Class #7, 3/4/13

We'll have an abbreviated class this evening, because I have to return to the other side of town before it gets too late.   Dismissal will probably be around 6:45.

**For tonight--Reading:  Some classic formulations of ecological morality--Chapter 4:
------>L-M. Russow, "Why do Species Matter?" pp 190ff
------>A. Schweitzer, "Reverence for Life," pp 198ff
------>Aldo Leopold, "Ecocentric Ethics: The Land Ethic," pp 222ff
------>C. Stone, "Should Trees Have Standing?"  pp 246ff
------>Write a page:  Why, in the absolute sense, should I care about the rest of life on earth, now or in the future?  Or, should I not care?  Explain your answer.

**Discussion of readings, especially Schweitzer and Leopold.

**For next meeting, March 18:  Readings from Chapter 5, Population and Consumption
------>Bill McKibben, "...The Challenge of Overpopulation and Overconsumption," pp 260ff
------>Garrett Hardin, "The Tragedy of the Commons," pp 272ff
------>Jacqueline Kasun, "The Unjust War against Population," pp 282ff.

**Writing:   A short mid-term paper.
Read the article (handout) by Dr. Erazim Kohak, and follow the directions (also a handout) for the synopsis and critique.  If you lose your article, it's here.  And the rubric is here. The rubric has been a little fussy to open.  If you can't, e-mail me.

 

Class #6, 2/25/13

**For tonight--Reading:  "The World's Perspectives"
------>R. Guha, "Radical Environmentalism and Wilderness Preservation:  A Third World Critique," pp 176ff
------>Genesis 1-3, pp 615ff
------>M.Y. Izzy Deen, "Islamic Environmental Ethics, Law and Society," pp 633ff
------>O.P. Dwivedi, "Satyagraha for Conservation:  A Hindu View,"  pp 640ff
------>Starhawk, "Pagan Environmentalism:  Principles of Unity,"  pp 655ff
AND,
------>Write a page:  Based on the readings, what do the world's religious traditions appear to contribute to environmental ethics?  How, if at all, does this contribution add to the positions we have discussed so far?  (Substantiate your claims, one way or the other.)

**Discussion of readings.

**For next week--Reading:  Some classic formulations of ecological morality--Chapter 4:
------>L-M. Russow, "Why do Species Matter?" pp 190ff
------>A. Schweitzer, "Reverence for Life," pp 198ff
------>Aldo Leopold, "Ecocentric Ethics: The Land Ethic," pp 222ff
------>C. Stone, "Should Trees Have Standing?"  pp 246ff

**Write a page:  Why, in the absolute sense, should I care about the rest of life on earth, now or in the future?  Or, should I not care?  Explain your answer.

Class #5, 2/18/13

**Due tonight:  Your short preliminary report on the tract of land you will "follow" for the next 2+ months.

**For discussion:  Readings from John Stuart Mill and Arne Naess--a drastic contrast of theories about Nature.

**Video about Arne Naess and attitudes toward the environment.

**For next week--Reading:  "The World's Perspectives"
------>R. Guha, "Radical Environmentalism and Wilderness Preservation:  A Third World Critique," pp 176ff
------>Genesis 1-3, pp 615ff
------>M.Y. Izzy Deen, "Islamic Environmental Ethics, Law and Society," pp 633ff
------>O.P. Dwivedi, "Satyagraha for Conservation:  A Hindu View,"  pp 640ff
------>Starhawk, "Pagan Environmentalism:  Principles of Unity,"  pp 655ff

**For next week--Write a page:  Based on the readings, what do the world's religious traditions appear to contribute to environmental ethics?  How, if at all, does this contribution add to the positions we have discussed so far?  (Substantiate your claims, one way or the other.)

Class #4, 2/11/13

The good news is that we are back to work Monday evening. I got back into town Thursday evening, a little later than expected because of a flight delay. The "bad news" is that we need to catch up with our material and get going on the big project. Please come to class ready to discuss the reading assigned so far, and with any assignments due. I will be posting the next set of assignments before class time. Meanwhile, I look forward to seeing all of you Monday evening!

Reading for next week, from Chapter 3, "Value in Nature Itself:"
------>John Stuart Mill, "Nature," pp 122ff.
------>Arne Naess, "The Shallow and the Deep...," pp 129ff.
------>Arne Naess, "Ecosophy T...," pp 133ff.

Written work for next week:  Please prepare your "preliminary report" on the piece of territory you plan to observe for the semester project.  A page of general description (see handout) and a couple of photos will do nicely.  You can incorporate the photos into the text of the report if you want.

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?