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ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

Philosophy 1116

Professor: Eva Maria Raepple

Web site:

http://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/raepple/index.htm

“Hiroshima,” and this shock, perpetuated by the immediately following nuclear arms race, was the first trigger for a new and anxiety-ridden rethinking of the role of technology in the Western world. With its help, victory had been attained but at the cost of the constant danger of collective self-destruction….To the fear of a sudden catastrophe was soon added the growing realization of the negative sides of technological triumphs in general, a realization that was accompanied by totally new questions for philosophy. … There is no longer room here for a simple yes or no as with the problem of nuclear weapons; instead, we find an area of fluid boundaries, subtle value judgments, and controversial decisions….This brings to light an important aspect of the entire technological syndrome: its previously undreamt of power, a product of the power of the human mind, confronts this same mind with new and previously undreamt of challenges. (Hans Jonas) 1
As the philosopher Hans Jonas argues, living today means that humans have acquired previously unknown power but also confront new challenges. The question how to responsibly face those challenges will require imaginative, creative, and reflective abilities of all of us to deal with this newly attained power. In this course, we will begin to investigate beliefs and traditional values that have historically influenced actions before examining the modern context and its new set of tasks that result from the power to impact the world and environment in formerly rarely imagined ways. We will critically analyze these concerns, in order to try to develop a conceptual framework that can be applied to local, national, and global issues. To be able to articulate one's own position in a complex argument should become a first step on the path to responsible environmental citizenship. Instead of focusing exclusively on readings, theoretical discussions and lectures, this course will also explore conceptual frameworks in the context of practical experiences in COD’s own community garden
1 Jonas, Hans. "Philosophy at the end of the century: a survey of its past and future." Social Research 61.4 (1994): 813+. Academic OneFile. Web. 28 Dec. 2011.

Course Objectives

1. Upon successful completion of the course the student should be able to do the following:

•  Demonstrate understanding of the major ways in which human kind has tried to think about and understand moral/ethical questions, issues and problems regarding human values and actions, specifically regarding environmental concerns from philosophical and religious perspectives

•  Describe the major elements, theories, and principles involved in ethics

•  Describe philosophical and religious approaches to moral/ethical decision-making

•  Recognize environmental ethics as an instance of applied ethics and gain a better perspective on what environmental ethics is and what its study can provide

•  Recognize and understand some of the major issues within environmental ethics, articulate the moral/ethical dilemmas involved, and apply the elements of ethics to the decision-making process

•  Recognize issues of domination in current concrete manifestations in the areas of environmental ethical concern

Requirements

Participation - An important goal in the class is the exchange of ideas and development of good arguments. Active participation in this class is vital for a grade A or B. The critical investigation of environmental issues requires the diverse perspectives of all students. To show your contribution, please always be prepared for class discussion as follows:
a) Read the required texts, underline key passages, take notes, and, if necessary, read again. It is very hard to talk about a topic if students are not informed about it. Thorough preparations of the sometimes-complex texts will also be your most valuable preparation for the written assignments in the computer-lab.
b) You prepare a first draft of the reading responses for class discussion (see reading list). Please always include the topic of the reading and the date. The responses and arguments will have to be submitted at specific dates (see schedule) and must be type written. I will not accept handwritten notes. Honors students are also expected to read and prepare the primary philosophical sources thoroughly and be able to ask questions about these in class, or stimulate discussion about these. (Primary texts are marked in bold on the reading list).
College of DuPage Spring 2012
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Please do not miss more than two classes since non- attendance will be reflected in your participation grade and, more importantly, you will not be able to enter into dialog with your teacher and fellow students. Debate in the classroom is an essential part of the learning process in this class.
Assignments: 15% of the accumulative grade will be determined by a number of essays written during class sessions in the computer-lab. Please check Blackboard regarding place and times. The assignment will be an exercise in developing your analytical and argumentative skills. Usually, an assignment should be 1-2 pages; double spaced 12 point font. The assignments need to be turned in after 75 minutes. Make sure that you do not miss any of the two class assignments.

