Class Sessions

 

Video |Text Reading | Text Questions | Video Questions

 

Session 1: 

Nested Ecology & Personal Ecology; Earth In Crisis; Ecological Value  

 

Homework for this session includes the answers to the reading discussion questions AND the discussion questions associated with the case study. At the conclusion of this session which occurs at 5:00 p.m. on the Sunday evening immediately following the class meeting date on campus, please post your discussion questions to the lesson board under the heading DQ1.

 

Video Assignment

The Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755), Alan Macfarlane  (For more information see the following chapters Baron De Montisquieu's Life and Vision, Liberty & Despotism, The Defence of Liberty)

(For more information on this topic you can go to McFarlane's e-book, Baron de Montesquieu and the Making of the Modern World (Published originally in 'Riddle of the Modern World', Macmillan 2000).

 

Reading Assignments 

Edward Wimberley Nested Ecology, Preface, Chapter 1 & 2 Ecological Ethics, Chapters 2 & 5. David Hume, Essay on the Origin of Government. 

Reading assignments are to be completed before the beginning of Session Two and posted underneath Drop Box One: 

 

Reading Discussion Questions: 

Pick four questions to answer between questions 1-11 and question 12. These questions, followed by your answers is your homework for this session and must be placed in Drop 1 prior to the beginning of class on Session 2. However, you are required to know the answers to each and every one of these questions for the Comprehensive Exam!

 

1.    Identify and discuss the principal reasons Curry believes the planet is caught up in an eco-crisis.

2.    Curry provides the formula I=PxLxT. Explain this formula and tell me how it applies to the concept of ecological sustainability (you might need to go to the web to answer this one).

3.    What is the relationship between personal consumption and happiness? (Seriously!)

4.    What are the reasons one might be optimistic about applying technology to solve ecological problems? Are there any reasons for being pessimistic or at least skeptical? Please explain.

5.    From Curry's perspective, what do the terms "hegemony" and "anti-scientism" imply?

6.    Tell me what is meant by individualist and holistic approaches to value.

7.    Distinguish between instrumental, inherent and intrinsic value.

8.    Distinguish between how Patrick Curry and Edward Wimberley relate to the concept of anthropocentrism. 

9.    Distinguish between biocentrism, zoocentrism and ecocentrism. 

10. How do these concepts differ from necessary anthropocentrism?

11. What is Wimberley's rationale for presenting a nested approach to ecology?

12. Wimberley's concept of nested ecology which begins with the individual personal ecology has its roots in Hume's philosophy as reflected in this essay. Explain how.

VVideo Assignment Questions

Pick four questions between questions 1-16. These questions, followed by your answers is your video homework for this week. Since you will be answering these questions after watching the film in class, I ask you to drop these questions with your answers in Drop Box 1 prior to 5:00 p.m. on the Sunday evening immediately following the class meeting date on campus. Please post your discussion questions to the lesson board under the heading DQ1the beginning of class in Session 2.  Remember you are required to know the answers to each and every one of these questions for the Comprehensive Exam!

1.    What three things did Montesquieu most admire about England?

2.    Why did Montesquieu publish all of his works outside of France?

3.    Montesquieu’s methodology involved both the action of chance and underlying natural laws to include geography, climate, sociology, etc. He espoused a multilevel approach to his methodology and could be considered a “holist.” Explain in what way this term holism applies.

4.    In what way is Montesquieu the founder of the notion of ideal types?

5.    Montesquieu is the first great structuralist. From the French perspective what is structuralism?

6.    Explain the importance of relationlism to Montesquieu.

7.    For Montesquieu justice lies in relations not things. What does this mean?

8.    How does Montesquieu utilize the skills of induction and deduction?

9.    For Montesquieu what was the relationship between affluence and corruption? Please explain by providing an example.

10. What are the differences between Europe and Asia that contributed to liberty in Europe and negated it in Asia?

11. To what geographic factors did Montesquieu attribute differences in the degree of citizen liberty?

12. How did Christianity serve as an antidote to despotism in Montesquieu’s philosophy?

13. How did the concept of “climate” relate to liberty in the thought of Montesquieu?

14. How did he thing that commerce contributes to the reduction of warfare and discord and promotes civilization?

15. Describe the three great agricultural systems in the world and describe how Montesquieu related these to the degree of freedom and equality.

16. How does the size and diversity of political systems relate to Montesquieu’s thought?
 

Class Sessions