Full references for readings listed in the schedule below can be found in the Course Bibliography. Some optional readings are on online or on reserve in the library. See the Syllabus and Assignments index for details regarding assignments.
Please have readings listed under the "Reading Due" column read for the class of that date. For Benson, you should read all the "Readings" in the back of Benson corresponding to the chapter(s) assigned.
Please turn-in assignments listed in the "Assignment Due" column at the class of that date. Work is due at the beginning of the next class session after it's assigned, unless otherwise stated. Class sessions include the Fri. lectures in Anderson Chapel; those classes are not supplementary.
Abbreviations: MA = Minor Assignment, MP = Major Paper.
Week |
Date |
Day |
Agenda for Class |
Reading Due |
|
1 (1) |
Jan |
Mon. |
Introduction to the course (C-33). Lecturers: K. Clifton-Soderstrom, J. Lin. Assigned: Minor Assignment 1. |
|
|
1 (2) |
Jan |
Wed. |
Writing Workshop with peer review of MA 1 (C-33). Assigned: Major Paper 1 (first draft due Wed. Feb 10, final draft due Fri. Feb 19). |
Bouma-Prediger: Chapter 1. |
|
1 (3) |
Jan |
Fri. |
How do we know if there is a problem? What can science tell us and a schema for analyzing environmental ethics (C-33). Lecturer: J. Lin. Reminder: The Major Paper 1 first draft is due Wed. Feb 10, with the final draft due Fri. Feb 19. |
Bouma-Prediger: Chapter 2. Lomborg: Chapter 1. (If this link does not work, multiple copies are in an envelope hanging on Prof. Lin's office door, C-26. Please do not take them out of Carlson Tower, and return them promptly so other students can access them.) As you read, think through these critical reading questions. |
|
2 |
Jan |
Mon. |
No class—Martin Luther King Day |
|
|
2 (4) |
Jan |
Wed. |
Quiz 1. Policy-prescriptiveness and other ways of connecting science to policy (C-33). Lecturer: J. Lin. |
Oreskes: "Science and Public Policy: What's Proof Got to Do With It?" Sarewitz: "How Science Makes Environmental Controversies Worse." |
|
2 (5) |
Jan |
Fri. |
Introduction to "What is the Good of Human life?" (Anderson Chapel) Lecturer: I. Ahn. Assigned: Minor Assignment 2. |
|
|
3 (6) |
Jan |
Mon. |
Quiz 2. Introduction to Environmental Ethics (C-33). Lecturer: K. Clifton-Soderstrom. |
Benson: Chapter 1. (Remember: Read all "Readings" in the back of Benson corresponding to the chapters when the chapters are assigned. All Readings are listed in the Table of Contents. The Readings related to each chapter are mentioned in the chapter text as well as in margin notes in the chapters; see p. 27 for an example.) |
|
3 (7) |
Jan |
Wed. |
Critical Reading Workshop 1 (Section 11 meets in C-33, Section 12 in C-34). Assigned: Project 1: Tribal planning committee meeting debate regarding bio-prospecting for Taxol (due Mon. Feb 8). |
Benson: Chapter 1 (and all associated Readings). Booth: Chapter 7–9. |
Minor Assignment 3 (in-class). |
3 (8) |
Jan |
Fri. |
What is the Good of Human life?: Postmodernism (Anderson Chapel). Lecturer: K. Clifton-Soderstrom. Assigned: Minor Assignment 4. |
|
|
4 (9) |
Feb |
Mon. |
Quiz 3. Critical Reading Workshop 2 (Section 11 meets in C-33, Section 12 in C-34). Assigned: Minor Assignment 5. |
Benson: Chapter 2 (and all associated Readings). Booth: Chapter 7–9. |
|
4 (10) |
Feb |
Wed. |
Critical Reading Workshop 3 (Section 11 meets in C-33, Section 12 in C-34). |
Benson: Chapter 2 (and all associated Readings). Booth: Chapter 7–9. |
|
4 (11) |
Feb |
Fri. |
What is the Good of Human life?: The Enlightenment/Modernism (Anderson Chapel). Lecturer: G. Clark. |
|
|
5 (12) |
Feb |
Mon. |
Quiz 4. Project 1: Tribal planning committee meeting debate regarding bio-prospecting for Taxol (C-33/34). |
Benson: Chapter 3 (and all associated Readings). |
|
5 (13) |
Feb |
Wed. |
Project 1: Tribal planning committee meeting debate regarding bio-prospecting for Taxol (cont.). Writing Workshop: Peer-review of first draft of Major Paper 1 (C-33/34). |
Benson: Chapter 3 (and all associated Readings). |
First draft of Major Paper 1. |
5 (14) |
Feb |
Fri. |
What is the Good of Human life?: Aristotle/Ancient (Anderson Chapel). Lecturer: K. Clifton-Soderstrom. |
|
|
6 (15) |
Feb |
Mon. |
Quiz 5. Discussion (C-33/34). Assigned: Minor Assignment 6. |
Bouma-Prediger: Chapter 3. |
|
6 (16) |
Feb |
Wed. |
Discussion (C-33/34). |
Bouma-Prediger: Chapter 4. |
|
6 (17) |
Feb |
Fri. |
What is the Good of Human life?: Jesus/Christian thought (Anderson Chapel). Lecturer: G. Clark. |
