PHIL 2630 A (CRN: 95721)
Philosophy: Ethics of Climate Change (A)
3 credit hours
For crosslists see:
About PHIL 2630 A
Exploration of topics in environmental ethics, such as the ethical crisis of climate change and human obligations to non-human animals and ecosystems. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: One course in Philosophy or Environmental Studies. Cross-listed with: ENVS 2250.
Notes
Prerequisite: one course in Philosophy Crosslisted with ENVS 2250 A, total combined enrollment: 40 PACE students by permission and override
Section Description
Climate Change is the global crisis that defines our historical moment. As such, it raises a host of complex ethical issues unlike any we have confronted before and it makes traditional ethical issues more difficult. For instance, what should individuals do to combat climate change, given that individually our actions would seem to have little effect? Why should I make significant sacrifices today, which will have little direct impact now, to help people 100 years or so into the future? Do I have direct obligations to the planet and its ecosystems, or just the people that occupy it? How should we think of our obligations to address climate when any success is dependent on the actions of many other people over a long period of time? How should we weigh the need to deal with climate change against so many other pressing problems, like global poverty, proliferation of nuclear weapons, social injustice, etc.? Should we spend large sums of money to remediate the damage that climate change has done and will do by restoring species and habitats, making coastal communities resilient, investing in green public works projects, etc? Many of the answers to these questions depend on projections of how bad the effects of climate change might be. How should we make decisions now, with the best available evidence, given the range of predicted effects and some of the associated uncertainty to these predictions? Should we plan for the worst and hope for the best or take more aggressive preventive measure?
This class will explore these issues in detail, investigating scholarly attempts to untangle these and related issues, while trying to provide some productive solutions.
Important Dates
Note: These dates may change before registration begins.
Courses may be cancelled due to low enrollment. Show your interest by enrolling.
| Last Day to Add | |
|---|---|
| Last Day to Drop | |
| Last Day to Withdraw with 50% Refund | |
| Last Day to Withdraw with 25% Refund | |
| Last Day to Withdraw |
Resources
Remind Me Form
Remind yourself about PHIL 2630 A.
We'll send you a reminder before Fall 2026 registration begins.