4/25/2024 1:07:54 AM	PHIL 12 Course Outline as of Summer 2010	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:

An exploration of philosophical views about what makes the natural environment valuable and an examination of 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:

An exploration of philosophical views about what makes the natural environment valuable and an examination of 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

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

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.  Elucidate and 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.  Explain and evaluate environmental philosophies that are rooted in the

   spiritual beliefs of cultures throughout the world, including

   Western, Eastern and Native cultures.

7.  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).

8.  Describe and evaluate various theories in environmental aesthetics.

9.  Compare and contrast how various environmental philosophies apply to

   selected global and/or local environmental issues or problems.

Topics and Scope

Representative topics include:

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)

IV.  Metaphysics in environmental philosophy:  Deep ecology

V.  Spiritual/religious approaches to environmental philosophy

 A.  Native American traditions

 B.  Buddhist and/or Hindu traditions

 C.  Taoism

 D.  Christianity

VI.  Economic, political and social issues in environmental philosophy

 A.  Environmental justice/environmental racism

 B.  Social ecology

 C.  Ecofeminism

VII.      Environmental aesthetics

      A.      Thoreau:  Wildness and nature aesthetics

      B.      Environmental science as a basis for environmental aesthetics

      C.      Artistic criteria for environmental aesthetics

VIII.      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

Assignments:

1.  Regular reading assignments (totaling 20-30 pages per week) from

course texts and supplementary materials.

2.  Four to twenty quizzes which cover the assigned readings.

Quizzes may be either multiple choice or short answer.

3.  Two to three midterm examinations including in-class written essays.

4.  A final examination which includes written in-class essays in response to questions on material covered in class and in texts.  

5.  Students may also be required to write a term paper in which they

research an issue raised in class and defend a particular position on

that issue.

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 0 - 30%
Term paper
This is a degree applicable course but assessment tools based on writing are not included because this course includes essay exams that fulfil the writing component of the course.
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 70 - 100%
Multiple choice, essay exams, short answer
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Environmental Ethics:  An Introduction to Environmental Philosophy, 4th ed.  DesJardins, Joseph.  Wadsworth, Belmont, CA: 2006.

 

Environmental Ethics:  Divergence and Convergence, 3rd ed.  Armstrong, Susan and Botzler, Richard, eds.  McGraw Hill, NY:  2004.

 

Environmental Philosophy:  From Animal Rights to Radical Ecology, 4th ed.  Zimmerman, Michael, ed.  Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ:   2005.

Print PDF