ISP 110 When Nature Roars: Global Catastrophe & Responsibility

3 hours 

As much as we like to think of ourselves as masters of the universe, human civilizations exist under threats from the great destructive powers of nature as well as our own capacity for large-scale destruction. This course explores the causes, effects, and consequences of natural and man made catastrophes within and across national, regional, and global boundaries, and the moral, ethical, and legal dimensions of preventing and responding to such crises. In addition to factual accounts and studies, the course will consider the ways cataclysmic events are reflected in art, music and literature.