An Invitation

I hope you will consider teaching a course on this multidisciplinary subject. I recently taught it in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Central Florida's Cocoa campus.

It is possible to offer this course under other departments, in other disciplines, such as environmental science, anthropology, political science, and sociology. Following is the course syllabus for the Spring 2004 semester. Click here to read a few selected student term papers.

Course Syllabus

PHI 3033—Philosophy, Religion and the Environment

“Energy and Environmental Policies Affecting the Future of Humanity”

SPRING TERM 2004| UCF Cocoa Campus | McCluney

Class Time and Place

The class meets each Thursday evening of the academic term, from 6:00-8:55 p.m., in room 234 of the Lifelong Learning Center (LLC), the UCF classroom building on the Cocoa Campus.

Instructor and Contact Information

Dr. Ross McCluney (Principal Research Scientist, Florida Solar Energy Center) may be reached briefly after class, or at his office (FSEC office building, 1679 Clearlake Rd., second floor, room 242), by phone at (321) 638-1414 or by e-mail at rm@fsec.ucf.edu. Office hours by appointment.

Course Summary

This course addresses the past, present, and future relationship of the human species to the natural environment, the life-support system in which we are imbedded. The historical transformation of this relationship from a fully integrated state to the current "separatist" controlling state will be examined and discussed at length. The influence of religious and other moral and philosophical beliefs on the human/Earth interaction will be investigated and critically considered.
The course will be taught as a combined lecture/readings/discussion class. Readings are assigned prior to each class session. Most class sessions will begin with a lecture on the material assigned or on related topics. There will be intermittent class discussions during the lecture, and at the end. A schedule of classes will be supplied and will become a part of this syllabus, but the schedule may vary somewhat as the semester progresses. Revised schedules will be posted periodically on the class web site at http://www.futureofhumanity.org/for_students.htm.

Course Requirements

Class participation. An important requirement of this course is active participation in the discussion sessions. The student must demonstrate an understanding of the essential ideas presented in the readings and lectures and offer his or her own interpretation and/or critique of those ideas, both verbally and through occasionally assigned short papers on a reading. Any political viewpoint may be expressed, as long as it is reasonably well researched and defended.

Readings and slide presentations. The primary materials for this course will be the assigned readings, augmented by material presented in slide show format by the instructor during class sessions.

Class attendance. Regular attendance is required and will be a major factor in students’ success in the course. Missed classes equate to missed lecture information, missed opportunities to participate in class discussions and missed interactions with other students. When in class, each student is expected to participate in the discussion and, where applicable, to select and present items or topics for such discussions.
Quizzes. Occasional pop quizzes on the readings assignments will be given at the beginning of class sessions. Students’ quiz answers must be handed in to the instructor during the class session in which they are given. Missed quizzes cannot be made up, except in the case of a very good excuse resulting in the consent of the instructor.

Assigned papers. Several short one-to-two-page summary papers will be required on selected reading assignments, including one following a field trip to the Enchanted Forest. A term paper will also be required at the end of the semester. There will be no final exam. The term paper must be delivered in electronic form (no paper submission will be accepted) via floppy disk, CD, e-mail attachment, or by download from a student web site, on or before 5:00 PM April 21. Late term paper submissions will suffer the loss of a half-letter grade. Submissions after 23 April will not be accepted. Any individual or group may elect to turn in a draft of his, her, or their term paper on 1 April, to be read and corrected by the instructor, and returned to the student(s) for final preparation and formal submission later. Class 25, on 8 April, will be a “Term Paper Workshop,” with the instructor critiquing and making suggestions on drafts of the student’s term paper(s). The grade for the term paper will be based only on the final submission, due 21 April.
Grades. Grades will be assigned by the instructor based 1/3 on class participation, 1/3 on quiz scores and readings papers, and 1/3 on the final term paper.

Topical Course Content

The course will consider the role of the human species on Earth, over the long history of its existence. It will look briefly at the histories of the universe, the Earth, and of human culture. The change in philosophical and cosmological beliefs, and in group behaviors, following the invention of agriculture, will be reviewed, along with the resultant impact of these changes on subsequent human thought, intellectual growth, and industrial development. The role of energy in the rise of human population and industrialization will be examined. Some principles of population biology will be introduced and their relevance to industrial humanity will be discussed.

The course will examine a number of environmental and other problems threatening humanity’s long term existence as a species (but excluding global nuclear, chemical, and biological disasters, or those emanating from war or asteroid impacts). The focus will be on environmentally-related threats. Topics to be presented, discussed, and debated include

• The use of rational thought and logic in legal systems, for deciding issues in dispute
• The basic methodologies of science and their usefulness in societal policy- and decision-making
• The claims of a number of contemporary prize-winning scientists, scholars, and religious leaders concerning humanity’s future
• The current system of commerce and its influence over life on Earth
• The role of beliefs, values and ethics in guiding human behavior having environmental significance
• The concept of sustainability, and methods for improving the sustainability of human culture
• Individual and societal change and the processes available for encouraging change

WILLIAM ROSS MCCLUNEY (01/07/04)