Technology, Human Values and the Environment

Undergraduate

An exploration of the philosophically important ethical concepts of human nature, freedom, progress, the good life, moral responsibility, and the environment as these relate to advances in technology. Topics may include: pollution, mass production, the commodification of nature, new technologies (e.g., biotechnology, nanotechnology). PHIL 2300. Indigenous Philosophy of the Americas An introduction to the philosophical thought associated with the narratives, culture, and traditions of the Indigenous people in North, Central, and South America. Topics include (but are not limited to): creation stories, Indigenous responses to European ‘discovery,’ legal reasoning concerning indigenous people/communities, subjects of scientific examination, indigenous epistemology, environmental concerns, identity, activism, and the effects of colonialism (such as residential schools, land allotment/reserves, the 60’s Scoop, and cultural appropriation.) (Prerequisite: Semester 3 standing.)