Ecofeminism: Phil. Practice

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This course explores the relationship between feminism and environmental philosophy and questions the traditional association and devaluation of women and nature in patriarchal culture. An intersectional approach will give us the opportunity of understanding the link between the destruction of the environment, sexism, racism, classicism and colonialism. We will discover the ways in which feminists help us conceive of less predatory epistemologies of nature, re-think Western ontology centered on the human being, imagine new ethical relationships with any form of life, and explore spiritualities profoundly connected to the world around us. Ecofeminist literature will allow us to approach some important theoretical debates both in environmental and feminist studies while rereading major definitions and theories of nature in Western philosophy from Renaissance to contemporary philosophers. It will also lead us to debate very concretely the ways in which we can challenge our daily lives to start taking action. Among the questions that we will ask: What is the relationship between environmental crises and the oppressions of women across the world? How has patriarchal culture alienated us from our bodies and our link to other natural beings? Is ecofeminism relevant in order to address issues such as climate change? Why is the witch such an important figure in ecofeminist mythologies?