PHIL 209N, Philosophy of the Environment January 26, 2006

Lindley Darden, Spring 2006

University of Maryland, College Park

Aims of the course: The course examines philosophical issues about the environment. Why should the natural environment be preserved? What should be preserved--local populations, species, ecosystems, Gaia? What kinds of arguments have been given and can be given in answer to these questions? Anthropocentric, biocentric, ecocentric? Pragmatic or based on fundamental ethical values? Factual/scientific or value/ethical? Secular or religious? Individualistic vs. planetary? Personal, social, legal, aesthetic? Heath vs. disease? Conservation vs. preservation? Management vs. wilderness? Pro-technological fix or back-to-nature? Recreational or business-centered? Aesthetic or economic? Scientific, philosophical, historical, feminist, literary, economic, and public policy issues in environmentalism are explored.

Instructor: Lindley Darden, Professor of Philosophy. Office: 1107C Skinner. Mailbox: Philosophy Office, first floor of Skinner. Phone: 301-405-5699. Office hours: 2-3 Tuesday and by appointment. Email: darden at umd. edu

Teaching Assistant: Chris Stevens, Graduate Student in Philosophy. Office: 1120C Skinner. Mailbox: Philosophy Office, first floor of Skinner. Office Hours: Wed 10:00 - 12:00. Email: cstevens1 at plumflower. com

CORE Course: This course satisfies a CORE requirement. Goals of CORE is to give the student breadth of knowledge, an opportunity for group interaction, and practice in using writing skills. In and out of class assignments will provide such opportunities. Philosophers engage in critical thinking and argumentation; the course provides opportunities to learn about and practice critical analysis. The CORE Interdisciplinary requirement allows the student to explore the ways that different disciplines interact. The disciplines to be discussed in this course are philosophy, biology, feminism, economics, and public policy.

Course Requirements:

(1) One 3-5 page paper on an environmental issue of the student's choice; detailed assignment sheet to be distributed in class. Late papers are accepted but one full grade will be deducted per 24 hours that the paper is late.

(2) Four short papers (1-3 pages) chosen from designated discussion questions. Each Tuesday, discussion questions for the week will be distributed and discussed the following Friday. Some questions will be designated as possible paper topics. The student should choose 4 on which to write during the semester, with the paper due on the Friday, one week following the Friday that the questions were discussed. At least one must be completed by March 17. Late papers are accepted but one full grade will be deducted per 24 hours that the paper is late.

(3) Quizzes, usually during Friday discussion sections. Quizzes are based on both lectures and assigned reading. There may be true/false, multiple choice, fill in the blank, and very short essay questions. Quizzes may not be made up. One quiz grade will be dropped in calculating the final grade.

(4) Cumulative final exam.

(5) Class attendance and meaningful class participation, based in part on assigned reading, is expected.

Note: Completing at least 4 of the 5 papers and taking the final examination are necessary, but not sufficient, to receive a passing grade. In other words, failure to turn in 4 of the 5 papers or to take the final exam results in a failing grade for the course, regardless of the grades on the other work.

Grading: Final grade calculation: 60% for 5 papers; 20% for final exam; 20% for quizzes.

WebCT space for the course: The course will use WebCT to post materials and have discussions. Go to www.courses.umd.edu If you are not familiar with WebCT, read the section at that web site under Student Resources: Getting Started.

Accommodations: If a student has a documented disability and wishes to discuss academic accommodations with the instructor, please contact her as soon as possible. If a student is a member of a religious group that will require accommodations in the academic calendar, please contact the instructor as soon as possible.

Honesty: Honesty on the part of students is presumed. The following statement is from the University: The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit

http://www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu/whatis.html.

Students may get help with the grammar and structure of their writing, such as at the Writing Center (Room 0125, Taliaferro Hall, walk-in or call 301-405-3785 for appt.). However, students may not get unacknowledged help with the content of their work. Please contact the instructors with any questions about what is acceptable or unacceptable outside help. Learn exactly what plagiarism is and avoid it.

Honor Pledge: Please put the honor pledge on your papers and exams: "I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this assignment/examination."

