E-mail: [email protected] Office Hours

Department of Philosophy Environmental Ethics (PHIL 355 A1)

Fall 2020

Instructor: Jennifer Welchman Office: 2-69 Assiniboia Hall Phone: 780 492 9030

E-mail: [email protected] Office Hours

: Mondays 1-3pm

Course Location, Days & Time: MWF 3-3:50 (M&F asynchronously, W synchronously) Teaching Assistant Information:

None

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory and respects the histories, languages, and cultures of the First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

Course Description:

As a signatory to the United Nations’ conventions such as the Paris Agreement and Convention on Biological Diversity, our government has committed us to try to “green” our cities, countryside, businesses, and homes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect biodiversity. What is the moral case for accepting such an obligation? Whose present or future needs must we respect? Only human beings? What about wildlife, ecosystems, the biosphere? And how far should we be

prepared to go to live sustainably? Would it require or forbid strategies such as geo-engineering the atmosphere to reduce global warming or genetically modifying wild life to help them cope with climate change? In this class we will take a philosophical approach to these questions, reviewing and evaluating arguments about the nature and scope of our duty to try to live sustainably.

Learning Outcomes: Successful students will be able to:

1. Understand and explain the sorts of ethical obligations we have to care for nonhuman animals and wildlife according to classic ethical theories

2. Understand and explain the sorts of ethical obligations we have to care for nonhuman animals and wildlife according to revisionist, non-anthropocentric ethical theories

3. Critically evaluate rival claims about our ethical obligations regarding the use of new biotechnologies in natural ecosystems (genetic modification, gene drives, de-extinction)

4. Critically evaluate rival claims about our ethical obligations to respond to long standing environmental challenges (climate change, plastic pollution, biodiversity loss.)

5. Present clear arguments in defense of their own positions on contemporary environmental issues in classroom discussion, debates, and written essays

2

Course Format:

Remote

Textbooks:

None. Readings are posted on the eclass course website

Additional Course Fees: None

Important Dates:

 First Day of Class: September 1

 Add/Delete Period Ends: September 15 (Students withdrawing after this date through October 2 will be assessed 50% fees for withdrawn courses)

 Last day for Withdrawal from Fall Term Courses: November 30

 Last Day of Class: December 6

 Final Exam Date: None

 Date of Deferred Final Exam: None

Lecture Schedule & Assigned Readings:

No text book is required for this class. All readings will be accessible through eclass. A weekly breakdown of lecture topics, assigned readings, etc., can be found at the end of this document and on the eclass course website.

Components of Course Grade:

Component Weighting Date

Blog Postings 5 (with an option to submit a 6

^th

to replace a posting with a grade below 70%)

Postings will be on a public edublog. Your blog posts should respond to one of the readings for the week in which you are posting. You may critique the reading, test the author’s views by applying it to case of your own choosing (a real life case or a thought experiment), relate the author’s views to those of another author we have read, or write about an aspect of the reading that puzzles you, explaining why. You will find the edublog at https://environmentalethics355.edublogs.org/

Instructions and a rubric will be provided on the course website.

Length 500-900 words (approx.) And remember, this is public blog. Polite, respectful language is required at all times.

40% overall (8% each)

Two by the end of Week 7, two during Weeks 8-14

To ensure that everyone has a chance to read the blog before our Wednesday meetings class, post your response by 12:00 noon Tuesday (Mountain Standard time)

3 Blog Comments 5

In your comments, you should respond to another student’s post within a week, building upon it, disagreeing with it (respectfully), or re-thinking it. Length 200 words (approx.) A rubric will be provided on the course website

20% overall (4 % each)

Two by the end of Week 7, at least two during Weeks 8-14

Essay Papers (2)

You will write 2 essay papers, 6-10 pages. Topics and formatting

instructions will be provided on the eclass course website.

20%

20%

Due 10/19 Due 12/10

Grading:

No “scale” is used in assigning marks for this class. Percentages listed above are based on the University’s 4 point system which converted into letter grades as follows:

Letter

Pts Descriptor

A+ 4.0 Excellent

A 4.0 Excellent

A- 3.7 Excellent

B+ 3.3 Good

B 3.0 Good

B- 2.7 Good

C+ 2.3 Satisfactory

C 2.0 Satisfactory

C- 1.7 Satisfactory

D+ 1.3 Poor

D 1.0 Minimal Pass

F 0.0 Fail

Past Evaluative Material:

Not applicable

Attendance:

Regular attendance is essential for optimal performance in any course.

Policy for Late Assignments:

Essays handed in late without prior notice and the granting of an extension will be penalized by a 10 %

grade reduction per day. Blog posts & comments not posted on time will receive 0 credit.

Missed Tests and Assignments

:

4 Deferral of term work is a privilege and not a right; there is no guarantee that a deferral will be granted.

Misrepresentation of Facts to gain a deferral is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour.

Student Responsibilities:

Academic Integrity: The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.governance.ualberta.ca) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.

All students should consult the Academic Integrity website. If you have any questions, ask your instructor.

