Master Topic in Environmental Ethics

Postgraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

The course will give the student an overview of philosophical conceptions of morality, politics and science that are relevant to environmental problems in our time, with an emphasis on animal welfare, climate justice and the relationship between individual and public morality. Environmental ethics is an interdisciplinary study that combines insights from other disciplines (for example, economics, biology and law) with philosophical analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge:

After completing the course, the student should have:

- knowledge of concepts and distinctions in philosophy that are relevant to environmental issues.

- an understanding of the connection between philosophical insights and other environmentally relevant disciplines.

Skills:

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

- analyze and identify underlying philosophical doctrines about morality, politics and science in environmental issues, as these emerge in public debates, documents and other types of text.

Competence:

After completing the course, the student should have competence:

- to determine what ethical dilemmas are raised by the environmental problems, and be able to apply normative theories from moral philosophy to these problems.

The course can also be used as support for a deeper understanding of basic questions in connection with the study of other subjects.

ECTS Credits

10

Level of Study

Master

Semester of Instruction

Spring in even years

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
Bachelor's degree with 90 ECTS. Specialization in philosophy or equivalent.
Access to the Course
This course is open to students who have been admitted to the Master's programme in philosophy. All other students require permission in order to register for this course. Please contact studieveileder@fof.uib.no to apply.
Teaching and learning methods

The teaching takes the form of lectures and / or seminars.

If fewer than four students are registered, the number of lectures may be reduced. The students will be offered individual or small group teaching.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

An approval of compulsory work requirements is valid for three semesters from the semester in which the approval takes place.

Submission of a draft of the semester assignment paper before supervision.

Supervision of the semester assignment.

Forms of Assessment

A supervised paper of between 4000 and 6000 words (not including content list, literature list etc). The topic of the assignment must be approved by the subject teacher beforehand. The exam answer must be delivered digitally.

The exam is arranged at the end of the semester in which the course is taught. In the semester following, the mid-semester exam will be arranged.

The compulsory work requirements must be approved before the examination can be taken in the course.

Compulsory work requirements must be approved in one semester with teaching in order to be able to register for an exam in a semester without teaching.

Grading Scale
Gradeing scale from A to F.
Assessment Semester

Autumn/Spring

The compulsory work requirements must be approved before the examination can be taken in the course.

Reading List
The list of literature is available on uib.no on June 1st for the Fall semester, and January 1st for the Spring semester.
Course Evaluation
Course evaluations hosted in accordance with UiB's quality assurance system.
Programme Committee
The teaching committee for the professional study in philosophy.
Course Coordinator
The teaching committee for the professional study in philosophy.
Course Administrator
Department of Philosophy