PHIL 255 Environmental Ethics

This course will examine the nature of environmental values and their role in decisions and public policies concerning environmental protection. Some of the questions we will address include: What is the relation between the environment and human health and well-being? Are there reasons other than human health and well-being for protecting the environment? How do we compare environmental values against other values in making reasonable decisions? What are the ethical issues involved in cost-benefit analysis? What are our duties to future generations and non-human animals?