PHIL-V245-001 & 002 Spring 2015

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
Monroe Hall 529
Instructor: Joel MacClellan
Email: jpmaccle@loyno.edu
Phone: (504) 865-3940
Office Hours: M & W: 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m.
Office Location: Bobet Hall, 4th Floor, Room 436
Course Description: This introductory course to environmental ethics will cover both

theoretical and practical normative dimensions of environmental issues. Like the

natural and social worlds we inhabit, there are diverse perspectives in
environmental ethics; this course will highlight both the tensions and points of
agreement between these viewpoints. We first examine the traditional
anthropocentric ethical perspectives, taking on moral questions arising within this
paradigm such as the value of a statistical life, environmental justice, obligations to
future generations, sustainability, population, private property, environmental
aesthetics, and environmental restoration.Then, we will move beyond
anthropocentric approaches and consider nonanthropocentric perspectives which
grant moral standing to entities outside our species. We will examine both
individualistic perspectives, which place value on individual entities such as sentient
animals or individual organisms, and holistic perspectives that place value on
wholes such as species or ecosystems. Throughout, we will examine environmental
policies and case studies related to these various perspectives in environmental
ethics.

Textbook: None. All readings will be posted on Blackboard. It is highly recommended that you
print these out rather than reading them on a computer screen.
Common Core Curriculum Course: This course will fulfill the Foundational Ethics
requirement in the Advanced Common Curriculum on 2013- 14 or later DPCLs. It also will
fulfill a Philosophy requirement in the ACC on earlier DPCLs. PHIL-T122 (Philosophy of the
Human Person) or its equivalent at another college or university must be completed prior to
enrolling in the course.
Course Goals and Learning Outcomes:
Goal 1. Development of effective skills in research, writing, speaking, reading, and listening.
1a. Development of a students ability to formulate clearly and explain cogently her or his
philosophical inquiry in either oral or written form. 1b. Development of student ability to analyze
clearly the arguments and interpretations present in both primary and secondary sources of
philosophical writing and to offer reasoned reflection on their cogency.
Goal 2. Development of critical and analytical skills required to solve abstract and concrete
problems. 2a. Development of student ability to analyze clearly the arguments and
interpretations present in both primary and secondary sources of philosophical writing and to
offer reasoned reflection on their cogency. 2b. Development of a students ability to formulate

clearly and explain cogently her or his philosophical inquiry in either oral or written form.
Goal 3. Development of the fullest capacity for intellectual and spiritual growth through the
critical evaluation of significant philosophers and their beliefs. 3a. Development of a students
capacity to formulate clearly and evaluate with insight his or her fundamental beliefs (e.g. about
reality, knowledge, and ethics) and to reflect on the relationship between these beliefs and how
he or she lives.
Goal 4. Development of student capacity to reflect on and critique presupposed values,
especially ethical norms and standards in their variety and complexity latent within our world,
our commitments, our beliefs, our methodologies, our institutions, and our courses of study. 4a.
Development of a students capacity to formulate clearly and evaluate with insight his or her
fundamental beliefs (e.g., about reality, knowledge, and ethics) and to reflect on the relationship
between these beliefs and how he or she lives. 4b. Development of student capacity to formulate
clearly and evaluate with insight the philosophical (e.g., epistemological, metaphysical, or
ethical) aspects of salient issues in contemporary life and culture.
Expectations of Students:
Being polite is a way of expressing kindness and respect for another human being. This is
something each of us wants, including me. We will cover some controversial subjects. Keep
an open mind and always keep discussion civil.
Arrive on time and do not leave class early. Class will always begin and end on time.
The use of hand-held electronics e.g. cell phones, tablets is strictly prohibited. Phones
must be turned off (not merely placed on vibrate mode) and stored out of sight for the
duration of the class.
Laptop use is strongly discouraged but is permitted. I require only that you sit in the back two
rows of the classroom and ask that you stay on task.
Do not read the newspaper, do work for other classes, eat disruptively, or nap during class
time. It is distracting to others, including me, and means youre not getting out of the class
what you could be.
Reread the syllabus before emailing the instructor with logistical questions about the course.
A pet peeve of mine is responding to questions answered in the syllabus.
Email Communication: You will need an active Loyno email account in order to receive email
announcements from me. Please contact IT (http://academicaffairs.loyno.edu/infotech/) if you
require assistance with your Network ID or email account.
Disability services and accommodations: If you have a disability and wish to receive
accommodations, please contact the Universitys Disability Services. If you are eligible to
receive test accommodations (e.g., extended test time) through the Academic Resource Center,
you will need to give the course instructor an official Accommodation Form from Disability
Services.
For more information regarding disability services, please see
http://www.loyno.edu/arc/disability-services
Writing Across the Curriculum: Writing is a process. Start your writing assignments well
before the due date and always have another person review your work before you turn it in. Free

