Environmental ethics: how should we care for the planet?



Overview

There are many environmental concerns in the world today. The Earth and all life on it is beginning to suffer. There are problems of water depletion, soil depletion, loss of biodiversity and species extinction as well as the increasing extreme weather conditions which come from a warming planet. This course will be an introduction to environmental ethics as well as exploring the recent developments concerning climate change. 

In the course we will discuss what we mean by 'nature' as well as examine many of our environmental problems and what needs to be done. It will also question the solutions that are being suggested and how far they are ethical. Is more technology the answer and what sort of technology should there be? Is carbon capture and storage a possibility and will it solve the problem of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? How should we relate to non-humans and is re-wilding helpful? What agricultural policies should we have and what should be our relationship to the natural world?

Throughout the course we will consider what our duties are towards each other and to the Earth. There are many questions to be examined as our governments make decisions that could affect our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren. This course is designed to pursue these questions and explore new ways of living.

Programme details

Courses starts: 23 Jan 2024

Week 1: Environmental problems: fact or fiction?

Week 2: Nature: is this the end of nature?

Week 3: Tragedy of the commons: are there too many of us?

week 4: Others: what are our duties towards others, present and future?

week 5: Vanishing species: what are our duties to non-humans? 

Week 6: Conservation and re-wilding: what level of interference?

Week 7: Agricultural policies: how should we feed ourselves and save the planet?

Week 8: Energy: how should we obtain energy without damaging the Earth?

Week 9: Technology and the environment: is there a dark side to technology?

Week 10: Ethical lives: what world do we want?

 

 

 

Digital Certification

To complete the course and receive a certificate, you will be required to attend at least 80% of the classes on the course and pass your final assignment. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £257.00
Take this course for CATS points £10.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Dr Helen Barnard

Helen Barnard has been teaching at the Department of Continuing Education for 15 years as well as a second level course in philosophy with the Open University. Her specialist interest is environmental ethics but also all other aspects of ethics.

Course aims

To examine the ethical problems concerning the environment and discuss solutions.

Course objectives:

  • To understand the environmental problems of today.
  • To appreciate the needs of ourselves and others. 
  • To examine the variety and ways nature and natural objects can be valued.
  • To be able to offer arguments for and against the main ethical positions discussed.

 

Teaching methods

Teaching will be in the form of a lecture with powerpoint as well as open discussions for the whole class to take part in.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

  • understand what environmental problems there are
  • be able to present arguments in support of various ethical views
  • become confident in taking part in discussions.

Assessment methods

Assessment will be by a written essay of 1500 words or two pieces of work of 700 words each. Essay titles will be set by the tutor.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

Application

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form (Word) or enrolment form (Pdf).

Level and demands

Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Most of the Department's weekly classes have 10 or 20 CATS points assigned to them. 10 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of ten 2-hour sessions. 20 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of twenty 2-hour sessions. It is expected that, for every 2 hours of tuition you are given, you will engage in eight hours of private study.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support