NWI-FFIL209B
Environmental Ethics
Course infoSchedule
Course moduleNWI-FFIL209B
Credits (ECTS)3
CategoryMA (Master)
Language of instructionEnglish
Offered byRadboud University; Faculty of Science; Institute for Science, Innovation and Society;
Lecturer(s)
Coordinator
dr. M.A.M. Drenthen
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
dr. M.A.M. Drenthen
Other course modules lecturer
Contactperson for the course
dr. M.A.M. Drenthen
Other course modules lecturer
Examiner
dr. M.A.M. Drenthen
Other course modules lecturer
Academic year2018
Period
KW2  (05/11/2018 to 27/01/2019)
Starting block
KW2
Course mode
full-time
Remarks-
Registration using OSIRISYes
Course open to students from other facultiesYes
Pre-registrationNo
Waiting listYes
Placement procedure-
Aims
After completing this course,
  • the student is familiar with the major topics, approaches and concepts in environmental ethics and landscape philosophy
  • the student can distinguish scientific reasoning form other forms of intellectual activity
  • the student can take a substantiated position in ethical debates on issues of landscape and ecosystem management.
  • the student can read, analyze and critically assess philosophical texts, and to apply them to actual cases
  • the student can publicly present and discuss a philosophical text
Content
This course is especially suited for students of the master tracks 'Community and ecosystems', and 'Water and environment'. Are you interested in ethical questions regarding field ecology, ecological restoration and new nature development, environmental management and nature management? 

We will discuss major topics in environmental ethics and landscape philosophy:

  • Basic attitudes toward and images of nature, anthropocentrism vs. ecocentrism, 
  • How and why should we value nature?
  • Should we recognize the 'intrinsic value of nature'?
  • Subjective and objective value in environmental ethics. Does the value of nature depend on our taste?
  • How does human influence influence the value of damaged ecosystems? Nature development, biodiversity and the concept of wildness
  • What is wildness of nature? Why do we want nature to be wild?
  • What does it mean to be part of nature?Aesthetic reasons for environmental protection: does nature's beauty matter?
  • Bioregionalisme en the Ethics of Place- Which places matter to us and why?
  • Tragedy of the commons
Additional comments
• Attendance is mandatory! Absence at the first meeting means that you cannot paricipate to this course
• Students have to apply for this course via Blackboard, at least 4 weeks before the start of the course. Maximum number of applicants: 21
• (CHECK THE OFFICIAL 'ROOSTER' SITE (http://rooster.ru.nl) FOR THE MOST RECENT TIMES AND PLACES)
• This course can be substituted by other advanced philosophy courses (see the courses on offer from the philosophy department)

Test information
Attendance is mandatory. Grades will be based on group presentation, participation in class discussions and a final written exam.

Prerequisites
Students are expected to have completed the bachelor course 'Inleiding in de Filosofie en Ethiek'

Recommended materials
Book
John Benson: Environmental Ethics. An Introduction with Readings. Routledge 2000

Instructional modes
Course occurrence

Lecture

Zelfstudie

Tests
Tentamen
Test weight1
OpportunitiesBlock KW2, Block KW3