Eco-Justice: Environmental Ethics and Political Justice

Course Objectives:

At the end of the class, students will be able to (1) demonstrate familiarity with contemporary challenges in environmental ethics and politics, (2) differentiate and assess ethical and political positions on the problems discussed, (3) show ability to write short texts on the topic, and (4) express arguments clearly and concisely. During the learning process, students will (5) take individual responsibility for and work collaboratively with fellow students towards the completion of group assignments.

Course Content:

This course introduces students to ethical and political perspectives on environmental issues, focusing on our responsibilities toward the natural world and examining the socio-political factors driving ecological degradation. Through key questions—such as the role of the environment in human well-being, our obligations toward non-human entities, and the ethical complexities of environmental policy decisions—students will explore the ethical dimensions of our interactions with ecosystems, animals, and future generations. Students will study land ethic, intergenerational ethics, ecofeminist ethics, and ecological Marxism addressing climate change’s impact on future generations. By engaging with these foundational ideas, students will develop a comprehensive ethical framework for analyzing and addressing environmental challenges in both present and future contexts.