BASS Social Anthropology and Sociology

How can philosophy help us better understand our relationship with the natural world? How can philosophy help us address environmental problems? Students will explore various perspectives on these questions, such as those to be found in classic works in environmental philosophy, eco-feminism, non-western traditions, and those resulting from engagement with other disciplines such as conservation biology, environmental psychology, law, economics, and politics. Students will encounter both theoretical and applied debates such as: What is the nature and root cause of environmental problems? How best to conceptualise nature’s value? Do we need a new nonanthropocentric ethics? Do we have aesthetic reasons to protect nature? Do animals have rights? Is climate change a human rights issue? Who should shoulder the costs of responding to environmental problems? What are our obligations to future generations? Should we minimize our carbon footprint? Should we leave half the Earth for nature? Should we tax carbon? Is being vegan morally obligatory? What are the limits of ethical climate protest? Should we engineer the climate?  

The course aims to: 

- To introduce students to central theoretical, normative and applied questions in environmental philosophy. 

- To enable students to gain an in-depth understanding of established positions and contemporary debates within environmental philosophy.

- To enhance students' development of the skills of critical reasoning and independent thought through analysis of and reflection on key environmental philosophy texts.

Lectures (20 hours): delivery of content  

Tutorials (10 hours): small group discussion will facilitate student engagement 

Office Hours: students will have access to the course convenor through regular office hours 

VLE: learning materials (reading lists, lecture slides, etc.) available online (asynchronous) 

Portfolio Draft: students will be encouraged to submit a draft portfolio item for formative feedback

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of philosophical questions in environmental philosophy.

-Demonstrate familiarity with the main established positions on these questions and the key texts associated with these positions 

-Critically engage with the examined positions and texts and to advance and justify independent views

Critically engage with the examined positions and texts and to advance and justify independent views.

Undertake independent research and apply theoretical knowledge to issues of practical significance

Portfolio assessment 4,000 words – 100%

The following reading list is indicative, and students are not required to read all the publications listed. 

-Chislenko, E. (2022). The Role of Philosophers in Climate Change. Journal of the American Philosophical Association, 8(4), 780-798 

-Jamieson, D. (Ed.). (2008). A Companion to Environmental Philosophy. John Wiley & Sons. 

-Gardiner, S., S. Caney, D. Jamieson & H. Shue (Eds.). (2010). Climate Ethics: Essential Readings. Oxford University Press. 

-Budolfson, M., T. McPherson & D. Plunkett (Eds.). (2021). Philosophy and Climate Change. Oxford Academic.

Notional hours of learning 200