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Climate Ethics (PHIL90029)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject will introduce you to the challenging philosophical issues raised by climate change. We will cover some of the following questions: is climate change a Tragedy of the Commons? Do our individual GHG emissions do harm? If they do not, do we have any reason to restrain our emissions? What is the non-identity problem, and how seriously should we take it? Does climate change have differential impacts on women and people of colour, and if so, what implications does that have for climate responsibilities? How should the burden of reducing global emissions be shared among states? What is the precautionary principle, and what does it tell us to do about climate change? What is the relative importance of action against climate change compared against other morally important goals? What (if anything) is wrong with geoengineering? What psychological obstacles get in the way of individual action on climate change? In this subject you'll learn both how to defend and criticize arguments relating to climate ethics and environmental activism, and how to articulate what actions might be required of individuals, companies, and states to mitigate climate change.
Please note: this is a research seminar, not a lectured course. We'll read two papers a week and discuss them together, structured around brief student summaries & criticisms.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who complete this subject will:
- Understand important conceptual distinctions between different ways in which the environment has value
- Understand philosophical treatments of our moral obligations to preserve the environment
- Appreciate the difficulties associated with weighing environmental obligations against competing obligations and permissions;
- Understand the moral significance of the difference between individual and collective action
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
This subject is available to students admitted into any Masters by Coursework programme at the University of Melbourne.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- A 1000 word short answer essay due mid semester (20%)
- A 4000 word final essay, due at the end of semester (80%)
Hurdle requirement:
- Students must attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Holly Lawford-Smith Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours: 1x2-hr seminar per week for 12 weeks Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 29 July 2019 to 27 October 2019 Last self-enrol date 9 August 2019 Census date 31 August 2019 Last date to withdraw without fail 27 September 2019 Assessment period ends 22 November 2019 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 Hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Subject readings will be available online
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Geography Informal specialisation 200 points Master of Arts (Professional and Applied Ethics) Informal specialisation 100 Point Master of Arts (Professional and Applied Ethics) - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 3 November 2022