SYLLABUS

E50.2020: Contemporary Debates in Environmental Ethics

Spring 2001

Topic: Ethical Theory, Human Needs, and Environmental Values

Instructor: Andrew Light, Assistant Professor of Environmental Philosophy

Office: 246 Greene Street, Room 314E

Office Hours: Tuesday 1:00-3:00pm and by appointment.

Location of Class: Room 301W, 246 Greene Street, 3rd floor.

Phone and messages: 998-5636

E-mail: andrew.light@nyu.edu

Texts: Practical Ethics, Peter Singer (PE)

The Economy of the Earth, Mark Sagoff (EE)

Toward Unity Among Environmentalists, Bryan Norton (TUE)

Political Theory and Ecological Values, John O’Neill (PT)

The Environment Between Theory & Practice, A. de-Shalit (EBT)

Articles on Reserve (OR)

Summary of Class and Requirements:

From the start, environmental philosophers have argued that whatever the characteristics of an environmental ethic it must be non-human centered (non-anthropocentric). This course will examine the growing challenge to that assumption and then inquire into the scope and limits of a human-centered environmental ethic which seeks to avoid charges of speciesism (arbitrarily granting rights to one species over another). In particular, we will engage in a critical investigation of those versions of ˝weak˝ anthropocentric theories which claim to get the same level of environmental protection as non-anthropocentric accounts. In addition to general philosophical arguments concerning anthropocentrism in environmental ethics, we will look at particular extensions of this general type of theory to issues involving the acknowledgment of obligations to future generations and the use of economic instruments to insure environmental quality

As this is a graduate seminar, the course will be mainly discussion based. Students will write two papers (approximately ten-fifteen pages), one on an assigned topic in the ninth week of the seminar (due after spring break), and one on a topic of their choice at the end of the semester, due during finals week. The topic of the second paper must be given prior approval by the instructor. No exceptions will be made to this rule. A paper turned in that has not been granted written approval will be given a mark of 0. Each participant should provide the instructor with a written summary of the topics of this paper by the twelfth week of the seminar. Participants may also provide rough drafts of the final paper to the instructor for comments and suggestions for improvements up to one week prior to the final due date of the paper.

In addition to completing these papers, each participant will be required to (1) make at least one and possibly two oral presentations on the assigned readings and (2) prepare written questions on the readings assigned for that week. These questions will periodically be taken up during class without prior notice and graded. The oral presentations should seek not only to outline the arguments made in the reading, but should also provide examples which help to illuminate the environmental problems under consideration. Presentations should include questions for class discussion.

Presentations and questions (when taken up) of all students will be given a grade of E (excellent), P (passing), S (satisfactory), or U (unsatisfactory). The grades for the questions and presentations will be averaged and applied to the initial course grade from the papers on the following scale: if the average grade is an E, the initial grade for the class will be raised by two steps (e.g., from C to

B-) to produce the final grade for the course; if P, the initial grade for the class will be raised one step (e.g., from D+ to C-); if S, the initial grade for the class will not be changed; if U, the initial grade for the class will be lowered by one step (e.g., from C to C-).

Appeals of any grades must be made in writing (typed), providing a detailed argument for why a grade should be increased. Any work found to be plagiarized will be given a mark of 0 and disciplinary action will be taken. Late work will not be accepted.

Reserve materials will be held on the desk outside of my office, room 314E at 246 Greene Street, floor 3R. The building closes at 10:00pm on Monday through Friday and 6:00pm on Saturday. The building is not open on Sunday. You are responsible for copying any reserve materials. Please return these materials promptly to the reserve folder.

Reading Schedule*

J17: Introduction to Seminar.

J24: Watch video interview on environmental ethics.

Read for this week, Clare Palmer, “A Bibliographic Essay on

Environmental Ethics.” OR

J31: Peter Singer, PE, Chapters 1-3.

F07: Peter Singer, PE, Chapters 4-5 and 10-11.

F14: Richard Sylvan, “Do we Need a New, an Environmental Ethic?” OR

Holmes Rolston III, “Is There an Ecological Ethic.” OR

F21: Gary Varner, “A Critique of Environmental Holism.” OR

Bryan Norton, “Env. Ethics and Weak Anthropocentrism.” OR

F28: Mark Sagoff, EE, Chapters 1-3.

M07: Mark Sagoff, EE, Chapters 4-6.

Midterm Assignment Made

M14: No Class – Spring Break

M21: Bryan Norton, TUE, Chapters 1-2.

Midterm Paper Due

M28: Bryan Norton, TUE, Chapters 3-5.

A04: Tim Hayward, PT, Chapters 1-3.

Final Paper Topics Due

A11: Tim Hayward, PT, Chapters 5-6.

A18: Avner de-Shalit, EBT, Chapters 1 and 2.

A25: Avner de-Shalit, EBT, Chapters 4, 5 and Summary.

Final Examination Date To Be Announced: May 2-9.

*Reading schedule is subject to change.