Syllabus224

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EDU 220/ENPR 220 Wilderness Ethics T/TH 10:30-11:50am Instructor: Jay Roberts Office: 321 LBC Contact: Ext. 1327, roberja

“Out there is a different world, older and greater and deeper by far than ours, a world which surrounds and sustains the little world of men as sea and sky surround and sustain a ship.” Edward Abbey

“The rare moment is not the moment when there is something worth looking at but the moment when we are capable of seeing.” Joseph Wood Krutch

“What if I fell in a forest: Would a tree hear?” Annie Dillard

Course Description Wilderness Ethics will explore the historical development and modern challenges of the wilderness ideal within the United States in addition to several international perspectives. Since ethics has to do with identifying the “Good” and, as such, implies philosophical inquiry, this course involves questions of values and morals- why should we set aside designated wilderness areas? What role should wilderness play in our daily lives? What is the “worth” of wilderness? To work through these and other questions, we will spend some time learning the basics of philosophical inquiry and ethics. In addition, we will look at the unique historical construction of the wilderness concept in the United States and the development of the various federal agencies that oversee these areas. Where did the concept of wilderness come from? How did it develop and change over time? What challenges do we face in the future in managing and preserving our wildlands? Finally, we will also look at criticisms and alternative perspectives on the wilderness ideal- is it ethical to value trees over people? Or, for that matter, people over trees? Who gets to define what is and is not considered wilderness or natural?

To help us consider these and other questions we will use several historical texts in addition to examining specific voices that write about the idea of wilderness through a variety of perspectives- both laudatory and critical, personal and academic. We will also take time to explore our own ideas and growing “ecological awareness” through texts, writings, and an experiential “solo” activity. This attempt to connect, viscerally, with the idea of wilderness is important to truly wrestle with the questions and complexities of the worth of our natural areas and how they can (and perhaps should) impact us in the future.

Objectives: • An introduction to basic philosophical inquiry and ethics • An understanding of the historical context of the wilderness concept both in the United States and internationally • Engagement with many of the most prominent voices on the wilderness ideal- both historic and modern • The opportunity to experience “wilderness” inwardly- through the process of writing and reflecting as well as through a solo experience

Texts: A variety of texts will fuel our exploration (see below). In addition, there will be several handouts throughout the semester. I expect that each of you will have a copy of each of the required texts and that you bring assigned reading with you to class.

Required Texts Shauffler, F. Marina Stories of Ecological Conversion. University of Virginia Press: 2003. Nash, Roderick, Wilderness and the American Mind 4th Ed. Yale University Press: 2001 Turner, Jack, The Abstract Wild. Arizona University Press: 1996. Kerasote, Ted, Return of the Wild. Island Press: 2001

Optional Text Rothenburg, David and Martha Ulvaeus, eds., The World and The Wild. Arizona University Press: 2001.

Assignments: Wilderness Figure Biography (15 points) Early in the semester, you will be assigned a key figure in the development of the wilderness in the United States. You will be responsible for a short paper on that figure as well as an in-class presentation.

Poetry/Nature Essay (15 points) As part of our “inner ecology” unit, you will have the opportunity to choose between developing a collection of your own nature poetry or writing a nature essay. As part of the assignment, you will include a short “meta-reflection” on the process to include with your final submission. There will also be opportunities for students to present their writings in class though it will not be required.

Exams (First exam= 20 points; second exam= 30 points) Two, equally weighted out of class exams will be assigned. These are intended to consolidate and encapsulate course content and discussions. They will be short essay in format.

Engagement (20 points) I calculate engagement based on several indicators. (1) Your class attendance (the more regular the better). (2) Punctuality (excessive lateness to class is disruptive, annoying and is akin to killing small forest creatures just for the fun of it). (3) Class participation. This is a small seminar therefore you are encouraged and requested to dialogue and engage with each others opinions, views, and arguments every class period.

Assessment: Your grade will be calculated out of a total of 100 points from the assignments listed above.

A 91-100 points B 81-88 points C 71-78 points D 61-68 point

Finally, I expect that all of us will choose to act honorably in this endeavor together. That is to say, all work in this class, unless otherwise specified, is to be your own.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE COLLEGE: "Any student with a documented disability (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact Academic Support Services and the instructor at the beginning of each semester. Accommodation arrangements must be made during the first-two weeks of the semester."

