ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
Focus on Biodiversity
CE 2505
San Francisco Theological Seminary

Spring 2008
Carol Robb
Marilyn Matevia

Tu, Fri: 11:00 to 12:30
crobb@sfts.edu
mmatevia@gmail.com

Office hours: Tu: 1:30 to 3
415-451-2870

COURSE DESCRIPTION: An introduction to the discipline of Christian ethics, and to the literature of environmental ethics. We will approach the question of how to act responsibly and ecologically using public policy, philosophical, and theological perspectives. The focus issue this semester is biodiversity.

This course satisfies the SFTS requirement for an elective in ethics, and also the PSR requirement.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: The following objectives will guide our work through the semester, and should serve as the basis for evaluation of the usefulness of the course requirements and the whole course experience. When you finish this class, you as students will be able to do the following:

Define and use some key language and concepts of philosophical and theological ethics;

Summarize four different ways of doing ethics;

Converse in theological language that helps the church reflect on ecological matters;

Exhibit skills necessary for public leadership, such as the ability to state one’s own stance, give reasons, acknowledge different points of view, and give reasons why those points of view are not compelling—all skills that members of faith communities could contribute to social debate on matters in conflict;

Develop an independent position on a particular issue relevant to the course, and argue it;

Develop at least an early stage praxis of ecological living, and document new skills you have acquired to enrich that praxis of living more lightly on the earth.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Regular reading of the daily assignments, and informed participation in class discussion of the assignments. Several learning strategies will be used in our class sessions, but none of them will be productive without your prior preparation of the reading. Because some people’s default position is to verbalize easily, and other people’s default position is to quietly observe the proceedings, new learning for you may involve encouraging the silent to speak, or it may involve taking courage to speak up. Whatever, the goal is to create a learning environment where we can be stretched by new perspectives, and deepen our deliberations. To that end, one discipline we will use in this class is this: On those inevitable days when we have not been able to do the assigned reading, come to class, but do not participate in the discussion. The code word for “I am not prepared” is “Today I need to Pass.” This requirement will help you document you are achieving all the course objectives. After 3 absences, we will decrease your final grade by ½ point. (Participation constitutes 25% of grade)

Participation in the design and implementation of a class project. The project this class will choose is up to you as a class, and will depend on the prior experience we bring into the class. Since the purpose of the project is to teach ourselves something new about how to take responsibility for ecological living, it is oriented toward practical skills. The purpose of the project is NOT to teach others. It is to teach ourselves. A very short reflection paper will allow you to document your new skills in living lightly on the earth (objective f). (Participation in and reflection on project constitutes 25% of grade)

A midterm exam, take-home, and due in class, Friday, April 4. The questions will be distributed Tuesday, March 18. (Quality of exam answers constitutes 25% of grade.) This requirement will allow you to document you are learning to use the major tools of discourse in ethics, in the context of ecological concerns. (Objectives a and b)

A final paper. Due May 16. More than one model of paper may be appropriate. The main model is to argue a stance with respect to an environmental issue, consistent with objectives d. and e. However, other models may be more useful for the kind of research you need to do. Along with the production of the written paper, you will be asked to communicate your research in a brief (10 -11 minutes) but exciting way to your classmates. The paper should be 12 to 15 pages in length. You are encouraged, but not required, to work on this writing project with others in the class, (in groups not to exceed 3 members). The paper format should be consistent with Kate Turabian’s Guide to Writing of Term Papers and Theses, which includes the style acceptable to the JAAR, per seminary policy. (Quality of written paper plus presentation to class constitutes 25% of grade)

We will use the inclusive language policy of SFTS and the GTU for verbal and written language about human beings and about God. This is a skill in the preparation of leadership for the churches, and also arguably consistent with the attempt to live with ecological integrity.

Because life in theological education involves whole persons, who have multiple important commitments, some of which require attention at the same time, deadlines for exams and papers are sometimes difficult to meet. We have found the best way to honor those multiple commitments and at the same time be fair to those who make sacrifices to meet the class deadlines is this: If you feel you need to request a small extension, negotiate with Prof. Robb about that first. If she agrees to offer a small extension, your grade will be docked ½ point per day the paper is late (i.e. from a B to a B-).

Students with special needs should confer with me at the beginning of the class to make arrangements for how you will document that you have fulfilled the requirements for the course.

