NRSM 489E, Section 2, Conservation & Forestry Ethics
Autumn 2015
MWF 10:10-11:00
Liberal Arts 202
Instructors: Dane Scott, Patrick Kelly
Email: Dane.scott@mso.umt.edu
Email: Patrick1.Kelly@umontana.edu
Offices: Scott, Mansfield Center. MLIB 464
Kelly, CHCB 420
Office hours: Scott: TTR 2:30-3:30, Kelly: TTR: 1:00-2:00
SYLLABUS
Course Obectives:
Students will demonstrate:
• An understanding of several approaches to moral reasoning and the basic concepts of important
ethical traditions
• A familiarly with the major figures and ideas that shaped modern conservation ethics
• A familiarity with significant controversies and issues in contemporary conservation
• The ability to identify and analyze ethical issues arising from environmental problems
• The ability to write a clearly organized and well supported argumentative essay
Required Texts
Michael Sandel, Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?
Emerson & Thoreau, Nature & Walking
Minteer & Pyne, After Preservation
Anthony Weston, A Rulebook for Arguments
Requirements
Participation: 20 pts
Essay #1: 20 pts
Essay #2: 20 pts
Test #1: 20 pts
Test #2: 20 pts
Participation: Participation grades will be based on three factors: attendance, involvement in “discussiondays”, and random quizzes on readings and lectures.
Essays: Students will demonstrate the ability to construct an argumentative essay. You will receive
handouts on the requirements, grading, and due dates for the two essay assignments.
Tests: The format for exams will be short-answer and essay questions.
Policies
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Plagiarism: Blatant plagiarism will result in an automatic F on the assignment and the course.
Make-up tests will only be allowed if the instructor is informed prior to the test.
Late papers will be penalized 2 pts per day after the due date.
Grading Scale: The +/- grading system will be used as follows: 93-100 = A; 90-92 = A-; 88-89 =
B+; 83-87 = B; 80-82 = B-; 78 - 79 = C+; 73 - 77 = C; 65 - 72 = C-; 64 –62 = D+; 61 - 60 = D; 59
- 55 = D-; Below 54 = F
OUTLINE OF TOPICS AND READINGS
Part I: Ethical Theories, Moral Reasoning, and Environmental Ethics
Week 1
8/31
Course
Introduction
9/2
Sandel, Chapter 1, “Do the Right Thing”
9/4
Plato, Gyges Ring (Posted on Moodle Page)
Plato, Crito CP (Posted on Moodle Page)
Week 2
9/7
No Class, Labor Day
9/9
Sandel, Chapter 2, “The Greatest Happiness Principle / Utilitarianism
9/11
Discussion Day
Ursula LeGuin, “The One’s Who Walk Away From Omelas” (Posted on Moodle)
David Brooks, “The Child in the Basement” (Posted on Moodle)
Week 3
9/14
Gifford Pinchot, “Principles of Conservation” (Posted on Moodle Page)
Char Miller, “The Greening of Gifford Pinchot” (Posted on Moodle Page)
9/16
Sandel, Chapter 3, “Do We Own Ourselves / Libertarianism”
9/18
Discussion Day
Adler, “A Conservative’s Response to Climate Change” (Posted on Moodle)
Week 4
9/21
Sandel, Chapter 4, “”Hired Help / Markets and Morals”
9/23
Sandel, Chapter 5, “What Matters is the Motive / Immanuel Kant”
Vonnegut, “Harrison Bergeron” (Posted on Moodle)
9/25
Sandel, Chapter 8, "Who Deserves What? / Aristotle"
Week 5
9/28
Ronald Sandler “Introduction: Environmental Virtue Ethics” (Posted on Moodle)
9/30
Discussion Day
Thomas Hill, "Ideals of Human Excellence and Preserving the Natural Environment" (Posted on Moodle)
10/2
Test Part I
Part II: Landmarks in Environmental Thought
Week 6
10/5
Emerson, Nature (pp 1-31)
10/7
Emerson, Nature (pp 32-67)
10/9
Thoreau, Walking
Week 7
10/12
John Muir, “The American Forests” & Additional Readings (Posted on Moodle)
10/14
Discussion Day
John Muir “Hetch Hetchy Valley” & Pinchot, “Congressional Testimony on Hetch Hetchy” (Posted on
Moodle)
10/16
Leopold, “Land Ethics” (Posted on Moodle)
Week 8
10/19
Leopold, “The Farmer as Conservationist”, "Land Use and Democracy" (Posted on Moodle)
Discussion Day
10/21
Carson, “The Obligation to Endure” (Posted on Moodle)
10/23
Ehrlich, “The Population Bomb” & Hardin, “The Tragedy of the Commons” (Posted on Moodle)
Week 9
10/26
Commoner, "The Closing Circle: Nature, Man, and Technology" (Posted on Moodle)
10/28
Test Part II
10/30
Weston, A Rule Book for Arguments, Chapters I & II
Week 10
11/2
Weston, A Rule Book for Arguments, Chapters III, IV & V
Essay #1 Assigned, Due 11/13
11/4
Katz, “The Big Lie: Human Restoration of Nature”
11/6
Light, “Ecological Restoration and the Culture of Nature: A Pragmatic Perspective”
Part III: Contemporary Ethical Issues in Conservation
Week 11
11/9
Guest Speaker: Peter Landres, Leopold Institute: Contemporary Issues in Wilderness Management
11/11
No Class, Veteran’s Day
11/13
Erle Ellis, "Too Big for Nature" After Preservation
11/16
Kareiva, et al "Conservation in the Anthropocene: Beyond Solitude and Fragility” (Posted on Moodle)
Week 12
11/18
Harvey Locke "Green Postmodernism" (Posted on Moodle)
11/20
Holmes Rolston "After Preservation? Dynamic Nature in the Anthropocene" After Preservation
Week 13
11/23
Dave Foreman "The Anthropocene and Ozymandias" After Preservation
11/25
No Class, Travel Day
11/27
No, Class Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 14
11/30
Vucetich, Nelson, Batavia "The Anthropocene: Disturbing Name, Limited Insight" After Preservation
Final Essay/Term Paper Assigned, Due 5:00 PM 12/16 (Hard Copies, Deliver to MANS 464, Level 2
Mansfield Library)
12/2
Emma Marris "Humility in the Anthropocene" After Preservation
12/4
Donald Worster "The Higher Altruism" After Preservation
Week 15
12/7
Ben Minteer "When Extinction is a Virtue" After Preservation
12/9
Curt Meine "A Letter to the Editors: In Defense of the Relative Wild" After Preservation
12/11
Jack Turner "Abstract Wild: A Rant" (Posted on Moodle)