An instructor or coordinator who is convinced that a student has handed in work that he or she could not possibly reproduce without outside assistance is obliged, out of consideration of fairness to other students, to report the case to the Associate Dean of the Faculty. See the Academic Discipline Process.

Recording of Lectures:Audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Student or instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s).

Class Policy on Personal Electronic Devices

:

Do mute your phone and other devices Do not allow your devices to distract others

Sexual Violence Policy: It is the policy of the University of Alberta that sexual violence committed by any member of the University community is prohibited and constitutes misconduct. Resources and more information can be found at https://www.ualberta.ca/campus-life/sexual-violence

Student Resources:

The best all-purpose website for student services is: https://www.ualberta.ca/current-students.

Accessibility Resources: (1 – 80 SUB)

The University of Alberta is committed to creating work and learning communities that inspire and enable all people to reach their full potential. Accessibility Resources promotes an accessible, inclusive, and universally designed environment. For general information to register for services visit the Accessibility Resources webpage.

The Academic Success Centre: (1-80 SUB)

The Academic Success Centre offers a variety of workshops on effective study and exam strategies. There are in-person and online sessions available for a modest fee.

The Centre for Writers: (1-42 Assiniboia Hall)

5 The Centre for Writers offers free one-on-one writing support to students, faculty, and staff. Students can request consultation for a writing project at any stage of development. Instructors can request class visits and presentations.

Health and Wellness Support: There are many health and community services available to current students.

For more information visit the Health and Wellness Support webpage.

Office of the Student Ombuds:

The Office of the Student Ombuds offers confidential interviews, advice and support to students facing academic, discipline, interpersonal and financial difficulties.

Learning and working environment:

The Faculty of Arts is committed to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are able to work and study in an environment that is safe and free from discrimination and harassment. It does not tolerate behaviour that undermines that environment.

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages, and cultures of the First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

Policy about course outlines can be found in the Evaluation Procedures and Grading System section of the University Calendar.

Disclaimer: Any typographical errors in this syllabus are subject to change and will be announced in class and posted on eClass. The date of the final examination is set by the Registrar and takes precedence over the final examination date reported in this syllabus.

Copyright: Jennifer Welchman, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta 2020

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Week Days Readings, Videos, Assignments

1

^9/2 9/4

Introduction

Traditional Ethical Theories: An Overview

Singer (Utiliarianism)

2

9/7 Labour Day (Holiday) 9/ 9-11

Traditional Ethical Theories: An Overview

Kant (Deontological Ethics of Respect), Hobbes (Contractarianism),

Hill (Virtue Ethics), (Welchman rec’d for history of Virtue Ethics)

3

9/14-16-18

Non-anthropocentric critiques: sentience and moral standing

Singer, Regan, Kymlicka & Donaldson

 Last day of Add/Drop: 9/15

 Blog posting & comments begin

4

9/21-23-25

Non-anthropocentric critiques: life and moral standing

Goodpaster, Taylor, Attfield

5

9/28-30 &

10/2

Non-anthropocentric critiques: ecosystems and moral standing

Leopold Rolston (Species), Mallory

6

^10/5-7-9

Practical Issues: Climaterianism?

Mohr, Hopkins & Dancy, Adams, Video

7

^10/12 Thanksgivin g Day (Holiday) 10/14-16

Practical Issues: Genetic Modification for Sustainability?

Watch the first approx. 15 minutes of Lynas’ Talk (video) then read Comstock, Scott [For background: (i) Shakeri, (2) Folger]

 Don’t forget: 2 blog posts and 2 comments by this week

8

10/19-21-23

Practical Issues: Geo-engineering?

Watch Playing God with Planet Earth video and read Jamieson, Whyte, Buck et al

 First Paper Due: 10/19

9

10/26-28-30

Practical Issues: Conservation and Reconciliation

Cronon, Deluca, Whyte -- Recommended for background: Speca and Linitt

10

^11/2-4-6

Practical Issues: Procreation and Consumption

See the very short video about Voluntary Human Extinction Movement and then read Young, Harisson &Tanner, Wisor, Overall

11

^{11/ 9-13} Remembrance Day & Fall Reading Week

7

12

11/16-18-20 Practical Issues: Gene Drives for Conservation?

Watch: What's a gene drive? (6 minute video)

Read: Scudellari, Regallado, “A Call for Conservation with a Conscience,” Pugh, Sandler

13

11/23-25-27

Practical Issues

:

De Extinction as Conservation?

See Stanley Temple’s (short) tedx talk video & Read Powell, Kasperbauer, Sandler, Rolston

[Recommend for technological background: Shapiro]

14

11/30 12/2-4

Practical Issues: Should We have a Charter Right to a Healthy Environment?

Watch: Tale of Two Cities (Short video by Ecojustice)

Read: Susuki, Boyd vs MacFarlane, Brinker, and HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-438

 Last day for Withdrawal from Fall Term Courses

 Blog posting ends

15

^12/7

Course Conclusion

Live synchronous session Monday for final paper consultations

 Final Paper Due: 12/10