For Class #3, 2/4/13

I'm very sorry to have to cancel class one more time. My dad passed away Thursday evening and services are scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.

We WILL resume classes on the 11th, next Monday, and at that meeting we can discuss adjustments that need to be made to the reading and assignment schedules. We will also give the semester project a thorough discussion. A few of you have e-mailed your first week's reflections to me. Please continue to do so. Whatever comes in I will try to have back to you next Monday.

Here is the next set of assignments, due the eleventh.

Reading, from Chapter 2, "Animal Rights," some classic positions on the treatment of animals and "sentient life:"
------>Immanuel Kant, Rational Beings Alone Have Moral Worth, pp 60-61, from the late 1700s;
------>Peter Singer, A Utilitarian Defense of Animal Liberation, pp 71-80, from 1976;
------>Dale Jamieson, Against Zoos, pp 96--102, from 1985.

Writing:
------>about a page: does Dr. Singer make a convincing case about the need to change our thinking about how we treat certain living things other than ourselves? If so, does that influence your agreement or disagreement with Dr. Jamieson's ideas about the morality of zoos? Please develop your answers sufficiently.

See you all next week!

For Class #2, 1/28/13

Unfortunately I'm in Massachusetts with my Dad, who is terminally ill and not expected to be with us beyond the next week. I was looking forward to this coming meeting, but I have to cancel class for this week and simply let you know the next assignment:

Reading: from Chapter 1, "Introduction," read the following--

------>Clare Palmer, "An Overview of Environmental Ethics," pp 10-35;
------>Thomas Hill, "Ideals of Human Excellence and Preserving Natural Environments," pp 36-45.

And type a page: Professor Hill's point seems to be that a person's attitude and relationship with nature and use of resources reflects one's true character and moral framework. (A) Do you agree that that is a fair summary of his views? (B) If that is his view, do you agree or disagree that his conclusion is true? Be sure to support both of your points.

Please e-mail your reflection to me--use the address on the course description/syllabus page.

I expect to have class on schedule February 4th. Thanks!

Class #1, 1/14/13 Welcome!

This is the course blog for PHIL 3320, Mr. Gagne's Environmental Ethics class, Spring 2013.


Agenda for tonight:

1. Welcome/General Orientation/Roster Check.
2. Textbook and materials.
3. Course overview, syllabus and calendar.
4. Finding Things.
5. Philosophy, Philosophical Method, and Applied Fields of Philosophy.
6. Environmental Ethics.
7. Handouts and assignment for 1/28.
8. Complete info sheet and survey.

Resources:

• The text for this class is an anthology. Here are the specs:

Environmental Ethics: Readings in Theory and Application
Louis P. Pojman and Paul Pojman
Wadsworth Publishing, 6th Edition, 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0538452847.

• Syllabus/Course Description.
• Course Calendar.

Assignment:

• Do: Reflection #1--Basic Definitions.
• Read Handouts:
• Collection of poetry--Is the truth found in nature?  How?
• Two short excerpts describing symbiotic relationships between plants and animals--What sort of "mind" does nature exhibit, if any?
• Kirkpatric Sale's essay, "Five Facets of a Myth"--Do you agree or disagree with his premise about human progress?

Dr. Hansen's comments on the hot summer.

Not that we wouldn't have had a hot spell, says Dr. Hansen, but climate change has likely made it worse.

More on "Overpopulation"

From the Washington Post, a column discussing some population myths.

New climate change report leaked

The IPCC preliminary report is set to forecast more incidents of extreme weather, according to published reports.

Creativity and environmental consciousness

We've all heard of efforts around the world to create artificial reefs and to build awareness of the fragility of many of the world's great coral reefs.  Here's a man-made reef (still in progress) that is probably unlike any of the others.