PHILOSOPHY 229:

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS AND FEMINISM

FALL, 2003

Instructor:	Karen J. Warren
Office:	OM 103
Office Hours:	Wednesdays, 1:00-4:00 and by appointment
Office Phone:	651-696-6172

Link to syllabus for course.

Link to bibliography on ecofeminism.

Link to index for Karen J. Warren's courses.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This is a philosophy course which weds two contemporary topics in environmental philosophy: environmental ethics and feminism. In particular, the course examines contemporary issues in environmental ethics from both traditional and feminist perspectives.

At the theoretical level, the course provides a scholarly overview and discussion of theoretical positions that are and that are not feminist or ecofeminist. These positions include: anthropocentric and economic environmentalism, animal welfarism/liberationism, Leopoldian land ethics, bicocentrism, bioregionalism, social ecology, deep ecology, ecofeminism, and some non-Western positions.

At the applied level, the course addresses issues that span the entire horizon of environmental ethics: e.g., What are the practical implications of the various theories in environmental philosophy? What, for example, are some of the theoretical implications for such issues as deforestation, pollution, destruction of habitats and species, vegetarianism and vivisection, energy consumption, nuclear energy and power, population control, political activism, and war? What are the tensions and agreements among nonfeminist environmental ethics and ecofeminist philosophical ethics? What sorts of contributions to environmental ethics are made by ecological science, epistemology, empirical research, literature, politics, philosophy, religion and spirituality? Throughout the course we will critically evaluate the theoretical positions in environmental ethics, including ecofeminist philosophical positions, by addressing these questions.

Throughout the course we will critically examine the range of philosophical positions in environmental ethics by addressing these questions.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

There are four main objectives of this course:

(1) to provide each student with both a theoretical and practical understanding of the nature and range of positions in environmental ethics;
(2) to help students develop critical thinking and writing skills necessary to the recognition, formulation, and assessment of various positions in environmental ethics;
(3) to provide the opportunity for students to develop their creative thinking skills and abilities through various in-class activities and final projects;
(4) to help students develop and defend their own environmental ethic.

COURSE FORMAT

This course will be conducted in a combination lecture-discussion format. Typically, one topic will be covered during one week, for a total of fourteen different topics during the semester. The instructor will present weekly "mini-lectures" on each topic on the first day the topic is introduced (typically Tuesdays). These "mini-lectures" are aimed at providing relevant background information on the subject matter being discussed. During the following class period (typically Thursdays), a small group of students will assist the instructor in leading a class discussion on the week's topic.

COURSE TEXTS

The following are the required reading materials for the course:

All Our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life, Winona LaDuke
Ecofeminist Philosophy: A Western Perspective on What It Is and Why It Matters, Karen J. Warren
Environmental Philosophy, 3rd Edition. eds. Zimmerman et al Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human Impact on the Earth, Mathis Wackernagel & William Rees
A Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold
Sisters of the Earth: Women's Prose and Poetry About Nature, ed. Andersen
Women Healing Earth, ed. Ruether
Material posted on our Class Web Page (on Nicenet)
Handouts of selected materials

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

There are five categories of student responsibilities:

(1) Each student is expected to attend class regularly, read all assigned materials on time, and participate in class discussion--both in-class and on-line. Students are expected to miss no more than three classes during the semester. (More than three unexcused absences will result in a lowering of the student's grade.)

(2) Each student will submit a brief (1-2 page) critical thinking essay in class on the Tuesday of each week on the reading for that week, for a total of 10 essays. Each critical thinking essay will answer three questions:

(a) What is the main thesis in the reading?
(b) What are the main reasons given for this thesis (i.e., what is the main argument)?
(c) Do you agree with the position taken in the reading? Why or why not?

Note that all 10 essays must be turned in and turned in on time in order for each student to successfully complete the course. This means that only one original essay may be turned in each week. (Revisions of original essays may be turned in up to the last day of class, December 11, 2003.)

(3) Each student is expected to submit a final project for grading. This project may be a traditional philosophical essay or an artistic or creative project (e.g., poetry, a sculpture, short story, painting, original music). If a student elects to do a creative project, it must be accompanied by a critical commentary (4-5 pages) in which the student clarifies the ways in which the project elucidates a topic (issue, position) addressed in class. These final projects may be done by individuals alone or in groups. They will be presented to the class during the last week of class, as well as during the final exam period time. All final projects must be approved by the instructor by mid-term.

(4) Each student is expected to participate in a small group that assists the instructor in leading one class discussion.

(5) Each student is expected to participate in the on-line class discussion (under "Conferencing Topics") on Nicenet two different days each week. Participation in these on-line discussions for a minimum of 24 entries, is an ungraded requirement of the course. Students who participate less often than this may have their final course grade lowered as a consequence.

GRADING

The weighting of the course work is as follows:

Class Attendance	Required
Critical Thinking Essays (10)	60%
On-line discussion	Required
Small Group Presentation	10%
Final Project/Paper	30%

WELCOME TO THE CLASS!

Link to syllabus for this course.

Return to index of Karen J. Warren's courses.

Return to Karen J. Warren's home page.