Common Course Outline

Course discipline/number/title PHIL 1130: Environmental Ethics

Catalog Description

Credits 3
Hours/Week 3
Prerequisites (Course discipline/number) None
Other requirements None
MnTC Goals (if any) Goal 6/Humanities, the Arts, Literature and Philosophy, Goal 10/People and the Environment

Course Description

This course provides the background ethical theories, principles and concepts necessary to grapple with ethical issues of environment, sustainability, globalization and scarcity. Specific attention will be given to personal responsibility and the interconnectedness of human activity and the natural world. Students will learn about different approaches to environmental ethics and will apply them to real-world problems. A special emphasis will be placed on critical reasoning and justification. College-level reading and writing is recommended.

Date Last Revised (Month, year)

December, 2024

Outline of Major Content Areas

  1. Background ethical theories and concepts
    1. Relativism and egoism
    2. Deontology and consequentialism
    3. Virtue ethics
  2. Critical concepts of environmental ethics
    1. Conservation and preservation
    2. Environment, ecology, and biodiversity
    3. Pollution and environmental economics
  3. Approaches to environmental ethics
    1. History of the discipline
    2. Major theories
    3. Non-Western traditions
  4. Issues within environmental ethics
    1. Duties to future generations
    2. Duties to the natural world
    3. Intersections with social justice
    4. Other topics as chosen by instructor

Learning Outcomes (General)

The student will be able to:

  1. Describe ethical theories and concepts and apply them to environmental issues.
  2. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of traditional ethical theories when applied to environmental issues.
  3. Outline major approaches to environmental ethics and explain their respective advantages and disadvantages.
  4. Make cogent arguments for solutions to problems within environmental ethics.
  5. Critically reflect on their own beliefs and behaviors concerning environmental issues.

Learning Outcomes (MnTC)

Goal 6/Humanities, the Arts, Literature and Philosophy

The student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.
  2. Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within an historical and social context.
  3. Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.
Goal 10/People and the Environment

The student will be able to:

  1. Discern patterns and interrelationships of bio-physical and socio-cultural systems
  2. Evaluate critically environmental and natural resource issues in light of understandings about interrelationships, eco systems, and institutions
  3. Propose and assess alternative solutions to environmental issues,
  4. Articulate and defend the actions they would take on various environmental issues

Methods for Evaluation of Student Learning

Methods may include but are not limited to:

RCTC Core Outcome(s)

This course contributes to meeting the following RCTC Core Outcome(s):

Critical Thinking
Students will think systematically and explore information thoroughly before accepting or formulating a position or conclusion.

Special Information (if any)

None