1.     Course Description

This course investigates the most important environmental issues of our day from a philosophical perspective. Using ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics, we will think about animal rights, the meaning and value of nature, climate ethics, environmental economics, the future of conservation, and debates about the de-extinction of species.

The course grounds itself history of environmental philosophy with classic readings from Aristotle, Confucius, Locke, Mill, and Thoreau. It then combines contemporary philosophy with documentary films to help students develop an environmental outlook that is evidence-based, logically consistent, and morally defensible. Course assignments include short papers, research projects, and class presentations. We will combine our theoretical reflections with class visits to the Vinoř Nature Reserve and the Prague Zoo. It is the business of philosophy to ask deep questions, and deep question often produce complex answers. Students will be encouraged to question their own beliefs and to respectfully the question the beliefs of others.

2.     Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

·      Identify and explain important positions, movements, and controversies in environmental philosophy.

·      Analyze and interpret classic and contemporary texts related to environmental philosophy, as well as documentary films.

·      Practice the distinctive mode of inquiry of philosophy, with its pursuit of good arguments, clear concepts, and meaningful distinctions.

·      Demonstrate and improved ability to write analytically and conduct oral presentations based on collaborative group work.

3.     Reading Material

All reading material will be provided by the instructor.

·      Dale Jamieson. Ethics and the Environment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008. 

·      David Schmidtz and Dan Shahar. Environmental Ethics: What Really Matters, What Really Works. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018.

·      Lori Gruen. Reflecting on Nature. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013.