RELEVANCE OF COURSE TO HABITS AND SKILLS: This course should be relevant to students’ efforts to develop the habits of personal integrity, a sense of the impact of cultural and political situations on life and thought, a sense for grounding theology in practical reality, and hermeneutical responsibility in the interpretation of Scripture and all communication. Additionally, it should help students demonstrate skills relevant to leading in ethical witness to society and articulating the global witness and mission of the church. It may also help students prepare for non-congregational ministries.

REQUIRED READING: Text books

William Baxter, People or Penguins, the Case for Optimal Pollution (New York: Columbia, 1974). (distributed in class)

Bonnie B. Burgess, Fate of the Wild: The Endangered Species Act and the Future of Biodiversity ( University of Georgia Press, 2003) ISBN: 0820324922)

Lisa H. Newton, Ethics and Sustainability: Sustainable Development and the Moral Life ( Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall, 2003)

Paul W. Taylor, Respect for Nature: A Theory of Environmental Ethics (Princeton: Princeton University, 1986)

Robert N. Wennberg, God, Humans and Animals: An Invitation to Enlarge Our Moral Universe (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2003) (ISBN: 0802839754)

Other required reading:

Cavalieri, Paola. 2005, “Are Human Rights Human?” Logos, 4 (2). URL=http://www.logosjournal.com/issue_4.2/cavalieri.htm

Donovan, Josephine, 2006. “Feminism and the Treatment of Animals: From Care to Dialogue,” Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 31: 305-329.

Eldridge, Niles. 2001. “The Sixth Extinction,” ActionBiosceince.org [online]; URL=http://www.actionbioscience.org/newfrontiers/eldredge2.html

Evangelical Environmental Network. 2004. Some Biblical and Scientific Perspectives on SpeciesProtection. URL=http://www.creationcare.org/resources/endangered_book.php

Horne, Milton. 2005. “From Ethics to Aesthetics: The Animals in Job 38:39-39:30,” Review and Expositor, 102:127-142 [Available via GRACE]

Kay, Jane. 2008. “GGNRA asks for public’s help to halt decline of wildlife species,” San Francisco Chronicle January 2, 2008. URL=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?=/c/a/2008/01/02/BA3OTOQ57.DTL&hw=jane%20kay

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Biodiversity Synthesis (See especially 1-14, “Summary for Decision Makers) URL=http://www.millenniumassessment.org/documents/document.354.aspx.pdf

United Nations Environment Programme. 2007. Global Environment Outlook #4. See especially Chapter 5, “Biodiversity.” URL=http://www.unep.org/geo/geo4/report/05_Biodiversity.pdf

Patterson, Francine and Wendy Gordon. 1993. “The Case for the Personhood of Gorillas.” In Paola Cavalieri and Peter Singer, eds., The Great Ape Project: Equality Beyond Humanity, (St. Martin’s Griffin), pp. 58-77.

Pearce, Fred. 2005. “The Protein Gap.” Conservation Magazine, 6 (3): 117-123.

Rolston, Holmes III. 1985 “Duties to Endangered Species,” BioScience 35: 718-726.

Rolston, Holmes III. 2004 “Caring for Nature: From Fact to Value, from Respect to Reverence,” Zygon, 39: 277-302. [Available via GRACE]

Savage-Rumbaugh, Sue, et al. 2007, “Welfare of Apes in Captive Environments: Comments on, and by, a Specific Group of Apes,” Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 10: 7-19.

Waldau, Paul. 2006 “Seeing the Terrain We Walk: Features of the Contemporary Landscape of ‘Religion and Animals,’” in Paul Waldau and Kimberly Patton, eds., A Communion of Subjects: Animals in Religion, Science, and Ethics, (Columbia University Press) p.40-61.

Optional Reading (cool resources)

Andrews, Kristin. 2008. “Animal Cognition,” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2008), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), forthcoming. URL=http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2008/entries/cognition-animal/

Faith, Daniel P. 2007. “Biodiversity,” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2007) Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL=http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2007/entries/biodiversity/

Gruen, Lori. 2003. “The Moral Status of Animals,” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2003) Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL=http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2003/entries/moral-animal/

Howell, Nancy R. 2001. “A God Adequate for Primate Culture,” Journal of Religion and Society 3: 1-11. [Available via Grace]

Thompson, Barton H., Jr. 1999. “People or Prairie Chickens: The Uncertain Serch for Optimal Biodiversity,” Stanford Law Review, 51: 1127-1185.

