Doing Philosophy of 'Climate Science'

The world is on fire, is it not? In this minor, we investigate both contemporary moral and scientific perspectives on climate and environment.

This minor is a thorough introduction to various aspects of philosophy and of science, and focuses especially on carefully developing the academic skills for ‘doing philosophy of climate science’, and on putting them into practice. The possibility of scientific knowledge and science’s historical, social and political ramifications will be discussed with a specific perspective on the contemporary climate crisis.
The module ‘Ecophilosophy’ will delve into several philosophical approaches that challenge the contemporary thought on ecology. Specifically, the focus will be on the underlying thought structures that have led to, or to the very least not been able to avert, a global ecological crisis. From a philosophical point of view this is logical: how can we tackle global climate problems with the very thinking that produced them. Hence, in this course radical alternatives to the typical thought structures will be presented and discussed.

The module ‘Moral Philosophy and Environmental Practice’ explores foundational ethical theories, with a particular focus on their application to pressing environmental challenges. Students will engage with major philosophical frameworks—such as utilitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics—gaining a deep understanding of how these theories approach questions of right and wrong, also from a metaethical perspective. By critically examining these frameworks, students will learn to apply ethical principles to real-world cases, with a particular focus on environmental issues, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable resource management.

In this minor you will learn to:
• Explain different approaches about the nature of morality;
• Explain the primary ethical theories (e.g., utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics);
• Compare various ethical theories by analyzing how each theory addresses different ethical dilemmas;
• Apply ethical theories to real-world environmental challenges;
• Evaluate the strengths and limitations of each theory in guiding environmental practices;
• Identify relevant societal partners that should be engaged in the solutions to the relevant environmental challenges.
• [additional learning goals are still in development]

The minor consists of two modules:
Module 1: Ecophilosophy
Module 2: Moral Philosophy and Environmental Practices

Teaching methods

• In-person interactive lectures and tutorials;
• Close reading sessions in which students learn to read primary and secondary philosophical texts,
• Through discussions, case studies, and reflective assignments, students will assess the strengths and limitations of each ethical framework, with a focus on addressing ethical action in the face of global ecological crises.

Teaching material
Materials consist of a combination of theoretical texts while also putting concepts from the literature into practice by addressing transdisciplinary problems. Students will study both primary and secondary literature, and in the module ‘Moral Philosophy and Environmental Practices’ lectures are supplemented by online videos by the lecturers.

Method of examination
Both modules in the minor consist of a combination of tests (100%). They will consist of written assignments and (midterm and final) examinations with open questions.

Composition final grade:
The final grade is the average of the grades for the two separate modules. Both modules need to be completed with an average grade of 5,5 or higher.