Syllabus
American Conservation Philosophy and its Critique

Contact Information

Course Description

In this course we study the philosophy and practice of American land conservation. We begin with an historical overview of philosophical views regarding nature and the human relation to it. This background will allow us to turn knowledgably to the principle philosophies of US public land management, i.e., the preservationist conception, the sustainable use conception, and the ecological management conception. As we will see from a review of federal publics lands management agencies, these philosophies guide and underlie the management of America's vast federal public lands system. We will conclude the class with an examination of important critiques of American conservation philosophy from indigenous American and non-American scholars.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this class, students will be able to:

Course Structure and Readings

Unit One: Historical Background
  The modern understanding of land and animals
    15 May 2017 — 1:30pm - 2:15pm
    The Concept of Property
      Reading:   John Locke – "On Property"
      Reading Questions
    15 May 2017 — 2:25pm - 3:10pm
    The Machine Theory of Life
      Reading:   René Descartes – The Beast-Machine Theory
      Reading Questions
  Competing conceptions of nature
    18 May 2017 — 3:30pm - 4:15pm
    Nature / Artifact
      Reading:  John Stuart Mill – "Nature"
      Reading Questions
    18 May 2017 — 4:25pm - 5:10pm
    Creation
      Reading:  Pope Francis – Laudato Sí (24 May 2015)
      Reading Questions
  First Exam - Historical Background
Unit Two: Conservation Philosophies
  Origins
    22 May 2017 — 1:30pm - 2:15pm
    Conservation as Preservation
      Reading:   John Muir – Selected Readings
      Reading Questions
    22 May 2017 — 2:25pm - 3:10pm
    Conservation as Sustainable Development
      Reading:   Gifford Pinchot – The Fight for Conservation, excerpted
      Reading Questions
  Aldo Leopold's Ecological Ethic
    25 May 2017 — 3:30pm - 4:15pm
    The Idea of a Land Ethic
      Reading:   Leopold – The Land Ethic
      Reading Questions
    25 May 2017 — 4:25pm - 5:10pm
    Collaborative Conservation
      Reading:   Leopold – Selected Readings
      Reading Questions
  Second Exam: Conservation Philosophies
Unit Three: US Public Lands Agencies; Critical Responses
  Public Lands Protection in the U.S.
    27 May 2017 — 1:30pm - 2:15pm
    The US Federal Public Lands Management System
      Reading:   Agencies
      Reading Questions
    27 May 2017 — 2:25pm - 3:10pm
    The Wilderness Act
      Reading:   The Wilderness Act
      Reading Questions
  Critical Responses
    01 June 2017 — 3:30pm - 4:15pm
    An International Critique: Guha
      Reading:  Guha – Radical American Environmentalism
      Reading Questions
    01 June 2017 — 4:25pm - 5:10pm
    An Indigenous Critique: LaDuke
      LaDuke – "Traditional Ecological Knowledge"
      Reading Questions
  Third Exam: U.S. Conservation & Critique

Grading

There will be three exams, one at the conclusion of each unit. Each exam will cover material solely from that unit, and each will constitute 1/3 of the total course grade.

Students can improve the grade received on an exam by one letter grade. Bring your exam to office hours no later than 7 days from original deadline. We will work together to improve the English presentation of your ideas on the exam. Any student who does this will receive an automatic 10% grade improvement, including those whose exams earned ≥ 90%. You may only use this option if you originally submitted your exam on Friday.

If my office hours are not convenient for you, please contact me (bob.sandmeyer@uky.edu). Please indicate some times convenient for you in your email. We can easily arrange a time convenient to us both.