Semester Overview: (assignments are due the day they are listed on schedule)

Week 1 INTRODUCTIONS Aug. 25th R Introductions, Syllabus, Expectations

Week 2 INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS Aug. 30th T What is Wilderness For? Read Handout: from Mountains w/o Handrails, chpts. 3-4

R Ethics, Values, Morals, and Philosophical Reasoning Read Handouts: “Moral Philosophy and the Natural World” and Rachels, “A Short Introduction to Moral Philosophy.”

Week 3 INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS: continued Sept. 6th

T Aesthetics Read Handout: HD Thoreau, “Walking” and Nash, Wilderness and the American Mind, chapter 5.

R Aesthetics: continued (WFP) Read Handout: J. Muir, “ A Near View of the High Sierra” and Nash, chapter 8.

Week 4 HISTORY OF THE WILDERNESS CONCEPT Sept. 13th

T Historical roots of the wilderness concept (1700’s) Read: Nash, Wilderness and the American Mind, Introductions, chpt. 1 and Kerasote Return of the Wild pgs. 25-35

R Historical roots of the wilderness concept (1800’s) Read: Nash, Chpt. 6-7 (skread), Chpts. 9-10

Week 5 HISTORY/INNER ECOLOGY Sept. 20th

T Historical Roots (1900’s) (WFP) Read Nash, Chpts.11-13 and Kerasote, pgs. 11-24

R Inner Ecology: Introduction (WFP) Read Handouts: Mary Oliver, Ranier Rilke, Craig Childs Poetry/Nature Essay Assigned

F-S SOLO Experience

Week 6 INNER ECOLOGY Sept. 27th

T Reflection Day Read Stories of Ecological Conversion, Introduction and Chpt. 1.

R Modern Voices (WFP) Read Stories of Ecological Conversion, chpts. 2-3 Handout: Terry Tempest Williams Poetry/Nature Essay Due

Week 7 INNER ECOLOGY Oct. 4th

T Modern Voices (WFP) Read Stories of Ecological Conversion chpts. 4-7 Exam #1 Assigned

R Mid –Fall Break (Oct. 7-8th)

Week 8 WILDERNESS AND LAND MANAGEMENT Oct. 11th

T Federal Land Management in the U.S. Read Handout: Brame and Henderson, An Introduction to Wildland Ethics and Management, pgs. 53-113.

R National Wilderness Preservation System (WFP) Read: Brame and Henderson handout, pgs. 115-134. Review wildlands map in Kerasote. Exam #1 Due

Week 9 WILDERNESS AND LAND MANAGEMENT Oct. 18th

T The Question of Management Read: Turner, “The Wild and its New Enemies” and Soule “Should Wilderness Be Managed?” in Return of the Wild

R The Question of Management Read Handout: Sax, “The Parks As They Ought To Be” and Graber, “Resolute Biocentrism: The Dilemma of Wilderness in National Parks”

Week 10 INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES Oct. 25th

T International Conceptions of Wilderness Read: Forward and Introduction in The World and The Wild and Chapter 16 in Nash

R No Class (ICORE)

Week 11 INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES Nov. 1st

T Critical Perspectives (WFP) Read: Chapters One, Three in The World and The Wild and “The Unsettling of America” by Wendell Berry

R No Class (AEE)

Week 12 OTHER PERSPECTIVES Nov. 8th

T Critical Perspectives (WFP) Read Handouts: “The Wilderness Idea Revisited” by Callicot, and “Wilderness Areas for Real” by Dave Foreman. Suggested: “Cultural Parallax in Viewing North American Habitats” by GP Nabhan.

R Eco-Progressivism Read Handouts: “Human Ecology” and “The Great Wilderness Debate, Again” by David Orr

Week 13 DEEP ECOLOGY AND WILDNESS Nov. 15th

T Read: Turner, Abstract Wild, chpts. 1-2 Exam #2 Assigned

R Abstract Wild, chpts. 3-4

Week 14 Nov. 22nd

No Class- Thanksgiving Break

Week 15 DEEP ECOLOGY Nov. 29th

T Abstract Wild , chpts. 5-7

R Flex Day Exam #2 Due

Week 16 Dec. 6th

T Evaluations