Time Schedule:
Stephen M. Gardiner
ENVIR 416
Seattle Campus
Critical examination of the ethical issues surrounding climate change. Prerequisite: either one philosophy or one environmental studies course. Offered: jointly with PHIL 416.
Class description
Several politicians and scientists have said that climate change is the most important international problem facing the world today. This course will investigate many of the philosophical issues relevant to this problem. Such issues include: • What is scientific uncertainty, and how should we behave when confronted with problems that are uncertain in this way? • What can economic analysis tell us (and not tell us) about problems with a long time horizon, such as climate change?
• Is climate change a commons problem? If so, what kind? • How might we address the problem in a just way? • What are we individually required to do about global and intergenerational problems of this sort?
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
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Class assignments and grading
