1.You need to complete this task in strict accordance with the detailed Requirements/Guidelines.

5%: Reading Quizzes

Students are required to submit 2 papers, lead 2 discussions, complete 3 exams. Failure to complete any of these assignments will result in failure for the course. Papers are subject to the late policy described below and must be submitted by 11:59pm on December 8th to receive any credit.

Grades

The final course grade will be assigned according to the overall average of all work in the course, weighted as described above. The grading scale is: 94-100% = A, 90-93% = A-, 87-89% = B+, 84-86%= B, 80-83% = B-, 77-79% = C+, 74-76% = C, 70-73% = C-, 69-60%= D, below 60%= U.

Discussions

· 30-45 minutes of class time will be set aside for discussion. Students are expected to become “experts” on the theory or topic for that day and will lead discussion with a group of their peers. This can involve presenting new ideas/material, organizing a debate, or some other activity of your choosing.

· Students will sign up for dates/topics via Moodle.

· Each group will submit discussion materials (via Moodle) by 11:59pm the night before discussion

· A brief (200-300 word) self-evaluation is due at the same time as the paper (see below).

Papers

· Two papers of 1,200-1,600 words are required.

· These will be related to your presentations and due three days after class discussion. (For example, if you sign up to lead discussion on “Valuing Nature”, you will lead discussion on September 27th, and your paper will be due by 11:59 pm on September 30th.)

· Specific guidelines for papers will be provided. All papers should have a clear argument and defend a specific position.

· Everything will be submitted through Moodle’s “Turnitin” application. No hard copies are required. When grading is completed, students will have access to all instructor comments through Turnitin.

Late Policy

All written assignments are due at 11:59 pm. Late submissions will receive a reduction of 1/3 of a grade, and an additional 1/3 grade reduction for each additional day the paper is late. For example, an “A” paper due on September 5th will receive an “A-“ if submitted after midnight (or any time on the 6th), and a “B+” if turned in on the 7th.

Reading Quizzes

Unannounced reading quizzes will be administered during the term to determine whether students are doing the required reading.

Attendance and Participation

· Bring that day’s reading materials to class and be prepared to discuss it with your instructor and your peers.

· Your attendance and participation grade is determined by: 1) engagement and participation and 2) preparedness.

1) Engagement & Participation: answer (and ask) questions, complete in-class activities, follow along with the text, etc…

2) Preparedness: complete and bring reading to class, prepare questions about the text/ideas

· Students are expected to arrive promptly and ready to discuss the readings for that day.

· Attendance is considered mandatory. More than 3 unexcused absences will result in a 5% in your overall grade (and deductions will increase with a greater number of absences).

· If you need to miss class, it is your responsibility to contact your instructor as soon as you are able and to provide documentation.

Classroom Expectations and Other Policies

· Laptop/tablet use is not allowed in the classroom without the express consent of the instructor.

· Cell phones should be kept on silent and placed in bags or pockets during all class meetings. I DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. EVER.

· We will discuss issues that are sometimes personal and potentially controversial. I expect that all students will treat everyone in the classroom politely. I have a Zero-Tolerance Policy for disrespect in the classroom.

· The Writing Center is an extremely valuable resource. Please take advantage of their services in the basement of Crounse!

· Plagiarism involves submitting someone else’s words or work as your own and will not be tolerated. If you use material from the websites, books, discussions with peers outside of class, or any other source, you are expected to reference and cite the source. For useful information on when/how to cite, visit: http://researchhelp.centre.edu/content.php?pid=97915. Additional information is available in your Student Handbook under the section “Academic Dishonesty”. If you have questions or are unsure if something counts as plagiarism, PLEASE contact me!

· I want to make certain that everyone has an equal opportunity to learn. If you have a physical impairment or learning disability, please contact the College’s coordinator for disabilities, Mary Gulley (x5223), so that we can make any necessary arrangements for appropriate accommodations

Tentative Schedule

DETAILED & UPDATED version on MOODLE—Check Regularly

9/4: Course Introduction; Plato Euthyphro(Moodle)

Moral Reasoning, Environmentalism, and Environmental Ethics

9/6: complete Euthyphro

OPTIONAL: “Logical Toolkit and Writing Philosophy Papers” (Moodle)

9/9: Palmer, “An Overview of Environmental Ethics” (Moodle)

9/11: Schmidtz & Shahar, Introduction; Pinchot, Muir (28-33);

9/13: Nash, “Old Roots of Opinion”

9/16: Leopold, “The Land Ethic”

On Nature

Valuing Nature

9/18: “The Last Man” editorial (41-48); Selection from Genesis (p. 51); begin Rolsten, “Value in Nature and the Nature of Value”

9/20: Finish Rolsten; begin Dales, “Simple Problems, Simple Solutions”

9/23: complete Dales; Anderson (Moodle)

9/25: Plumwood, “Being Prey”; Devall & Sessions, “Deep Ecology”

9/27: complete Devall & Sessions; Valuing Nature Discussion

9/30: EXAM 1 (Moral Reasoning, Environmentalism, & Environmental Ethics; Valuing Nature)

Relating to Non-Human Animals

10/2: Aquinas, Kant, Bentham, (113-115); begin Plakias, excerpt from Thinking Through Food (Moodle)

10/4: finish Plakias

10/7: Regan, “The Case for Animal Rights”; begin Steinbock “Speciesism and the Idea of Equality”

10/9: complete Steinbock; begin Diamond, “Eating Meat and Eating People”

10/11: finish Diamond; Valuing the Non-Human Discussion

Naturalness & Wildness

10/14: Leopold “Wildlife in American Culture” (Moodle)

10/16: Krieger: “What’s Wrong With Plastic Trees?”

10/21: Elliot: “Faking Nature” (Moodle)

10/23: Willott, “Restoring Nature, Without Mosquitoes?”; Pitcher & Welchman, “Can an Environmental Paradise Be Regained?”

10/25: complete Pitcher & Welchman; Naturalness/Wildness Discussion

Human and Environmental Values

Critical Approaches

10/28: Warren, “The Power and The Promise of Ecological Feminism”

10/30: Guha, “Radical American Environmentalism and Wilderness Preservation: A Third World Critique”

11/1: Rao, “Women Farmers of India’s Deccan Plateau: Ecofeminists Challenge World Elites”; begin Figueroa, “Evaluating Environmental Justice Claims” (MOODLE)

11/4: complete Figueroa; begin Finney (MOODLE)

11/6: complete Finney; Critical Approaches Discussion

11/8 EXAM 2 (Non-Human Animals, Naturalness & Wildness, Critical Approaches)

Consumption and Sustainability

11/11: World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987: “Towards Sustainable Development” (MOODLE)

11/13: Sagoff, “Do We Consume Too Much?”

11/15: Johnson, “Ethical Obligations in a Tragedy of the Commons”

11/18: Scarlett, “Making Waste Management Pay”; Consumption and Sustainability Discussion

Climate

11/20: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

“Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report Summary for Policymakers” https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/AR5_SYR_FINAL_SPM.pdf

“Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5C: Summary for Policymakers”

https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/summary-for-policy-makers/

11/22: Jamieson, “Ethics, Public Policy, and Global Warming”, Steven Gardiner: “A Perfect Moral Storm”

11/25: Kitcher, “The Climate Challenge”

Moellendorf, “Justice in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Policies”

11/27: Johnson, “Ethical Obligations in a Tragedy of the Commons”

12/2: Shahar, “Treading Lightly on the Climate in a Problem-Ridden World”

*12/4: complete Shahar; Climate Discussion

12/6: Final Discussion

FINAL EXAM: December 13th, 1:30-4:30pm