Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:08
We are living through an environmental crisis. This is well recognised and widely discussed. Most of this discussion focuses on what we should do to deal with the crisis, and rightly so. But it is also well recognised that the current crisis is deeply rooted in how we think of nature and the natural world and why we value it. Environmental Ethics helps us think about these foundational issues and get clear on why - and not just how - we should save the planet.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
|
||
We are living through an environmental crisis. This is well recognised and regularly discussed by individuals, communities, governmental and non-governmental organisations, and businesses. Most of this discussion focuses on what we should do to deal with the crisis. And rightly so - there are problems to be solved, and it is important to discuss the best ways to solve them. But it is also well recognised that the current crisis is deeply rooted in how we think of nature and the natural world and why we value it. Environmental Ethics helps us think about these foundational issues and get clear on why - and not just how - we should save the planet.
Academic work in this area has grown exponentially since the 1970s and covers a wide range of issues. These issues include everything from animal rights to critiques of the colonial biases of western ethical theories. In this course we will dip our toe into the debate, focusing on two questions. First, whether we should extend moral status to entities other than human beings. And second, whether traditional Western Ethical Theories are destructively anthropocentric and thus part of the problem.
In addressing these questions, we will engage with contemporary research in a variety of ethical traditions – e.g., Utilitarianism, Deontology and Virtue Ethics. We will also focus in on specific arguments from the research literature on animal rights, the moral status of ecosystems, critiques of Western Ethical Theories from an environmental point of view, and perspectives on environmental issues from a feminist, social justice and ‘deep ecology’ point of view.
The key goal of this course is to allow students to reflect not only on what we should do about the state of the natural world, but on why we should do these things. Reflecting on the question of why will raise deeper questions about our relationship with the natural world and our place in it.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 29,31,34,39 | Feedback Weeks | 31,34,39,41 | |
| Feedback |
Four ‘Questions for Consideration’ reflective writing exercises, 500-word maximum. Each worth 15%. Written guidance and a marking rubric will be available from the beginning of the course. Students will be introduced to the method in the first tutorial. Written feedback will be given via MyAberdeen using the Rubric tool. Verbal feedback will be given in tutorials. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Students will be able to develop and articulate an academic response to key arguments and theses presented in course material. |
| Procedural | Apply | Students will be able to critically read core texts in Environmental Ethics by applying the ‘Questions for Consideration’ method. |
| Reflection | Apply | Students will be able to prepare for and contribute to academic discussion of environmental issues by reflecting on their own reactions to assigned readings. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 30,34 | Feedback Weeks | ||
| Feedback |
Two Class Tests (online), worth 20% each. Tests will be administrated via MyAberdeen. They will be a combination of multiple choice and free text. They will assess key factual knowledge on course content. Specifically, they will test students’ basic knowledge of the issues being treated in each half of the course, and students’ knowledge of key arguments in the core reading for the course. Feedback will be provided on all questions via MyAberdeen. Correct answers—with explanation—will also be released after submission. Released weeks 30 (Test 1) and 34 (Test 2). Rolling submission with final deadline being week 42. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Understand | Students will be able to list key theories in Environmental Ethics and summarise the fundamental tenets of each theory. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 50 | Feedback Weeks | 52 | |
| Feedback |
Questions for Consideration’ critical/reflective writing exercise, 1,000-word maximum. Written guidance and a marking rubric will be available from the beginning of the course. Students will be introduced to the method in the first tutorial. Written feedback will be given via MyAberdeen using the Rubric tool. Verbal feedback will be given in tutorials. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 50 | Feedback Weeks | 52 | |
| Feedback |
One Class Test (online). Test will be administrated via MyAberdeen. It will be a combination of multiple choice and free text. It will assess key factual knowledge on course content. Specifically, it will test students’ basic knowledge of the issues being treated in the course, and students’ knowledge of key arguments in the core reading for the course. Feedback will be provided on all questions via MyAberdeen. Correct answers – with explanation - will also be released after submission. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Understand | Students will be able to list key theories in Environmental Ethics and summarise the fundamental tenets of each theory. |
| Procedural | Apply | Students will be able to critically read core texts in Environmental Ethics by applying the ‘Questions for Consideration’ method. |
| Reflection | Apply | Students will be able to prepare for and contribute to academic discussion of environmental issues by reflecting on their own reactions to assigned readings. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Students will be able to develop and articulate an academic response to key arguments and theses presented in course material. |
We have detected that you are have compatibility mode enabled or are using an old version of Internet Explorer. You either need to switch off compatibility mode for this site or upgrade your browser.
