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Lecturer(s)
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Course content
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Main topics of the lectures: 1. Introduction to basic concepts in ethics and ecology 2. A brief outline of the history of environmental ethics 3. non-anthropocentric eco-ethical trends: - Biocentrism - Ecocentrism - deep ecology - ecofeminism - zoocentrism 4. anthropocentric eco-ethical trends: - Strong anthropocentrism ("cowboy ethics") - weak anthropocentrism - theocentrism Topics for presentation: 1. Climate change 2. 2. Genetically modified organisms 3. World hunger 4. Ethical issues related to drinking water 5. The sea, the oceans, the politics of fishing 6. Soil quality 7. Nuclear weapons, radioactive waste pollution 8. Chemical and biological weapons. Bioterrorism 9. Demographic control 10. From Francis of Assisi to Pope Francis: the encyclical Laudato si'
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Group work
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Learning outcomes
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The aim of the Ecology and Spirituality course is: 1. to familiarize students with the basic ethical issues related to environmental protection. 2. to reflect the Christian attitude towards this issue. 3. to form their own opinion on it.
Graduates of the course will be able to make informed arguments in more professional debates in the field of environmental ethics.
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Prerequisites
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A basic orientation in the main philosophical and ethical currents is assumed. A basic knowledge of the Bible and Christian standards is also important.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Student performance
The following points are required for successful completion of the course: 1. to actively participate in class (absences are tolerated only in serious cases), 2. to prepare a presentation on a chosen eco-ethical topic (can be done in pairs), present it in powerpoint in class (about 20-30 minutes) and lead a discussion with colleagues on the topic (about 15 minutes).
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Recommended literature
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Erazim Kohák. (1999). The Green Halo. A Bird's-Eye View of Ecological Ethics. Chicago and La Salle (IL).
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Ernst Conradie. (2006). Christianity and Ecological Theology. Resources for further research. Stellenbosch.
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Giovanni Russo (ed.). (2010). Bioetica e questione ambientale. Leumann (TO).
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Hillary Marlow - Mark Harris (ed.). (2022). The Oxford Handbook of the Bible and Ecology. Oxford.
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Konrad Ott - Jan Dierks - Lieske Voget-Kleschin. (2016). Handbuch Umweltethik. Stuttgart.
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Louis P. Pojman - Paul Pojman - Katie McShane. Environmental Ethics. Readings in Theory and Application.
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Marek Vácha. (2016). Tváří v tvář Zemi. Inspirováno Plejádami, Orionem a encyklikou Laudato si'. Brno.
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Markus Vogt. (2021). Christliche Umweltethik. Grundlagen und zentrale Herausforderungen. Freiburg im Breisgau.
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Martín Carbajo Núnez. (2018). Sister Mother Earth. Franciscan Roots of the Laudato Si'. Delhi.
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Matúš Kocian. (2015). Etika životního prostředí. Kostelec nad Černými lesy.
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Pope Francis. Laudato si'. On care for our common home. Huntington (IN).
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