PHIL 355

PHIL 355: Environmental Ethics
Instructor: Jennifer Welchman

Course Description

As a signatory to United Nations’ conventions such as the Paris Agreement and Convention on Biological Diversity, our government has committed us to “green” our cities, countryside, businesses, and homes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect biodiversity.  

What is the moral case for accepting such an obligation?  Whose present or future needs must we respect?  Just other human beings? What about wildlife, ecosystems, the biosphere? And how far should we be prepared to go to live sustainably? Should we be willing to resort to geo-engineering the atmosphere to reduce global warming or genetically modifying plants and animals?  

In this class we will take a philosophical approach to these questions, reviewing and evaluating arguments about the nature and scope of our duty to try to live sustainably. 

Prerequisites

None.

Required Textbooks

None. Required readings will be posted on eclass.

Components of Course Grade

Grades will be based on Quizzes (2), Essay Papers (2), Peer-Review Exercise (2), In Class Team Debate (1).

There is no final exam.