ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

Spring 2026 Syllabus

Section 001
CRN: 10075
T R 3:30 — 4:45 PM
Edith Kanaka‘ole Hall 111
Hybrid Instruction

Dr. Timothy J. Freeman
The University of Hawaii at Hilo
Edith Kanaka‘ole Hall 212
office: 932-7479; cell: 345-5231

freeman@hawaii.edu

Office Hours: MWF 1:00-2:00 PM
and by appointment

Phil 329 Environmental Ethics
Central ethical questions concerning the natural world, including environmental justice, responding to climate change and environmental devastation, and the relationship between human beings and the environment.

Reflecting on Nature: Readiings in Environmental Ethics and Philosophy, 2nd, Edition, Lori Gruen, Dale Jamieson and Christopher Schlottmann (New York and Oxford: Oxford Univeristy Press, 2013.

This course will provide an in-depth introduction to the field of environmental ethics. The course will cover a range of issues including the relationship between the human and nonhuman world, whether or not nonhuman nature has inherent rights, the problems posed by climate change, the decline of biodiversity, the loss of wilderness, the production of food, overpopulation, economic policy and globalization. We will examine a number of key texts in the development of environmental ethics.

[Philosophy courses for GE purposes]: (As with all Philosophy courses) Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
●respond clearly, logically and critically to examination questions and discussion questions about some important philosophical issues relevant to the course;
●read, comprehend, and discuss philosophical texts relevant to the course;
●compose effective written materials that assimilate, synthesize and reflect on course information;
●identify and describe in writing and in class discussion some important aspects of the cultural heritage and contributions of Environmental ethics.

This class is designated as a Hybrid Course. According to the UH Hilo Designation of Types of Courses this means:
"There will be a mix of face-to-face and online instruction. The instructor determines when students will attend face-to-face (in the classroom, laboratory, and/or field experience). Students are expected to attend face-to-face sessions as required by the Instructor."

UH Hilo Designation of Types of Courses

Students are encouraged to tune in to the synchronous sessions and encouraged to turn video cameras on so that you can see each other for better class time discussions.

Attendance and Participation (10%):
Philosophy comes alive and most interesting through discussion, through engaging with each other about questions raised in the texts. Beginning the third week of the course there will be a weekly symposium in which we discuss the readings for the week. Please attend these discussions with your name visible when you log on to Zoom and your video cameras on. Each student will be expected to help lead at least two of the weekly discussions.

Mid-Term essay assignment (40% each)
A 4-5 page essay.

Final Term Paper (50%)
The final term paper should be 6-8 pages in length.

Grading will be determined according to the following scale:
A 95-100 Excellent
A - 90-94
B + 87-89
B 84-86 Good
B - 80-83
C + 77-79
C 74-76 Satisfactory
C - 70-73 Poor
D 60-70 Failure
F below 60

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Spring 2026 Calendar
Spring 2026 Final Exam Schedule

Course Evaluation

**Schedule is subject to revision**