HUM 109 Environmental EthicsMEF UniversityDegree Programs LawGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy Statement
Law
Bachelor Length of the Programme: 4 Number of Credits: 240 TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF: Level 6

ECTS Course Information Package

School/Faculty/Institute Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences
Course Code HUM 109
Course Title in English Environmental Ethics
Course Title in Turkish Çevre Etiği
Language of Instruction EN
Type of Course Flipped Classroom
Level of Course Introductory
Semester Spring
Contact Hours per Week
Lecture: 3 Recitation: 0 Lab: 0 Other: 0
Estimated Student Workload 126 hours per semester
Number of Credits 5 ECTS
Grading Mode Standard Letter Grade
Pre-requisites None
Co-requisites None
Expected Prior Knowledge None
Registration Restrictions Only Undergraduate Students
Overall Educational Objective To acquire a critical understanding of: (a) the primary reasons that led to the development of environmental ethics as a field of philosophical inquiry, including the relationship between environmental ethics and traditional normative ethical theory; (b) key concepts, issues and debates within environmental ethics, as well as the primary positions associated with these debates and reasons for and against holding these views; (c) the “unthought” in “first generation” environmental ethics, and attempts to address these omissions; (d) the relationship between environmental ethics and sustainability.
Course Description How should human beings relate to the natural world? Do we have moral obligations toward nonhuman animals and other parts of nature? And what do we owe to other human beings, including future generations, with respect to the environment? This course will examine such questions in light of some of our current ethical theories: considering what those theories suggest regarding the extent and nature of our environmental obligations; and also whether reflection on such obligations can prove informative about the adequacy of our ethical theories. Later in the course we will use the tools that we have acquired to tackle various ethical questions that confront us in our dealings with the natural world.

Course Learning Outcomes and Competences

Upon successful completion of the course, the learner is expected to be able to:
1) understand the fundamental theories environmental ethics;
2) evaluate scientific and philosophical articles in relation to the research methods and theories employed;
3) exhibit confidence comprehending English and communicating it in a scientific and philosophical manner;
4) create new research ideas;
5) discuss psychological and philosophical theories and research in the correct ethical format.
Program Learning Outcomes/Course Learning Outcomes 1 2 3 4 5
1) The ability to recognize and apply basic principles and theories of law, legal methodology, and interpretation methods.
2) The ability to follow, evaluate, interpret and apply the current developments and legislative amendments.
3) The ability to locate and use legal resources; to follow and evaluate current legislative amendments, legal science, and court decisions.
4) The ability to internalize social, scientific and ethical values while evaluating legal information.
5) The ability to recognize, examine and resolve legal issues with respect to general principles of law, de lege feranda and de lege lata; to take into consideration both national and international aspects of law; and to acknowledge the importance of personal conviction while making decisions.
6) The ability to critically analyze legal disputes, legislation, court decisions and different views in the legal science; to form his/her own opinions; to detect legal lacuna and suggest alternative solutions.
7) The ability to understand issues regarding different fields of law; to characterize and propose solutions to complex issues arising from legal practice.
8) The ability to participate in and organize legal projects and activities as a socially responsible individual; to put his/her legal knowledge and skill to use efficiently (in the public or private sector).
9) The ability to use a foreign language at least on a B2 Level on the European Language Portfolio, to follow legal developments and communicate with colleagues in that language; to use computer software and information and communication technologies necessary in the law field at an Advanced Level of the European Computer Driving License.
10) Adoption of a positive approach to the concept of lifelong learning.
11) The ability to understand the development, evolution, and problems of the society and to contribute to the solution of these problems by legal methods.
12) The ability to understand the structure, organization, and functioning of law on the national and international level; to contribute to the development thereof.

