PHIL-175 Science, Ethics, and Politics of Climate Change

Climate change is among the most complex, consequential problems of our time. Yet, discourse around climate change is frequently frustrating, poorly informed, confusing, confused, and emotionally fraught. We will start by exploring concepts from philosophy of science to study evidence and arguments for key climate claims. Next, we examine basic tools of moral philosophy, applying them to two main questions: What ethical obligations do we have as individuals? What duties fall to larger political entities like governments to respond to climate change? Finally, we look at attempts to deal with climate despair, anxiety, guilt, and resignation through philosophy, fiction, and activism.

Maximum Enrollment

Writing-Intensive (18)

(Writing Intensive.)

Credits

1