|
Final draft of Major Paper 1. |
7 (18) |
Feb |
Mon. |
Quiz 6. Discussion. Assigned: Minor Assignment 7. |
Bouma-Prediger: Chapter 5. |
|
7 (19) |
Feb |
Wed. |
Doing research at the Library (Brandel Library, 2nd Floor Computer Lab). Reminder: The midterm is the next class session. See the Study Guide for tips and additional information. |
|
|
7 (20) |
Feb |
Fri. |
Midterm (C-33). |
|
|
8 (21) |
Mar |
Mon. |
The worldviews of the Enlightenment and Romanticism (C-33). Lecturer: D. Koeller. |
Cronon, "The Trouble with Wilderness". Emerson, excerpts from Nature. |
|
8 (22) |
Mar |
Wed. |
Field trip to the Art Institute. We'll be leaving in two groups, one at 1 pm and the other at 2:15 pm. Both groups will meet in front of Burgh Hall. Make sure to bring fare for the CTA and $4 for the admission fee, as well as pen, paper, and something to write on. If you cannot attend this field trip, please see your instructor. Assigned:
|
|
|
8 (23) |
Mar |
Fri. |
Writing Workshop: From topics to questions. Assigned: Minor Assignment 9. |
Booth: Chapter 3. |
|
No class—Spring Break | |||||
9 (24) |
Mar |
Mon. |
Writing Workshop: From questions to problems. Responses: The range of possible solutions. |
Booth: Chapter 4. Sarewitz and Pielke: "Breaking the Global-Warming Gridlock". |
|
9 (25) |
Mar |
Wed. |
Discussion. Assigned: Minor Assignment 10. |
Sandler: Chapter 1. For this and other Sandler readings, you will probably find the reading guides for Sandler to be helpful. |
|
9 (26) |
Mar |
Fri. |
Discussion. |
Sandler: Chapter 2. Assigned: Project 3 (due Fri. Apr 30). |
|
10 (27) |
Mar |
Mon. |
Quiz 7. Discussion. Assigned: Minor Assignment 11. |
Sandler: Chapter 3. |
|
10 (28) |
Mar |
Wed. |
Writing Workshop: Planning the draft. Assigned: Minor Assignment 12. |
Sandler: Chapter 4. Booth: Chapter 12–13. |
|
10 (29) |
Mar |
Fri. |
Discussion. |
Sandler: Chapter 5. |
|
11 (30) |
Mar |
Mon. |
Quiz 8. Discussion. Assigned: Minor Assignment 13. |
Benson: Chapter 5 (and all associated Readings). |
|
11 (31) |
Mar |
Wed. |
Writing Workshop: Counterarguments. |
Benson: Chapter 5 (and all associated Readings). Booth: Chapter 10. |
|
11 |
Apr |
Fri. |
No class—Easter Break |
|
|
12 |
Apr |
Mon. |
No class—Easter Break |
|
|
12 (32) |
Apr |
Wed. |
Quiz 9. Discussion. Assigned: Minor Assignment 14. Reminder: There will be a number of extra credit opportunities during the week of April 14–17. |
Benson: Chapter 6 (and all associated Readings). |
|
12 (33) |
Apr |
Fri. |
Discussion. |
Benson: Chapter 7 (and all associated Readings). |
|
13 (34) |
Apr |
Mon. |
Quiz 10. Discussion. |
Benson: Chapter 7 (and all associated Readings). |
|
13 (35) |
Apr |
Wed. |
Writing Workshop: Peer review of first draft of Major Paper 2. Assigned: Minor Assignment 15. |
Booth: Chapter 13. |
First draft of Major Paper 2. |
13 (36) |
Apr |
Fri. |
Writing Workshop: Introductions and conclusions. Non-Christian religious worldviews: Buddhism. |
Booth: Chapter 14. Swearer, "Principles and Poetry, Places and Stories: The Resources of Buddhist Ecology." |
|
14 (37) |
Apr |
Mon. |
Quiz 11. Non-Christian worldviews: Buddhism (cont.). Assigned: Minor Assignment 16. |
| |
14 (38) |
Apr |
Wed. |
Non-Christian religious worldviews: Buddhism and traditional Chinese religions. |
||
14 (39) |
Apr |
Fri. |
Non-Christian religious worldviews: Traditional Chinese religions (cont.). Handout: We gave out an oversimplified summary of worldviews in class. Assigned: Project 4. |
|
Final draft of Major Paper 2. |
15 (40) |
Apr |
Mon. |
Synthesis Session 1: Developing your personal statement on environmental ethics and engaging the statements of others. Assigned: Project 5. |
"An Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation." Cornwall Alliance: "The Cornwall Declaration on Environmental Stewardship." |
|
15 (41) |
Apr |
Wed. |
Synthesis Session 2: Developing your personal statement on environmental ethics and engaging the statements of others. Assigned: Project 6. |
|
|
15 (42) |
Apr |
Fri. |
Synthesis Session 3: Developing your personal statement on environmental ethics and engaging the statements of others. Assigned: Please work through these sample questions prior to the next class. We'll look at these questions as part of our review. |
|
Project 2: Field Trip to the Art Institute Worksheet. Project 3: Environmental Virtues Walkabout. All Extra Credit assignments. |
16 (43) |
May |
Mon. |
Review for Final Exam. |
|
|
— |
May |
Wed. |
1:00–3:00 pm: Final Examination. |
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