Environmental Ethics

Catalog description

Introduction to ethical analysis of environmental values and decision-making. Likely topics include (1) the value of different aspects of the environment including non-human animals, species, non-living natural objects, and ecosystems; (2) ethical analysis of different approaches to risk as this bears on environmental policy-making; (3) the moral merits and liabilities of ethical institutions, such as private property rights, as applied to the natural environment. Counts as an elective for the Philosophy major and minor. Satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives requirement. Satisfies depth and breadth course requirement in the Humanities track of the Environmental Studies major or interdisciplinary minor.