s dissertations defended at the Academy of Åbo between the 1750s and 1790s. 

Four topoi are used to analyze typical arguments and conceptions of the research material: 1. the topos of utility; 2. the topos of profitability; 3. the topos of climate change; and, 4. the topos of health. In summary, the main aim of the authors was to justify the arguments concerning the uselessness and harmfulness of bogs, fens and mires in their natural condition and to convince landowners of the benefits that could be obtained by converting bogs, fens and mires into agricultural or peat extraction areas. Moreover, the authors envisioned that in the near future these theories would be put into practice and, as a result, the land would benefit from high population growth, climate warming, healthier and more productive livestock, and grain self-sufficiency. Finally, the ways in which the topoi affected the development of the ideas of scale and regional differentiation are studied.