peer writing consultation is available in the Writing Center, located in Bobet 100. The center is
open Monday-Thursday 9am-7pm, Friday 9-4pm, and Sunday 4-9pm. No appointment is
necessary. For any additional questions about the Writing Center, call 865-2297.
Statement on Academic Integrity: Plagiarism may take the form of repeating anothers
sentences as your own, adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own, paraphrasing someone
elses argument as your own, or even presenting someone elses line of thinking in the
development of a thesis as though it were your own. (MLA Handbook, 1985). The Philosophy
Departments Policy on plagiarism requires that every case of plagiarism receive all three of the
following sanctions: (1) A report of the incident to the Department Chair and the Associate Dean,
(2) A zero on the particular assignment, and (3) A failing grade in the course.
Emergency Operations: At times, ordinary university operations are interrupted as a result of
tropical storms, hurricanes, or other emergencies that require evacuation or suspension of oncampus activities. To prepare for such emergencies, please familiarize yourself with the
Universitys emergency policies available on the Academic Affairs web site:
http://academicaffairs.loyno.edu/students-emergency-responsibilities. Additional emergencyplanning information is also available: http://academicaffairs.loyno.edu/emergency-planning
Missed Work, Late Work, and Incompletes: Make-up exams and Incompletes will not be
given except in extraordinary circumstances. Inadequate preparation is not sufficient grounds for
a make-up exam. If you miss a scheduled exam, you must contact me, preferably in advance,
and never later than three days after the exam. Make-ups quizzes and exams may be perceived
as harder than the original. Late Papers are accepted. The penalty is 10%% for the first day and
2% for each day thereafter. Late papers will not be accepted after the final exam. A grade of
Incomplete will only be given to a passing student who has completed a majority of the
coursework, has extraordinary circumstances, and with permission from the instructor before the
end of the semester.
Course Requirements and Grading: Attendance (10%), Participation (10%), Quizzes (10%),
Three Exams (15% each), and Two Papers (10% and 15%)
Grading Scale:
A = 93-100
A- = 90-92.9

B+ = 87-89.9
B = 83-86.9
B- = 80-82.9

C+ = 77-79.9
C = 73-76.9
C- = 70-72.9

D+ = 67-69.9
D = 63-66.9
D- = 60-62.9

F = 59 and
below

1. Attendance (10%): Attendance will be taken each class. If you arrive late or leave early, you
will receive credit at my discretion. If you know that you need to leave early, please inform me
before class. The grading policy for attendance is as follows: 3 or fewer absences (A); 5 (B); 5
(C); 7 (D); 9 or more (F). Note that this only for the attendance portion of the grade. There are
many good reasons to miss class, including illness, particularly those with flu-like systems:
flu.gov/symptoms-treatment, family emergency, funeral, or a conflict with sponsored school
activities. You are expected to attend class unless you have such a reason. There is no need to
notify me via email about the occasional absence, but if you have an extended illness or some

other documentable crisis which will require you to miss more than 3 consecutive classes, please
contact me for accommodation. No credit for attendance will be given if you are absent
regardless of the reasons for your absence on a given day. However, the attendance policy is
designed to allow for some absences without a negative impact on your grade, and there will be
an extra credit opportunity to make up a missed day.
2. Participation (10%): Students participation in class is required. While the class is in session
you are expected to refrain from cell-phone use (including text-messaging), eating, doing other
coursework, or partaking in side-conversation or other conversation that is not a part of class
discussion. Failure to meet these expectations will result in points deducted from your
participation grade (at my discretion). Participation includes the cogency, thoughtfulness, and
thoroughness of your oral contributions to class discussions.
3. Attendance/Reading Quizzes (10%): Unannounced (pop) quizzes will often be given in