COURSE OUTLINE

Feb 5 Introduction to the course and to each other.

The Modes of Moral Discourse

Feb 8 William F. Baxter, People or Penguins, Ch 1 and 2

Feb 12 Baxter, Ch 3 and 4

Feb 15 Baxter, Ch 5

Feb 19 Paul W. Taylor, Respect for Nature, Ch 1

Feb 22 Taylor, Ch 2

Feb 26 Taylor, Ch 3

Feb 29 Taylor, Ch 4

Mar 4 Taylor, Ch 5

Mar 7 Taylor, Ch 6

Mar 11 Lisa H. Newton, Ethics and Sustainability, Ch 1

Mar 14 Newton, Ch 2

Mar 18 Newton, Ch 3 Pass out Exam

Mar 21 No class. Good Friday

Mar 24 28: Reading Week

Apr 1 Review

Exploring biodiversity: biology and politics

Apr 4 exam due back. Changing gears: (Multimedia) Attenborough “State of the Planet,” and CBS “Gorillas of Langue Bai”

Apr 8 Introduction to Biodiveristy issue:

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, pages 1-14, “Summary for Decision Makers” http://www.millenniumassessment.org/documents/document.354.aspx.pdf

United Nations Environment Programme, Global Environment Outlook #4 (2007), Chap 5: “Biodiversity” http://www.unep.org/geo/geo4/report/05_Biodiversity.pdf

Niles Eldredge “The Sixth Extinction,” http://www.actionbioscience.org/newfrontiers/eldredge2.html

Optional: Daniel P. Faith“Biodiversity” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Optional: http://www.primate-sg.org/T25full07.htm://www.iucnredlist.org/

Apr 11 Bonnie Burgess, Fate of the Wild, chapters 1-3

Handout of Updated timeline of the Endangered Species Act

Apr 15 Burgess, Fate of the Wild, chapters 4,5

Holmes Rolston III, “Duties to Endangered Species,” BioScience 35 (1985): 718-726

Optional: Barton H. Thompson, Jr. “People or Prairie Chickens,” on reserve

Apr 18 Burgess, Fate of the Wild, Chapters 8, 9, 11

Jane Kay, “GGNRA asks for public’s help to halt decline of wildlife species,” in San Franciso Chronicle

Thinking Theologically about the Value of Plants and Animals

Apr 22 Robert N. Wennberg, God, Humans, and Animals: An Invitation to Enlarge Our Moral Universe Chapters 1,2

Paul Waldau, “Seeing the Terrain We Walk: Features of the Contemporary Landscape of ‘Religion and Animals”

Apr 25 Wennberg, God, Humans, and Animals Chapters 4, 8

Francine Patterson and Wendy Gordon, “The Case for the Personhood of Gorillas”

Fred Pearce, “The Protein Gap,” Conservation Magazine

Optional: Kristin Andrews, “Animal Cognition,” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Apr 29 Wennberg, God, Humans, and Animals, chapter 5

Paola Cavalieri, “Are Human Rights Human?”

Optional: Lori Gruen, “The Moral Status of Animals,” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

May 2 Wennberg, God, Humans, and Animals Chapters 6, 3

Josephine Donovan, “Feminism and the Treatment of Animals: From Care to Dialogue,”

Optional: Nancy R. Howell, “A God Adequate for Primate Culture,”

May 6 Wennberg, God, Humans, and Animals, chapters 11, 12

Milton Horne, “From Ethics to Aesthetics: The Animals in Job 38:39-39:30” Review and Expositor

Evangelical Environmental Network, Some Biblical and Scientific Perspectives on Species Protection (http://www.creationcare.org/resources/endangered_book.php)

May 9 Wennberg, God, Humans, and Animals, chapter 7

Sue Savage-Rumbaugh, Kanzi Wamba, et.al “Welfare of Apes in Captive Environments: Comments on, and by, a Specific Group of Apes,”

Holmes Rolston III, “Caring for Nature: From Fact to Value, from Respect to Reverence,” Zygon

May 13 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

May 16 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS, ALL PAPERS DUE

May 20 student presentations if needed

May 23 Spring Semester Ends

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS Focus on Biodiversity CE 2505 San Francisco Theological Seminary

Spring 2008 Carol Robb Marilyn Matevia

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

COURSE OUTLINE

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
Focus on Biodiversity
CE 2505
San Francisco Theological Seminary

Spring 2008
Carol Robb
Marilyn Matevia