Relation to Program Outcomes and Competences

N None S Supportive H Highly Related
     
Program Outcomes and Competences Level Assessed by
1) The ability to recognize and apply basic principles and theories of law, legal methodology, and interpretation methods. S
2) The ability to follow, evaluate, interpret and apply the current developments and legislative amendments. N
3) The ability to locate and use legal resources; to follow and evaluate current legislative amendments, legal science, and court decisions. N
4) The ability to internalize social, scientific and ethical values while evaluating legal information. S
5) The ability to recognize, examine and resolve legal issues with respect to general principles of law, de lege feranda and de lege lata; to take into consideration both national and international aspects of law; and to acknowledge the importance of personal conviction while making decisions. N
6) The ability to critically analyze legal disputes, legislation, court decisions and different views in the legal science; to form his/her own opinions; to detect legal lacuna and suggest alternative solutions. N
7) The ability to understand issues regarding different fields of law; to characterize and propose solutions to complex issues arising from legal practice. N
8) The ability to participate in and organize legal projects and activities as a socially responsible individual; to put his/her legal knowledge and skill to use efficiently (in the public or private sector). N
9) The ability to use a foreign language at least on a B2 Level on the European Language Portfolio, to follow legal developments and communicate with colleagues in that language; to use computer software and information and communication technologies necessary in the law field at an Advanced Level of the European Computer Driving License. S
10) Adoption of a positive approach to the concept of lifelong learning. H
11) The ability to understand the development, evolution, and problems of the society and to contribute to the solution of these problems by legal methods. N
12) The ability to understand the structure, organization, and functioning of law on the national and international level; to contribute to the development thereof. N
Prepared by and Date SENA CÜRE ACER , December 2023
Course Coordinator BANU FEMİR GÜRTUNA
Semester Spring
Name of Instructor

Course Contents

Week Subject
1) General intro I
2) General intro II
3) Some introductory issues in environmental ethics
4) Toward legal rights for natural objects
5) Does the climate have standing?
6) QUIZ
7) Agriculture and the environment
8) Can the oceans be harbored?
9) A guardian for future generations?
10) Midterm
11) DOCUMENTARY
12) Reflections on sustainable development
13) How to heal the planet
14) An environmental case
15) Final examination period
16) Final examination period
Required/Recommended ReadingsA reading packet which contains required readings assembled from various sources.
Teaching MethodsThis course will use a flipped format. Students will prepare for class by watching videos and reading about the skills they will develop in that week’s classes. During class time, students will work together on ungraded exercises to develop those skills. Students will work alone or in groups according to their preference, and according to that week’s subject matter.
Homework and ProjectsStudents will complete three graded assignments, each worth 30% of the total grade. They will give a brief independent presentation of a journal article; they will write one short essay on an assigned topic; and they will write a research report describing the findings of a brief class experiment.
Laboratory WorkNone
Computer UseStudents will be expected to use appropriate information technology both in preparation time, and during class hours. They will need to search for and read online resources and articles, work together on class exercises, and prepare their assignments.
Other ActivitiesNone
Assessment Methods
Assessment Tools Count Weight
Attendance 1 % 10
Quiz(zes) 1 % 20
Midterm(s) 1 % 30
Final Examination 1 % 40
TOTAL % 100
Course Administration acers@mef.edu.tr

Attendance at all classes is compulsory. Students arriving 15 min. late will not be allowed to join that class. In case of missing an exam, students must provide an acceptable and documented excuse. Make-up exam will be held for the missed exams. Students are expected to treat university staff and others respectfully at all times. The commitment of acts of cheating, lying, and deceit in any of their diverse forms such as plagiarism, and copying during examinations will not be tolerated and will be punished according to YÖK and university regulations. Academic dishonesty and plagiarism: YÖK Disciplinary Regulation

ECTS Student Workload Estimation

Activity No/Weeks Hours Calculation
No/Weeks per Semester Preparing for the Activity Spent in the Activity Itself Completing the Activity Requirements
Course Hours 16 2 2 2 96
Project 1 9 9
Quiz(zes) 1 10 10
Midterm(s) 1 9 2 11
Total Workload 126
Total Workload/25 5.0
ECTS 5