PHL 203 - Environmental Ethics

This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://catalog.nmc.edu.

Course Description

Environmental Ethics is an introduction to the major approaches to environmental ethics, including anthropocentrism, biocentrism, deep ecology, and ecofeminisim, as well as several others based on both Western and non-western philosophical and religious traditions. Since environmental ethics draws on a variety of disciplines, some of the perspectives presented will draw heavily on scientific arguments which emphasize methods based on reason, logic, objectivity, and repeatability. Other perspectives will draw on intuition, emotion, imagination, artistic, historic, and religious views, as well as everyday experience. A variety of perspectives will be examined for the purpose of both forming and informing one's own environmental ethic. Group 1 course.

Credit Hours

3

Contact Hours

3

Lecture Hours

3

Recommended Prerequisites or Skills Competencies

Completion of ENG 11/111 or placement into ENG 111.

General Education Outcomes supported by this course

Communications - Direct, Critical Thinking - Direct

Other college designations supported by this course

Degree Req:Cultural Persp/Div, Infused: Writing Intensive

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge:
  • Demonstrate historical and conceptual knowledge of Ethical Theories and describe their relationship to environmental concerns and issues.
Application:
  • Apply Ethical theories to environmental concerns and issues.
  • Apply Philosophical Analysis and Inquiry in relation to environmental concerns and issues.
  • Develop their Critical Thinking and Communication Skills in their examination of environmental concerns and issues.
Integration:
  • Explain the connection between Philosophical Ethical Inquiry and environmental issues.
  • Explain the connection between Philosophical Ethical Inquiry and environmental issues.
Human Dimension:
  • Examine ethical perspectives on humanity's use of and relationship to nonhuman animals, the land, future humans, and the ecosystem itself.
Caring - Civic Learning:
  • Demonstrate open-mindedness by considering alternative historical and cultural values as well as competing points of view.
Learning How to Learn:
  • To communicate as a philosopher (effective communications using the English Language and knowledge of philosophical concepts and traditions).