Dr. Martin
Schönfeld
Department of
Philosophy
Fall Semester 2003
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30-1:45, EDU 115
From 1900 to 2000,
the world population grew from 1.3 billion to 6.2 billion people, the world economic
output (gross domestic product at constant prices) increased 19-fold, and the
global economy grew at average annual rate of 3 percent. These developments have translated into a
big hunger for resources. Now the
biosphere is in a crisis. About 20 percent
of the world’s species have disappeared since 1800. The killing is faster now: it is estimated that another 20
percent will disappear until 2050.
Rainforests are shrinking. World
fisheries are declining. Global warming
has begun. This past winter (2002/03),
the Ozone Hole reached southern Chile; there are currently indications that it
may grow to record size this coming winter.
The United Nations
(UN) is trying to help (Rio, Kyoto, and Johannesburg summits). Many nations, such as the European Union
(EU), are making now efforts at sustainable development. Others, such as the USA, are now making
things worse. The U.S. population is 4%
of the world population but uses one third of the world’s resources and
produces one third of the world’s pollution and garbage. The USA broke with the UN protocol of
environment and development (Rio 1992) in 2000, rejected the UN protocol on
global warming (Kyoto 1997) in 2001, and weakened the UN protocol on
sustainable development (Johannesburg 2002).
On average, one U.S. resident uses twice the resources of a EU resident
despite comparable standards of living.
We will survey the
fundamental implications of the environmental crisis—what they mean in terms of
right and wrong (ethics) and in terms of the patterns of reality
(ontology). We will also examine the
religious and cultural traditions that have contributed to the environmental
crisis, as well as relevant political and economic structures, such as the trends
of globalization and its problems. The
class has a theoretical focus; mostly we will discuss writings by various
current thinkers.
The class will
familiarize you with:
We will discuss
readings in class. Most of the texts
are famous papers in environmental ethics.
Because these papers are the “classics”, they are often the first
attempt by philosophers to make sense of a certain problem. We need to analyze and criticize them. Your participation will make the course
fun. Discussion and doubts are strongly
encouraged. Prepare the assignments before
the relevant meeting and read through them several times.
Philosophy is
straightforward: it plays the game of knowledge by the rules of evidence and
logic. Philosophers question authority
with reason and facts—better get used to that!
The course grade is
based on the average grade earned in five tests (each test counts 20%). Tests are about assignments and lectures,
and are announced one week in advance.
The final exam (test 5) is on Thursday, Dec. 11, 1:00-3:00. Participation and attendance will decide
borderline cases. You can make up tests
if you have a medical excuse (doctor’s note); for other problems, please talk
to me. Plagiarism policy follows USF
guidelines.
1. Louis P. Pojman, Global
Environmental Ethics (Mountain View: Mayfield, 1999).
2. Louis
P. Pojman, editor, Environmental Ethics: Readings in Theory and Application. Third Edition. (Belmont: Wadsworth, 2001).
The topics will be covered in the sequence stated below. The time spent on each topic will vary between one and three weeks (two to five periods).
·
Introduction:
Philosophy and Ethical Theory
·
History of
Ideas: World Religions and the Causes of the Environmental Crisis
·
Human and
Animal Rights
·
Natural Value,
Land Ethics, and Biocentrism
·
Deep Ecology
and Eastern Mysticism
·
Eco-feminism
and Postmodern Critique
·
Normative
Issues of Biodiversity
·
Obligations to
Future Generations
·
Conclusion:
Dynamic Patterns of Reality and Sustainable Development
Tuesdays,
4:00-6:00, in FAO 221 (that’s Martin’s office)
Dr. Martin
Schönfeld
Department of
Philosophy FAO 226 (that’s the department office)
University of South
Florida
Tampa, FL 33620
Email: mschonfe@chuma.cas.usf.edu
Phone: 974-5698
Fax: 974-5914