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Last modified: 28 Apr 2026 14:46
This course focuses on the ethical aspects of the two environmental challenges of our times: climate change and biodiversity loss. It is obvious to most that it is of the utmost importance that we do something to manage our changing climate and to increase biodiversity. Furthermore, the environmental sciences provide plenty of suggestions on how we might do this. But decisions on what to do have significant impacts on the natural world and human society. This course introduces students in the natural sciences to theories and methods from Environmental Ethics which will help them reflect on the ethical aspects of our conservation and mitigation decisions here in Scotland and across the globe.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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This course focuses on the ethical aspects of the two environmental challenges of our times: climate change and biodiversity loss. It is obvious to most that it is of the utmost importance that we do something to manage our changing climate and increase biodiversity. Furthermore, the environmental sciences provide plenty of suggestions on how we might do this. But decisions on what to do have significant impacts on the natural world and human society. This course introduces environmental and biological science students to theories and methods from Environmental Ethics which will help them reflect on the ethical aspects of our conservation and mitigation decisions here in Scotland and across the global.
We will explore debates about intergenerational justice (what present generations owe future ones), global distributive justice (how burdens and benefits should be shared between high- and low-emiting countries), responsibility for historical emissions, and the ethical status of nonhuman species and ecosystems. Throughout, students will engage normative frameworks – including utilitarian, deontological, virtue ethical and other perspectives – to critically assess responses to the ethical environmental challenges we face today.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 34,38,39,40 | Feedback Weeks | 36,40,42,44 | |
| Feedback |
Each MCQ worth 10%, approximately 10 questions each. Questions will be released prior to tutorials, discussed in class and the submitted via online test. Feedback will be released in the form of correct answers to test with explanations. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | To integrate philosophical theories of value and responsibility with scientific understandings of ecological systems to formulate ethically coherent responses to environmental challenges. |
| Conceptual | Understand | To explain and distinguish key ethical theories and concepts relevant to environmental decision-making, |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 41 | Feedback Weeks | 44 | |
| Feedback |
2,000 word essay. Individual feedback via MyAberdeen. |
Word Count | 2000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | To integrate philosophical theories of value and responsibility with scientific understandings of ecological systems to formulate ethically coherent responses to environmental challenges. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To assess and defend normative positions on contested issues—such as intergenerational justice, species extinction, and restoration ethics—through rigorous argumentation and evidence-based reasoning. |
| Conceptual | Understand | To explain and distinguish key ethical theories and concepts relevant to environmental decision-making, |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 50 | Feedback Weeks | 53 | |
| Feedback |
Feedback will be released in the form of correct answers to test with explanations. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To explain and distinguish key ethical theories and concepts relevant to environmental decision-making, |
| Conceptual | Apply | To integrate philosophical theories of value and responsibility with scientific understandings of ecological systems to formulate ethically coherent responses to environmental challenges. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To assess and defend normative positions on contested issues—such as intergenerational justice, species extinction, and restoration ethics—through rigorous argumentation and evidence-based reasoning. |
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