Required texts

VanDeVeer, Donald and Christine Pierce (2003), The Environmental Ethics and Policy Book, 3rd. ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworh/Thomson Learning. (V&P below)

ISBN: 0-534-56188-8

Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac. Publisher: Ballantine Books; Reissue edition (June 1, 1990) ISBN: 0345345053

Daniel Quinn, Ishmael

Bantam; Reissue edition (May 1, 1995) ISBN: 0553375407

Assignments:

Jan. 26, Introduction

Overview of issues in philosophy of the environment

A skill to acquire: doing critical analysis

Reading for Friday discussion: V&P, Introduction, pp. xvii-xxv

Suggested reading at your leisure before spring break: Ishmael

Jan.31 Western Religious Attitudes Toward Nature

Required reading: V&P, Preview, pp. 43-52; White in V& P, pp. 52-58; Gordis in V&P, pp. 62-65

Feb. 2, Philosophies of Nature: Rousseau, Native American

Required reading: Rosenstand in V&P, pp. 99-108

Feb 7, Introduction to Ethical Theory: Facts vs. Values

Required reading: V&P, pp 1-20

Feb. 9, Ethics: The Standard Anthropocentric Theories:

Rights Theories, Utilitarianism, Kant; An Environmental Ethic?

Required reading: V&P, pp. 20-30; 33-39

Feb. 14, Constructing an Environmental Ethic: Biocentric

Required reading: Goodpaster in V&P, pp. 183-189; Taylor in V&P, pp. 201-215

Recommended: McDaniel in V&P, pp. 89-98

Feb. 16 Constructing an Environmental Ethic: Ecocentric

Required reading: Stone in V&P, pp.189-201; Rolston in V&P, pp. 476-484

Feb. 21, History of American Environmentalism: Guest lecturer: Robert Friedel

Begin reading following assignments from Carson and Leopold

Feb. 23, Rachel Carson, Biologist, Nature Writer, Environmentalist

Required reading: V&P, pp. 587-595

Rachel Carson (1962) Silent Spring, selection in V&P, pp. 595-598

Feb.28, The Land Ethic: "Think like a mountain."

Required reading: Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac, "Forward," pp. xvii-xix

Wisconsin, pp. 101-124, Arizona and New Mexico, pp. 130-146"

Recommended reading: other sections of Leopold of your choice

Mar. 2, The Land Ethic

Required reading: Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac, Part IV, "The Upshot," pp. 237-296.

Mar. 7, Interpreting the Land Ethic

Required reading: Callicott in V&P, pp. 224-238

Mar. 9, Interpreting the Land Ethic, Continued: Environmental Pragmatism

Required reading: Norton in V&P, pp. 240-259

Mar. 14, Deep Ecology & Critiques of Deep Ecology

Required reading: V&P, pp. 259-263, Devall & Sessions in V&P, pp. 263-268;

Naess in V& P, pp. 268-273; Bookchin in V&P, pp. 273-277

Continue reading Ishmael

Mar 16, Ecofeminism and Critiques of Ecofeminism

Required reading: Shiva in V&P, pp. 296-302; Davion in V&P, pp. 303-310

Continue reading Ishmael

Mar. 20-24, spring break

Read Ishmael

Mar. 28, Discussion: Ishmael, first half

Required reading: Ishmael, first half

Mar. 30, Discussion Ishmael, last half

Required reading: Ishmael, last half

Apr. 4, The Economic View of the Environment: Guest Lecturer: Mark Sagoff

Required reading: Freeman in V&P, pp. 318-326; Sagoff in V&P, pp. 327-335;

Cost-benefit analysis, V&P, pp. 336-341

Apr. 6, Private Property and the Environment: Tragedy of the Commons

Required reading: Hardin in V&P, pp. 364-372

Apr. 11, Private Property and the Environment: Locke

Locke in V& P, pp. 374-377; Shrader-Frechett in V&P, pp. 377-378

Apr. 13, The Population Problem

Required reading: Malthus in V&P, pp. 397-401; Hardin in V&P, pp. 402-408

Apr. 18, Issues of Finite Resources: Functional Equivalence?

Simon in V&P, pp. 408-413; Goodland in V&P, pp. 598-607

Apr. 20, Sustainability and Obligations to Future Generations

Required reading: V&P, pp. 419-427; Partridge in V& P, pp. 428-436

Apr. 25, Reality of Species and Obligation to Preserve Species

Required reading: Gould in V&P, pp. 465-469, Myers in V&P, pp. 529-534

Apr 27, Obligations to Individual Organisms: Aesthetic Values

Required reading: Russow in V&P, pp. 469-476

May 2, E. O. Wilson and Obligation to Preserve Biodiversity

V&P, pp. 451-458; Wilson in V&P, pp. 459-465

May 4, (topic and readings to be announced)

May 9, Issues about Activism

Required reading: Claxton in V&P, pp. 643-649

May 11, Last class, review

May 18, Thursday, 1:30-3:30, Final Examination in lecture classroom