Environmental Ethics (PHIL 368.001/ENST 368.001)

We will begin by asking what we mean by nature and the environment, and we will then examine different ways people (especially Americans) relate to their environment, care about the environment, and think there are good reasons for everyone ought to care about it. Some of the questions we will consider include: What are the ethical and environmental issues that pertain to the food we eat? Are there reasons, based on considerations other than prudential concerns for our own health and well-being, for caring about animals, plants, future generations of humans, or the earth itself? Why do people think that “nature” or “natural” is good? Finally, we will examine ethical issues involved in climate change.

This class is cross-listed with ENST 368.001.

Douglas MacLean’s webpage