This seminar focuses on environmental issues from ethical perspectives. It will not only explore these issues in general and abstract terms, but chooses specific real-world topics that bring these ethical concerns to life. This course offers a thematic introduction to issues in environmental ethics while also introducing you to both exemplary classic and cutting-edge research in the field. The seminar has two parts. In a first part students get an introduction to ethics and the thematic fields discussed by reading research papers. In a second part students have the opportunity to acquire in-depth knowledge in one of the areas dealt with in the current course by reading a book and presenting a book review.

In the Fall 2024 semester, we will address the biodiversity crisis, animal rights in nature and the food production system, and food as an environmental ethical issue more broadly.

By reading and discussing relevant literature in environmental ethics, students learn to critically reflect on and analyze arguments and theories in the context of the issues discussed in the current semester.