class. These quizzes will typically consist of a mix of true-false, multiple choice, and short
answer questions. Quizzes are primarily designed to evaluate students preparation for class,
including but not limited to completing the days required reading(s) so as to comprehend the
main concepts, claims, and arguments in a cursory way. These quizzes provide incentive not only
to come to class, but to come to class prepared. There is no predetermined number of quizzes,
but there will be more quizzes if attendance drops or if students arent completing the reading
assignments. No make-up quizzes will be given for any reason, but your lowest three scores will
be dropped.
4. Three Examinations (15% each). The three noncumulative exams will consist of short essay
questions. Exams solely test your comprehension of course material. Generally, the questions
will require you to explain some idea or argument from class, or compare several different
arguments or perspectives to one another. All exams are taken in class. Study Guides and a
grading rubric will be distributed prior to the first exam.
4. Papers (10% and 15%). You are required to write two papers totaling at least 2,000 words.
The first paper is a short critical paper. The purpose of this paper is for you to carefully clarify
and critique a central claim or argument from a course reading in at least 750 words. The second
paper is a longer argumentative paper. The purpose of this paper is to articulate and defend an
argument of your own on a course topic in at least 1250 words. These papers give you the
opportunity to carefully formulate an argument, develop your own ideas, and independently
exercise your reasoning skills by interacting with concepts and readings from this course. More
specific instructions and a list of suggested topics will be discussed in class and posted to
Blackboard in the semester.
Course Schedule: Please complete the readings prior to that days class. I will also post several
recommended articles, typically current events related to what we are covering, throughout the semester
for those wishing to get more out of the course or a particular topic.

Week & Topic

Date

Readings

1 - Course Introduction

01/07
01/09

Baker, Introduction to Philosophical Thinking

Nolt, Fundamentals of Logic

01/12
01/14
01/16
01/19
01/21
01/23
01/26
01/28
01/30
02/02
02/04
02/06
02/09
02/11
02/13

Overview of Global Issues: Environment & Sustainability

Lynn White, Jr., The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis
Krech III, Pleistocene Extinctions
No Class Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
Light and Rolston III, Ethics and Environmental Ethics
Palmer, An Overview of Environmental Ethics
Mill, Excerpts from Utilitarianism
ONeill, A Simplified Account of Kants Ethics
Hill, Ideals of Human Excellence and Preserving Natural Environments
Wenz, Just Garbage: The Problem of Environmental Racism
Shue, Global Environment and International Inequality
Gaard and Gruen, Ecofeminism: Toward Global Justice and Planetary Health
Kavka, The Futurity Problem
McKibben, A Special Moment in History: The Challenge of Overpopulation and
Overconsumption, Exam Review
Exam 1

2 Where We Are and

How We Arrived
3 Ethical Theory and
the Environment
4 Ethical Theory and
the Environment
5 - Race, Class, Gender,
and Environment
6 Future Generations,
Population, and
Consumption
7
8 Climate Ethics
9 Economics, Ethics,
and the Environment
10 - Economics, Ethics,
and the Environment
11 Environmental
Restoration and
Aesthetics
12 - Environmental
Restoration and
Aesthetics
13
14 Biocentrism
15 Environmental
Holism
16 Sentiocentrism
17 Pluralism

02/16
-02/20
02/23
02/25
02/27
03/02
03/04
03/06
03/09
03/11
03/13
03/16
03/18
03/20
03/23
03/25
03/27
03/30 04/03
04/06
04/08
04/10
04/13
04/15
04/17
04/20
04/22
04/24
04/27
04/28

No Class Mardi Gras Holiday

Gardiner, Ethics and Global Climate Change (1st half of reading)
Gardiner, Ethics and Global Climate Change (2nd half of reading)
Sinnott-Armstrong, Its Not My Fault: Global Warming and Individual Moral Obligations
Freeman, The Ethical Basis of the Economic View of the Environment
Sagoff, Why Not all Political Questions are Economic
Solow, Sustainability: An Economists Perspective
Hardin, The Tragedy of the Commons; Monbiot, The Tragedy of Enclosure,
Recommended: Locke, The Creation of Property
Schweickart, Is Sustainable Capitalism an Oxymoron? (1st half of reading)
Schweickart, Is Sustainable Capitalism an Oxymoron? (2nd half of reading)
Cronon, The Trouble with Wilderness
Light, Ecological Restoration and the Culture of Nature, Exam Review
Exam 2
Elliot, Faking Nature
Carlson, Aesthetic Appreciation of the Natural Environment
Berleant, The Aesthetics of Art and Nature
No Class Easter Holidays
No Class Easter Holidays
Varner, Biocentric Individualism
Rolston, Duties to Endangered Species
Leopold, The Land Ethic
Devall and Sessions, Deep Ecology
Sober, Philosophical Problems for Environmentalism
Singer, Not for Humans Only
Callicott, "Animal Liberation: A Triangular Affair"
Jamieson, Animal Liberation is an Environmental Ethic
Whyte, The Elephant Management Dilemma
Stone, Moral Pluralism and the Course of Environmental Ethics

18

05/04

Exam 3: Section 001- 9:00 11:00 a.m; Section 002 2:00 4:00 p.m.