Undergraduate Course: Environmental Ethics (PHIL10147)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course examines some of the central ethical questions arising out of the distinctive relation human beings have to the natural environment. |
| Course description |
The course content may vary from year to year, depending on the CO of the course. Some potential theoretical topics are: how we should reason under uncertainty in long timescales; externalities, multi-generational prisoner's dilemmas, and tragedies of the commons. Practical topics may include carbon offsetting, population control, food issues like genetically engineered crops and vegetarianism, or the costs and benefits of mitigating climate change.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Knowledge and Reality (PHIL08017) AND
Mind, Matter and Language (PHIL08014)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | It is recommended that students have taken Morality and Value (can be waived at the course organiser's discretion). Students studying on MA Cognitive Science (Humanities) are permitted to take this course without having met the pre-requisite. However, it is advisable that students discuss the suitability of the course with their PT and the course organizer before enrolling. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have completed at least 3 Philosophy courses at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses. Applicants should note that, as with other popular courses, meeting the minimum does NOT guarantee admission. **Please note that honours Philosophy courses are high-demand, meaning that they have a very high number of students wishing to enrol in a very limited number of spaces.** These enrolments are managed strictly by the Visiting Student Office, in line with the quotas allocated by the department, and all enquiries to enrol in these courses must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. It is not appropriate for students to contact the department directly to request additional spaces. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Midterm Essay 40% 1500 words
Final Essay 60% 2000 words
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Increased understanding of some foundational issues in ethical theory
- Familiarity with some of the specific ethical issues raised by humans' relationship to nature
- Improved ability to defend a philosophically controversial position
- Improved critical reading and discussion skills
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Through seminars and readings, students will analyse and critically evaluate different philosophical theories, texts, and arguments, while trying to develop independent assessments of their relative merits. This will involve being open to different perspectives/interpretations and to challenging their own perspectives and assumptions. Students will learn how to read and engage with complex philosophical texts and arguments. They will also participate in oral and written debate where they will learn how to articulate clear arguments in respectful, insightful, original, and productive ways ¿ also learning how to develop arguments grounded in the relevant literature (i.e. how to develop and use research).
Core skills gained or developed on this course:
Being open to different perspectives; Challenging own perspectives and assumptions; Critical thinking; Formulating original arguments and justifying it; Oral communication (discussion, debating respectfully, influencing); Preparation, planning and organisation; Academic reading skills; Research skills; Resilience; Self-reflection; Understanding broader perspectives; Written communication; Writing clearly and concisely. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Diogo Carneiro
Tel:
Email: dcarneir@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Catriona Keay
Tel:
Email: ckeay4@ed.ac.uk |
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