Mid-Term -(Vision of the Future I):
Students have to submit a draft analysis (mid-term) of an ethical issue (see topics list in Blackboard).The analysis (4-6 pp.) must include the following:
a) Title
b) Your analysis of the environmental problem. This means that students in addition to the scientific analysis of the problem need to examine why this problem should be considered an ethical issue. The goal is thus to investigate the problem as comprehensively as possible to be able to give a fair analysis.
c) In order to craft an argument why human beings ought to act in a certain way, it will be necessary that students identify the value/s and principle/s that inform your own future argument. Note: The full argument will only be required for your term paper not for the mid-term. Yet while analyzing your environmental problem you should also read about ethical theory(ies)/philosophical position/s (Virtue Ethics, Deontology, Utilitarianism, Intergenerational Justice) which potentially may inform/s your position in the final paper and make a list (bullet points) in preparation for the term paper. Then select the most appropriate framework that seems to be applicable for arguing your case. Explain why you chose this moral framework in a short paragraph and submit it in addition to your analysis. Dedicate time to study the position/s (including some text material written by the philosopher him/herself) to gain a comprehensive understanding. Research the theoretical framework that you judge to be most applicable for your argument.
d) Bibliography of all your sources, including academic resources online (use library databases), and textbook sources (each listed differently). Note that encyclopedias should be your first resource but should not be included in your final paper. Wikipedia should not be used as an academic resource at all. Please use MLA style documentation.
Note: the mid-term should serve as your preliminary preparation for the final paper, which will follow the same format but requires that you provide your own comprehensive argument in addition to the analysis of the case.
College of DuPage Spring 2012
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Project - (Vision of the Future II):
During the second half of the quarter, all students will be required to provide an argument, discussing an environmental problem and its ethical implications in class. The presentation should be informative to students who have not studied the issue. In addition, the presenters should raise questions for a dialog in the class room. The project will be part of the preparation for the final paper.

Final Term Paper -(Vision of the Future III):
For the final paper, you need to develop a visionary project for the future. Use the research (reading and selecting valuable materials academic sources accessed through the library) as foundation for an informed plan on a future project in which you address the issue from your project, which must include reasoning why humans ought to act in a specific way (ethical argument). Therefore, a good paper needs to incorporate a philosophical/theoretical position, which informs your argument as an ethical argument. Build on the critique provided in your project presentation in writing your final paper. Do not forget to formulate a clear thesis statement, and reasoning support for your claim and a conclusion. Imagine that you present your argument before a panel of University professors and business people. The goal is to convince the panel that your project should be given support by the panel members. (See detailed instructions under assignments).

Please use MLA style documentation. The following Web sites are very helpful tools for the documentation of your sources:
MLA Documentation http://www.cod.edu/library/research/citenet.htm
The grading will particularly consider the following aspects:
a) The scope of preparation for the project (research, academic resources);
b) The potential viability of the future project;
c) The complexity and structure of your argument– a good argument needs to include: a clearly and concisely stated thesis (the main claim or idea of the view(s) you are explicating), premises (statements) to support your thesis, and your own evaluation of the merits or demerits of the view(s), a compelling conclusion;
d) Consideration of the issue/project under a global perspective where applicable;
e) Critical discussion of a theoretical/philosophical position which informs the project (for example Kantian ethics).
For more details see the specific grading criteria in Blackboard.
This class follows the Student Code of Conduct of the College of DuPage. All work submitted must be your own work. Proven plagiarism will earn you an F for the class, possibly a meeting with the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, including a formal report and/or an appearance before a Judicial Board.

Attendance - In case a class is missed, it is the student's responsibility to keep up with the material, in particular the computer sessions and assignments. Stay in contact with the instructor. Please be on time for class. Respect for others will make this class a much more enjoyable and productive environment for, thinking, and learning. Students who check Blackberries, answer I-Phones or are occupied with similar distractions will count as absent for the class in which the electronic devices were used. In case a student will not be able to participate in the course any longer, he/she is responsible for withdrawing from the course.


Course Materials-
Dale Jamieson ed. A Companion to Environmental Philosophy. Malden: Blackwell Publishing,
2003.
Online readings (check Blackboard)
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