Index for PHIL-3180

Ethics and the Environment

Dr. Ari Santas

Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies

Valdosta State University

 

Course Syllabus

Syllabus 3180 Spring 2012

 

Final Projects

Schedule For Unit IV

Option I: Individual Term Paper Option

Final Paper Requirements

Term Paper Abstract form

Sample Student Papers

Rethinking Our Diet Paper

Us vs. Them: Animal Testing

OR

 

Option II: Small Group: Two Options

A.      Earth Day Information Booths

Earth Day Assignments

Final Project form: Earth Day

Sample Portfolios will be brought to class

B.      Short Film

Final Project form: short film

Some Helpful Hints on Video Editing

Sample Student Videos

The Epic Adventures of Gang Green (stealthy ninjas making things green)

A Nature Carol (Scrooge as college student who needs an eco-lesson)

 

Project and Presentation Assignments

Group Assignments (all three Units)

Santas Philosophy Guidelines (suggestions for reading, writing, oral reports, and group work)

 

180 South Response

Watersheds Cases Assignment (for Unit I)

Debate Assignment (for Unit II)

Community Outreach Assignment (for Unit III)

 

Sample Student Work

180 South Paper (film response)

Biodiversity Paper (Newton, Chapter 10)

 

Presentation Schedules

For Unit I Watersheds Cases Reports

For Unit II Taking Sides Debates

For Unit III Community Outreach Projects

 

Online Student Evaluations

Instructions for Online Student Evaluations

 

Supplementary Notes and Papers

 

Study Notes

Ethics 1: Key Concepts

Ethics 5: Pragmatism

Ethics 2: Relativism & Egoism

Ethics 6: Environmentalism

Ethics 3 Deontology

Ethics Principles

Ethics 4: Utilitarianism

Ethics as Problem Solving

180 South

Notes on 4th Wave Environmentalism

11th Hour Study Questions

Trinkets and Beads Study Questions

 

Santas Published Essays on Environmental Philosophy

Taking Care of Things (on mechanism, ownership, and the desacralization of nature)

Dualism and Degradation (on separation from nature as an intellectual construct of the early moderns)

Mead’s Cosmology (on a contemporary pragmatist cosmology that reestablished connection to nature)

Pragmatic Intrinsic Value (on intrinsic value of nature as multi-functionality of eco-systems)

 

Videos and Other Online Materials

General

11th Hour feature film at freedocumentaries.org

11th Hour Action Network

Daniel Quinn Ishmael Community website

Climate Change

Acid Test (NRDC video on Ocean Acidification; 21.5 min)

Global Climate Change Denial Industry (Guardian UK story, 2006)

Global Warming (see the Earth blow up-- shock therapy for the deniers; 3.5 min)

Genetic Modification

The Corporation, 16: Advancing the Front (2005 documentary film, patenting life; 5.5 min)

Bad Seed (Fritjof Capra, Paul Hawken, et al speak against GM foods; 6.5 min)

Genetic engineering: The world's greatest scam? (Greenpeace video; 3.5 min)

GM Foods and You (overview of concerns about GM foods and differing standards; 5.5 min)

Onion News Giant Crab Report (Satirical treatment of the GMO debate; 2.5 min)

Fisheries

Dr. Melanie Stiassny on Endangered Fish (2:21 min.)

Bycatch Problem (WWF video 2:20 min.)

Toxins and Pollution

Oil Interests in the Amazon (video links and companion notes to Trinkets and Beads)

Video on PVC Poison Plastic (pvcfree.org, 2006; 3.5 min)

Food Production

The Meatrix (take-off on the Matrix that discusses factory farming; 3.5 min)

Mark Bittman Video (What's Wrong with What We Eat; 20 min)

Consumption and Stuff

Affluenza Video (PBS show on consumerism; 56 min)

Story of Stuff Video (Allegheny College sponsored video; 20 min)

Eco Activism and Environmental Justice

Vandana Shiva clips (on GMF's, organic farming, and deep democracy)

If a Tree Falls (PBS show on the Earth Liberation Front)

Robert Bullard on Genesis of Environmental Justice Movement (interview from Fierce Green Fire; 3 min)

Chester Environmental Justice (community organizers against environmental racism and classism; 9 min)

Robert Bullard on Environmental Justice (2009 UCSB lecture; 58 min)

 

Final Projects

Schedule For Unit IV

Option I: Individual Term Paper Option

Final Paper Requirements

Term Paper Abstract form

Sample Student Papers

Rethinking Our Diet Paper

Us vs. Them: Animal Testing

OR

 

Option II: Small Group: Two Options

C.      Earth Day Information Booths

Earth Day Assignments

Final Project form: Earth Day

Sample Portfolios will be brought to class

D.     Short Film

Final Project form: short film

Some Helpful Hints on Video Editing

Sample Student Videos

The Epic Adventures of Gang Green (stealthy ninjas making things green)

The Beast (final project from 2010 class with environmental theme)

 

Online Student Evaluations

Instructions for Online Student Evaluations