Winter 2003

This information effective for Winter 2003. Check with instructor the first day of class for any changes.

Environmental Studies

[ENVS-271]

271. Valuing the Environment

Winter 2003
Instructor: D. Guevara and S. R. Rajan

Course Description:

For many years the environment has been treated as a free commodity. It has, however, become clear that we cannot continue to exploit the environment without incurring great costs for our generation as well as future generations. The purpose of this course is to explore our duties to future generations. It raises moral questions about intergenerational distribution, or the relations between people who live in different times.

In addition to addressing an important question that concerns all scholars in environmental studies, the course also offers an excellent introduction to moral and political philosophy.

Graduate seminar credit in philosophy. Seniors in the major may be admitted, with permission of the instructor.

Readings:

The books are available at The Literary Guillotine: 204 Locust Street
Phone: 457-1195; http://www.literaryguillotine.com/

• Avner De-Shalit, Why Posterity Matters: Environmental Policies and Future Generations. Routledge; June 1995.
• Wilfred Beckerman and Joanna Pasek, Justice, Posterity, and the Environment. Oxford University Press; 2001.
• Andrew Dobson (Editor), Fairness and Futurity: Essays on Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice. Oxford University Press; May 1999.
• John Rawls, A Theory of Justice. Belknap Press; Revised edition, September 1999.
• J.J.C. Smart and Bernard Williams, Utilitarianism: For and Against. Cambridge University Press, 1973.