Martha Ritter
mjritter@cisunix.unh.edu
Home: (603) 664-2147

Anneliese Mueller
amueller@cisunix.unh.edu
Office: 862-2995
Home: (603) 430-0395

In this course we explore the relationship between people and place in two ways: One is by looking closely at agriculture and fishing communities in New England. The second is by examining our own relationship with particular places and our own values. Ecological concepts and ethical theory are woven into our study of environmental issues. Through field trips, film, and reading personal accounts you will become familiar with different points of view on particular issues, such as the use of pesticides and fishing rights. You will be asked to compare the guidance offered by different ethical theories to critically access different positions and consider possible resolutions.

Required Texts:

Forbes, P., Forbes, A. A., & Why brow, H. (Eds.). (1999). Our land, ourselves: Readings on people and place. San Francisco, CA: The Trust for Public Land.

Greenlaw, L. (1999). The hungry ocean. New York, NY: Hyperion.

Kurlansky, M. (1997). Cod: A biography of the fish that changed the world. New York, NY: Penguin Books.

Lopez, B. (1990). The rediscovery of North America. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky.

Rachels, J. (1999). The elements of moral philosophy. (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill College.

Philosophy 450 Reading Packet

Recommended Text:

Vitek, W., & Jackson, W. (Eds.). (1996). Rooted in the land: Essays on community and place. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Expectations and Evaluation:

Each member of the class will be graded upon the following:

1) Learning Portfolio with daily responses 50%

2) Prepared, active attendance and participation in class 20%

3) Ecological Narrative/ Ethics Paper (4-6 pages) 15%

4) Group Inquiry Project and Presentation 15%

Learning Portfolio:

Daily work consists of a reading response and a reflection on class discussions, activities, or interviews. Some nights you will be asked to address specific questions or frame your reflections in a particular way. The attached rubric outlines what is expected in your daily work and how it will be evaluated. Daily work will be collected at each class meeting. Keep your returned work in a loose-leaf binder. Your portfolio might also include interesting quotes, drawings, photographs, and poems, as well as reflective writing.

Prepared, active attendance and participation in class:

This expectation follows closely from the first in that if you do your daily work you will be prepared for class. Your active participation is essential to the success of the class.

Credo/Ethics Paper:

A credo is a statement of belief, an assertion of deep conviction. You will be asked to write an essay exploring your convictions about how we should live in the world. There will be two daily assignments that are designed to help you with this essay. Specific guidelines for the paper are on an attached page. You will be evaluated on the basis of the guidelines, (not on your beliefs).

Group Inquiry Project and Presentation:

You are expected to work in a group with about five other students to jointly inquire into and design a class presentation on a particular environmental issue. Groups will be formed around particular issues and will be given some time to meet in class on two days. The last week of the course will be devoted to these presentations. You will find project guidelines and the rubric that will be used for evaluation in the attached pages.

Week 1

Tuesday

Values and the good life.

Conquistadors and Bartolomé de las Casas.

1. Barry Lopez, Rediscovering America

2. Rachels, Moral Philosophy, Chapter 1 and 14.1, 14.2 of Chapter 14

Wednesday

Ecological Concepts.

Map Watershed.

1. Ecology, p. 1- 11 (RP)

2. D. Chemise, "Reinhabiting Our Place" (RP)

3. Michael Caduto, Pond and Brook, p1-8, 12-19, 21-31 (RP)

Thursday

Why ethics?

Utilitarian ethics

1. Anthony Weston, Companion to Ethics, Introduction, Chapters 1 & 2 and "A Note to Students on Writing Ethics Papers" (RP, the note to students is at the end of your packet.)

2. Rachels, Moral Philosophy, Chapters 7 & 8

Week 2

Monday

Aldo Leopold's Land Ethic.

1. Our Land, Ourselves, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

Tuesday

Immanuel Kant and respect for persons.

1. Rachels, Moral Philosophy, Chapters 9,10

2. Cesar Chavez, Toxic Struggles, (RP)

Thursday

Prepare questions about organic farming.

1. Rachels, Moral Philosophy, Chapter 12

2. Ecology, p. 12-17 (RP)

3. The Real Dirt, Chapter 1 (RP)

4. "Recycling to Live," Ecology (RP)

Week 3

Monday

Field trip to Organic Farm

1. Cod, Part 1, Chapters 1 to 6

Tuesday

Discussion/Debate on farming practices.

1. "Where the river meets the sea" (RP)

2. Pond and Brook, p. 175, 183-213 (RP)

Wednesday

Field trip to Adams Point

1. Cod, Part 2, Chapters 7 to 10

Thursday

Codlandia, Certain Inalienable Rights

Work on Group Projects

1. Cod, Part 3, Chapters 11 to 14

Week 4

Monday

Limits and denial.

Work on Group Projects.

1. The Hungry Ocean, Linda Greenlaw, Chapters 1-8

Tuesday

Group 1 Presentation.

Discuss The Hungry Ocean.

1. The Hungry Ocean, Linda Greenlaw, Chapters 9 to 12+

2. "Glouster Sues Over Fishing Rights," Boston Globe (RP)

Wednesday

Field trip to Portsmouth Commercial Fisherman's Cooperative.

1. Our Land, Ourselves, Chapters 7 & 8

Thursday

Group 2 Presentation

1. Our Land, Ourselves, Chapters 9 &10

Week 5

Monday

Talk with Paul Howard, Executive Director of the New England Fishery Management Council.

1. Visit web site: nefms.org

Tuesday

Debate on commercial fishing.

1. Anthony Weston, "Is it too late?" (RP)

2. Harry Paige, "Leave if you can" (Handout)

Wednesday

Group 3 Presentation

Thursday

Group 4 Presentation

Potluck Lunch

Ethics Paper Due