Approaches to Environmental Ethics: Theories, Values and Methods

General data

Course ID:	WF-OB-SANDLER1-ER
Erasmus code / ISCED:	07.2 Kod klasyfikacyjny przedmiotu składa się z trzech do pięciu cyfr, przy czym trzy pierwsze oznaczają klasyfikację dziedziny wg. Listy kodów dziedzin obowiązującej w programie Socrates/Erasmus, czwarta (dotąd na ogół 0) – ewentualne uszczegółowienie informacji o dyscyplinie, piąta – stopień zaawansowania przedmiotu ustalony na podstawie roku studiów, dla którego przedmiot jest przeznaczony. / (unknown)
Course title:	Approaches to Environmental Ethics: Theories, Values and Methods
Name in Polish:	Approaches to Environmental Ethics: Theories, Values and Methods
Organizational unit:	Center for Ecology and Ecophilosophy
Course groups:
ECTS credit allocation (and other scores):	(not available) Basic information on ECTS credits allocation principles: the annual hourly workload of the student’s work required to achieve the expected learning outcomes for a given stage is 1500-1800h, corresponding to 60 ECTS; the student’s weekly hourly workload is 45 h; 1 ECTS point corresponds to 25-30 hours of student work needed to achieve the assumed learning outcomes; weekly student workload necessary to achieve the assumed learning outcomes allows to obtain 1.5 ECTS; work required to pass the course, which has been assigned 3 ECTS, constitutes 10% of the semester student load. view allocation of credits
Language:	English
Subject level:	intermediate
Learning outcome code/codes:	OB2_W09 OB2_W12 OB2_U01 OB2_U09
Short description:	This class discusses the role of theory and theorizing in environmental ethics. It surveys the major normative theories and value theories of analytic environmental ethics, including biocentric, holistic, anthropocentric, animal welfare, pluralistic, deontological, virtue ethical, and consequentialist theories. There will be an emphasis on examining the primary arguments for and against different theories, with attention to different forms or methods of argumentation. The class will also examine the purpose or function of ethical theorizing, both in general and as it pertains to environmental ethics in particular. Students will be encouraged to develop informed, well-reasoned views on which theories are and which are not well justified.
Full description:	- What is the purpose or function of a theory of environmental ethics. This topic includes studying what ethics is, what theories are or do in ethics and other domains, and what we should expect our of a theory of environmental ethics in particular. It also involves thinking about how theories are or could be justified – that is, about methods of justification in ethics. - What are the primary normative theories in analytical environmental ethics. This topic includes studying what have been the most influential normative theories within environmental ethics, such as deontological, consequentialist, pragmatic, and virtue oriented theories. It also involves critically evaluating the arguments for and against the theories. - What are the primary value theories in analytical environmental ethics. This topic includes studying what have been the most influential value theories within environmental ethics, such as biocentric, anthropocentric, sentientist, ecocentric, and pluralistic theories. It also involves critically evaluating the arguments for and against the theories.
Bibliography:	J.S. Mill, “Nature,” https://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/mill1873b.pdf Paul Taylor, “Respect for Nature,” https://rintintin.colorado.edu/~vancecd/phil3140/Taylor.pdf Gifford Pinchot, “The Training of a Forester,” up to ‘The Forester’s Point of View,’ http://www.basiccarpentrytechniques.com/Forestry/The%20Training%20of%20a%20Forester/31367-h.htm William Baxter, “The Case for Optimum Pollution,” http://hettingern.people.cofc.edu/Environmental_Ethics_SP_10/Baxter_Case_for_Optimal_Pollution.pdf Peter Singer, “All Animals are Equal,” https://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1179&context=phil_ex Immanuel Kant, “Duties to Animals,” excerpt from Lectures on Ethics Karen Warren, “The Power and the Promise of Ecological Feminism,” http://www.cfs-umich.org/EERead/6Warren-PowerPromise.pdf Aldo Leopold, Part III: The Upshot, A Sand County Almanac Bill Devall and George Sessions, Deep Ecology, Living as if Nature Mattered, excerpt Holmes Rolston, III, “Duties to Endangered Species,” https://mountainscholar.org/bitstream/handle/10217/37602/Duties_to_Endangered_Species.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Ronald Sandler, Environmental Virtue Ethics, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/9781444367072.wbiee090
Efekty kształcenia i opis ECTS:	Students will develop informed, well-reasoned views on which theories are and which are not well justified. The course requirements include: - Preparedness for class meetings and discussion participation - Exam on core course content - Three short critical essays (maximum one page each)
Assessment methods and assessment criteria:	Methods of knowledge verification - Exam - Short essays

This course is not currently offered.

Course descriptions are protected by copyright.
Copyright by Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw.