Religion 284: Religion, Ethics and Nature

Instructor: Anna Peterson

Office: Religion Department, 171 Church St., Rm. 208; tel. 685-2299

E-mail: apeterson01@wesleyan.edu OR alp@religion.ufl.edu

Office hours: Wednesday 2:00-4:00 p.m. and by appointment

Description and objectives

This course examines different religious and philosophical approaches to non-human nature, with a particular focus on the ethical dimensions of humans’ interactions with the environment. We will look at materials from a variety of religious traditions and other philosophical and political perspectives, in order to illuminate a number of issues, including the following:

1. What is “nature”? What gives it value, and what kind of value does it have?

2. What constitutes a correct relationship with nature? What are the consequences of an incorrect relationship?

3. How do different religions and cultures define human beings in relation and/or in contrast to non-human species/nature?

4. How do different religions and cultures define a “good” community? Are non-human species included in that community, and if so, how? If not, then what is the proper relationship of non-human nature in and to that human community?

5. What are the main obstacles to achieving good (or at least better) relationships with or treatment of non-human nature? What ethical principles will help us overcome these obstacles? What should we do when priorities or values conflict?

6. For religiously-based ethics, what is the nature and role of the divine/transcendent in achieving a good community? How does this affect the role, value, and responsibilities of humans in relation to non-human nature?

The diverse perspectives offered in the readings will provide a framework for thinking both about social-political ethics and about contemporary environmental issues, both practical and theoretical. A central goal of the course will be to reflect on the ways that ideas and values are embedded in and shape the ways different individuals and societies approach their relationships to non-human nature. In this context, we will think about the ways different problems have been approached, the assumptions underlying those approaches, and their strengths and weaknesses. We will also think about alternative ways to approach these environmental problems, drawing on resources of diverse cultures and philosophies.

Readings

1. J. Baird Callicott, Earth’s Insights: A Multicultural Survey of Environmental Ethics from the Mediterranean Basin to the Australian Outback (California, 1994)

2. Richard Nelson, Make Prayers to the Raven: A Koyukon View of the Forest (Chicago, 1983)

3. M. E. Tucker and D. R. Williams, eds., Buddhism and Ecology (Harvard, 1997)

4. Michael Northcott, The Environment and Christian Ethics (Cambridge, 1996)

5. Greta Gaard, ed., Ecofeminism: Women, Animals, Nature (Temple, 1993)

Additional readings will include the following articles, available as photocopies at Atticus:

1. Lynn White, Jr. “The Historical Roots of our Ecologic Crisis.” Science 155 (10 March 1967): 1203-1207.

2. Doug Codiga, “Zen Practice and a Sense of Place,” from Dharma Gaia: A Harvest of Essays in Buddhism and Ecology, ed. Alan Hunt Badiner (Parallax Press, 1990).

3. Gary Snyder, “Blue Mountains Constantly Walking,” pp. 97-115 in The Practice of the Wild (Berkeley: North Point, 1990); and “Smokey the Bear Sutra” (pp. 25-31) and “Nets of Beads, Webs of Cells” (pp. 65-73) in A Place in Space (Washington: Counterpoint, 1995).

4. Rita M. Gross, “Towards a Buddhist Environmental Ethic.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 65, no. 2 (Summer 1997): 333-354.

5. Marti Kheel, “License to Kill,” from Animals and Women, eds. Josephine Donovan and Carol Adams (Duke University Press, 1995), pp. 85-125.

6. Bron Taylor, “Earthen Spirituality or Cultural Genocide: Radical Environmentalism’s Appropriation of Native American Spirituality,” Religion 17, no. 2 (1997): 183-215.

7. Karen Warren, “The Power and Promise of Ecological Feminism,” Environmental Ethics 12 (1990): 125-146.

8. Aldo Leopold, “The Land Ethic,” from A Sand County Almanac (Ballantine/Sierra Club, 1970), pp. 237-264.

9. Bron Taylor, “Earth First!’s Religious Radicalism,” in Ecological Prospects: Aesthetic, Scienific, and Religious Perspectives, ed. Christopher Chapple (SUNY, 1993), pp. 185-209.

Course Requirements

1. Participation in class discussions. Participation requires not only attendance and alertness but also preparation, i.e., careful reading of the assigned texts prior to each class meeting. Participation will account for 10% of the final grade.

2. A short paper (c. 3-4 pages) answering questions drawn from the class readings on Christianity, due February 9 (15% of final grade). Students will receive a list of possible questions to address in advance of writing the paper. Papers should be handed in to my mailbox in the Religion Department, 171 Church Street (corner of Church and High Streets).

3. An in-class essay exam on Asian traditions, Wednesday, March 3 (15% of final grade).

4. A take-home exam (c. 5 pages) on issues from the readings on native traditions, eco-feminism, and post-modern environmental ethics (20% of final grade), due April 20, in my box in the Religion Department.

4. A final research paper (c. 10-15 pages), consisting of a philosophical analysis of a particular environmental problem (topic to be approved by the instructor by March 22; initial bibliography of at least 6 sources due April 12), looking at (a) the strengths and weaknesses of past, present, and/or traditional ethical/philosophical approaches to the problem and (b) an alternative approach or approaches, with a reasoned defense of it/them, due May 10. The paper will account for 40% of the final grade.

4. A presentation on the research project, to be given during the last week and a half of classes. The presentation will account for 10% of the final grade.

Notes on writing assignments:

1. Suggested lengths of papers are approximate; actual lengths of successful papers will vary based on writing style, use of sources, font, etc. Check with me if you have questions about the length of a paper.

2. Papers may be handed in on reused (scratch) paper. Separate title pages are not needed or encouraged; bibliographies may be placed at the end of the paper rather than on a separate page.

3. Please use double or 1½ spacing on your printer/typewriter.

4. Any method of citing sources is acceptable (in-text, footnotes, endnotes), as long as it is clear and consistent and includes all sources you have used.

5. Please feel free to consult me, in person or by e-mail or phone, about any questions you have regarding writing assignments.

6. Please bring completed assignments either to class or to my mailbox in the Religion Department, 171 Church Street.

Schedule (readings marked with an asterisk * are in the photocopied reader)

Date Topic Reading

W 1/20 Introduction

M 1/25 Issues Callicott, ch. 1 (1-13)

Northcott, ch. 1 (1-39)

W 1/27 Historical background Callicott, ch. 2 (14-43)

Northcott, ch. 2 (40-85)

* White, “Historical Roots”

M 2/1 Ecotheology Northcott, ch. 3-4 (86-163)

W 2/3 Creation Northcott, ch. 5 (164-198); Genesis 1

M 2/8 Natural law ethics Northcott, ch. 6-7 (199-327)

(You can skim ch. 7)

First short paper due on Tuesday, February 9, by 4:00 p.m. in my mailbox

W 2/10 Asian traditions Callicott, ch. 3-5 (44-101)

M 2/15 Thai and Japanese Buddhism Tucker/Williams, 21-44, 71-110

W 2/17 Zen Buddhism Tucker/Williams, 165-186; 219-248

* Codiga, “Zen Practice ...”

M 2/22 Gary Snyder Tucker/Williams, 187-218

* Snyder, “Blue Mountains Constantly Walking,”“Smokey the Bear Sutra” and “Nets of Beads, Webs of Cells”

W 2/24 Buddhist environmental ethics Tucker/Williams, 291-312

* Gross, “Towards a Buddhist...”

M 3/1 Buddhism and nature Tucker/Williams, 327-402

W 3/3 In-class exam on Buddhism and Asian traditions

Spring break: March 5-21

M 3/22 Intro to Koyukon life Nelson, intro and ch. 1-4 (xiii-xvi; 1-57)

Topic for research paper must be approved by today or a statement of the topic must be handed in today in class

W 3/24 Koyukon: Animals I Nelson, ch. 5-8 (58-199 as much as possible)

M 3/29 Koyukon: Animals II Finish Nelson, ch. 9-10 (139-199)

* Kheel, “License to Kill,”

W 3/31 Koyukon Worldview Nelson, ch. 11-13 (200-248)

* Taylor, “Earthen Spirituality or Cultural Genocide”

W 4/7 Ecofeminism I: Gaard, ch. 1-2, 5 (1-59, 118-145)

Theoretical Frameworks * Warren, “The Power and Promise”

W 3/24 Koyukon: Animals I Nelson, ch. 5-8 (58-138)

M 3/29 Koyukon: Animals II Nelson, ch. 9-10 (139-199)

W 3/31 Koyukon Worldview Nelson, ch. 11-13 (200-248)

M 4/5 Far West/South America Callicott, ch. 6-7 (pp. 102-155)

Africa/Australia Callicott, ch. 8 (156-184)

W 4/7 Ecofeminism I: Gaard, ch. 1-2, 5 (1-59, 118-145)

Theoretical Frameworks

M 4/12 Ecofeminism II: Gaard, ch. 3, 7-8 (60-90, 167-218)

Women and Animals

Initial bibliography for final research paper due in class Monday, April 12

W 4/14 Ecofeminism III: Gaard, ch. 4, 6, 11-12 (91-117, 146-166,

Nature and Society 272-314)

Gaard, ch. 10 (243-271) * Leopold, “The Land Ethic”

Take-home exam due on Tuesday, April 20, by 4:00 p.m. in my mailbox

W 4/21 Environmental ethics in action Callicott, ch. 10 (211-234)

* Taylor, “Earth First!’s Religious Radicalism”

M 4/26 Student presentations

W 4/28 Student presentations

M 5/3 Student presentations

Final papers are due May 10 by 4:00 p.m. in my mailbox

Note: Schedule changes may be required due to unforeseen circumstances. Any changes will be announced in class, and students are responsible for knowing about them.