Environmental Ethics
Fall 2009
Instructor: Dr. Williams
Office: Daniel 208
Office Phone: 597-4907
Email: WilliamsNM@wofford.edu
Office Hours: MW 2-3; TH 2:30-3:30 or by appt.
Class Time/Location: MWF 11:30-12:20/DB 101
Course Des=
cription
The course offers students a basic introduction to som= e of the issues concerning environmental ethics. The first part will focus on so= me of the theoretical perspectives concerning the environment and our relation= ship to it. The second half of the course will be devoted to applied ethics such= as the moral issues regarding food, pollution, consumption, and ecological sustainability.
Required
texts/readings
●Environ=
mental
Ethics:
●E-reserve material
Learning O=
utcomes
Students are expected to:
●acquire a basic understanding of the debates in= philosophical ethics and environmental philosophy;
●improve their critical thinking skills;
●acquire a deeper understanding about our relati= onship to the natural world;
●to develop their oral presentation skills.
Methods of
Evaluation
●Midter=
m Exam:
an in-class essay exam on related reading material.
●Curren= t Event Paper: You are required to write one 3-4 page paper based on a current topic addressed in reputable print media.
●Case A= nalysis Presentation: In groups, students will give PowerPoint presentations th= at critically examine a case from Case Studies in Environmental Ethics = by Patrick Derr, located at the Reserve Desk in the library.
●Wofford Sustainability Project: Students propose an environmental sustainable project that Wofford could implement.
●Final = Exam: an in-class essay exam on related reading material.
Distributi=
on of
Graded Work
●Midterm Exam: 25%
●Final Exam: 25%
●Current Event Paper: 20%
●Case Analysis Presentation: 15%
●Wofford Sustainability Project: 15%
Grading Scale* (percentage): A =3D100-94; A- = =3D 93-90; B+ =3D 89-87; B =3D86-84; B- =3D83-80; C+ =3D 79-77; C =3D76-74; C- =3D73-7= 0; D =3D69-60; F =3Dbelow 60
*Grades in this course are based on academic achieveme= nt and competence.
All work is due at the beginning of class. For = every hour an assignment is late, one letter grade will be deducted. If you know = in advance that you will not be attending class when an exam is scheduled, you must see me as soon as possible so that we can make necessary arrangements.= If I don’t hear from you by the next class period you will have forfeited the exam grade.
Attendance is required in this class. You are allowed = three absences with no grade reduction, thereafter one point off your final grade= for every unexcused absence. I will record attendance at every class meeting. Y= ou are required to arrive at class on time and remain for the entire period in order to be counted as present. I have the right to drop you from the cours= e in the event of excessive absences.
Honor Code=
Academic dishonesty will be handed in accordance to Wofford’s honor code, which can be found at http://www.wofford.edu/st= udentlife/honor_code.pdf
If you have a disability that requires my attention pl= ease let me know as soon as possible so that I may accommodate you.
Reading schedule (subject to change)
Week 1 –=
; Sept.
7-11
M - Introduction
W/F -= “A Short Introduction to Moral Philosophy” by James Rachels (E-reserve) =
Week 2 –=
; Sept.
14-18 &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Part
One: Theory
Perspectives<= o:p>
M- Genesis 1-3; White: “The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis”
W- Dobel: “The Judeo-Christian Stewardship Attit= ude to Nature”
F - Moncrief: “The Cultural Basis of Our Environ= mental Crisis”
Week 3 –=
; Sept.
21-25
Deep Ecology =
M –
W – Devall and Sessions: “Deep EcologyR= 21; and Watson: “A Critique of Anti-Anthropocentric Ethics”
F – Sterba: “Environmental Justice”<= /p>
Week 4 –=
; Sept.
28-Oct. 2
Does Nature H=
ave
Intrinsic Value?
M – Rolston: “Naturalizing Values” and Hettinger: “Comments on Holmes Rolston’s ‘Naturalizing Values’”
W– Mill “Nature”
F- De Silva: “The Buddhist Attitude Towards Nature”
Week 5 –=
; Oct.
5-9
Animal Rights=
(films?
The Witness/Meat your Meat) &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp;
M – Kant: “Rational Beings Alone Have Moral
Worth” and
W – Regan: “The Radical Egalitarian Case f= or Animal Rights”
F- Warren: “A Critique of Regan’s Animal R= ights Theory” and Jamieson: “Against Zoos”
Week 6 –=
; Oct.
12-16 =
P=
art
Two: Practice
Food Ethics <= o:p>
●M- Midterm exam
W- Hardin: “Lifeboat Ethics” and Murdoch a= nd Oaten: “Population and Food”
F- Rauch: “Can Frankenfood Save the Planet?̶=
1; and
Ho: “The Unholy
Week 7 –= ; Oct. 19-23 &n= bsp; = ;
M- = Coffin: “The World Food Supply” and Fox: “Vegetarianism and Tread= ing Lightly on the Earth”
W- Video - TBA
F-Fall Break
Week 8– Oct. 26-30
Pesticides
M&#= 8211;Carson: “Silent Spring” and Pimentel: “Is Silent Spring Behind Us?”
W – Video: Poisoned Waters
F- = Ray and Guzzo: “The Blessings of Pesticides”
Week 9 –=
; Nov.
2-6
● Group Case Analysis Presentations
Week 10 ̵=
1; Nov.
9-13
Population and
Consumption
M- McKibben: “A Special Moment in History”= and Hardin: “The Tragedy of the Commons”
W- Kasun: “The Unjust War against PopulationR= 21;
F- Sarin: “The State of
Week 11 ̵=
1; Nov.
16-20
Sustainable S=
ociety
M- Gore: “Dysfunctional Society”
W- Film: = An Inconvenient Truth
F- Pojman: “The Challenge of the Future” a= nd Postel et al.: “A Vision of a Sustainable World”
Week 12 ̵=
1; Nov.
23-27
●M- Wofford Sustainability Project
W-No class
F- No class
Week 13 ̵=
1; Nov.
30-Dec. 4
Environmental=
Justice
M- Bullard: “Overcoming Racism…”
W- Wenz: “Just Garbage”
F- Mies: “Deceiving the
Week 14 ̵=
1; Dec.
7-11
● Current Event Paper Presentations
●Final Exam: Wed., Dec. 16 @ 2:00
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