A Pragmatic, Co-operative Approach To Teaching Environmental Ethics

Abstract

AbstractOur pragmatic, cooperative approach to teaching environmental ethics at California State University Monterey Bay nurtures students' moral development in both their public and private realms by putting into practice three principles. First, to propose what "we ought to do," students must first think deeply about what " I ought to do." Second, adequately justifying what "I ought to do" and what "we ought to do" requires that students acknowledge, understand, and respect differing perspectives. Third, a course that does not advocate for a particular environmental ethic enhances rather than inhibits students' moral development. This paper describes how—and why—we have designed our course in accordance to these three principles.