| 12/26/2024 7:10:56 AM |
| Changed Course |
| CATALOG INFORMATION
|
| Discipline and Nbr:
PHIL 12 | Title:
ENVIRONMENTAL PHIL |
|
| Full Title:
Environmental Philosophy |
| Last Reviewed:4/10/2023 |
| Units | Course Hours per Week | | Nbr of Weeks | Course Hours Total |
| Maximum | 3.00 | Lecture Scheduled | 3.00 | 17.5 max. | Lecture Scheduled | 52.50 |
| Minimum | 3.00 | Lab Scheduled | 0 | 6 min. | Lab Scheduled | 0 |
| | Contact DHR | 0 | | Contact DHR | 0 |
| | Contact Total | 3.00 | | Contact Total | 52.50 |
| |
| | Non-contact DHR | 0 | | Non-contact DHR Total | 0 |
| | Total Out of Class Hours: 105.00 | Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 | |
Title 5 Category:
AA Degree Applicable
Grading:
Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:
00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As:
Formerly:
Catalog Description:
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An exploration of philosophical views about what makes the natural environment valuable and how these philosophies apply to selected environmental issues.
Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Schedule of Classes Information
Description:
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An exploration of philosophical views about what makes the natural environment valuable and how these philosophies apply to selected environmental issues.
(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
| Associate Degree: | Effective: | Fall 1994
| Inactive: | |
| Area: | E
H
| Humanities
Global Perspective and Environmental Literacy
|
| |
| CSU GE: | Transfer Area | | Effective: | Inactive: |
| | C2 | Humanities | Fall 1997 | |
| |
| IGETC: | Transfer Area | | Effective: | Inactive: |
| | 3B | Humanities | Fall 1997 | |
| |
| CSU Transfer: | Transferable | Effective: | Fall 1994 | Inactive: | |
| |
| UC Transfer: | Transferable | Effective: | Fall 1994 | Inactive: | |
| |
| C-ID: |
Certificate/Major Applicable:
Major Applicable Course
COURSE CONTENT
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1. Accurately describe and contrast theories in environmental philosophy (from the fields of
ethics, aesthetics, political philosophy and, when relevant, epistemology and metaphysics).
2. Critically evaluate theories in environmental philosophy (from the fields of ethics, aesthetics,
political philosophy and, when relevant, epistemology and metaphysics).
3. Apply selected environmental philosophies to current environmental issues.
Objectives:
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Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Explain the relationship between environmental philosophy and environmental science.
2. Describe and critique the traditional ethical theories that are relevant to environmental ethics
(e.g. utilitarianism, deontology and natural law theory).
3. Evaluate the extent to which these theories place value upon various aspects of the natural
environment (e.g. humans, animals, plants, species, ecosystems).
4. Describe and critique non-traditional theories in environmental ethics (e.g. biocentric ethics
and the land ethic).
5. Describe and evaluate philosophies which emphasize a more metaphysical approach to
environmental philosophy (e.g. Deep Ecology).
6. Describe and critique environmental philosophies that examine the interplay between the
environment and social or economic issues (e.g. environmental justice, social ecology,
and ecofeminism).
7. Describe and evaluate various theories in environmental aesthetics.
8. Compare and contrast how various environmental philosophies apply to selected global
and/or local environmental issues or problems.
Topics and Scope
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I. Environmental Philosophy in Relation to Environmental Science
A. The role of philosophy in environmental studies
B. The role of science in environmental studies
C. The relationship between philosophy and science in environmental studies
II. Traditional Ethical Theories in Environmental Philosophy
A. Utilitarianism
B. Rights theory
C. Contractarian theory
D. Natural Law theory
E. Deontology
III. Non-traditional Ethical Theories in Environmental Philosophy
A. Life-centered (Biocentric) ethics
B. The Land Ethic (Ecocentrism)
C. Deep Ecology
IV. Economic, Political and Social Issues in Environmental Philosophy
A. Environmental justice/environmental racism
B. Social ecology
C. Ecofeminism
V. Environmental Aesthetics
A. Thoreau: Wildness and nature aesthetics
B. Environmental science as a basis for environmental aesthetics
C. Artistic criteria for environmental aesthetics
VI. Philosophical Theories in Relation to Selected Environmental Issues
A. Environmental philosophy and population growth
B. Environmental philosophy and agriculture
C. Environmental philosophy and global warming
VII. (Optional) Spiritual/Religious Approaches to Environmental Philosophy
A. Native American traditions
B. Buddhist and/or Hindu traditions
C. Taoism
D. Christianity
Assignments:
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1. Regular reading assignments (20 - 30 pages a week)
2. Regular reading assessment: such as reading logs, brief summaries, brief response papers, or
comprehension quizzes
3. Midterm assessments: examinations or short papers which demonstrate student ability to
describe and critically evaluate positions in environmental philosophy and/or apply
environmental philosophy to current environmental issues
4. Final assessment: exam, paper, or project that demonstrates student ability to describe and critically
evaluate positions in environmental philosophy and/or apply environmental philosophy to
current environmental issues
5. May include (up to 10%) a creative assignment (e.g. original poetry, art, performance) that
involves creatively expressing or illustrating an environmental perspective
6. May include (up to 10%) participation
Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
| Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing. | Writing
30 - 100% |
| Short reading responses, midterm papers, final paper | |
| Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills. | Problem Solving
0 - 0% |
| None | |
| Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams. | Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0% |
| None | |
| Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams. | Exams
0 - 70% |
| Multiple choice, essay exams, short answer | |
| Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories. | Other Category
0 - 20% |
| Participation (up to 10%); Creative project (up to 10%) | |
Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Reflecting on Nature: Readings in Environmental Ethics and Philosophy. 2nd ed. Gruen, Lori and Jamieson, Dale. Oxford University Press. 2012 (classic)
Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril. Moore, Kathleen and Nelson, Michael. Trinity University Press. 2011 (classic)
Environmental Ethics: The Big Questions. Keller, David. Wiley-Blackwell. 2010 (classic)
Environmental Philosophy: From Animal Rights to Radical Ecology. 4th ed. Zimmerman, Michael and Callicott, Baird and Clark, John. Pearson. 2004 (classic)
Environmental Ethics: Divergence and Convergence. 3rd ed. Armstrong, Susan and Botzler, Richard. McGraw Hill. 2003 (classic)
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