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Philosophy of Ecology PHIL 5010.001 Graduate-Level Seminar Course

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Philosophy of Ecology PHIL 5010.001 Graduate-Level Seminar Course Philosophy of Ecology PHIL 5010.001 Graduate-Level Seminar Course INSTRUCTORS: Dr. J. Baird Callicott, environmental philosopher ([email protected]) & Dr. Christopher B. Anderson, ecologist ([email protected]) CLASS SESSIONS: Tuesdays, 6:00-08:50 pm. Wooten Hall (WH) 213 Environmental Education, Science, and Technology Building (EESAT) 345 OFFICE HOURS (EESAT 310M): Monday & Wednesday 3:30-5:00 and by appointment (JBC); Friday 2:00-5:00 and by appointment (CBA). OBJECTIVE: To explore the history of ideas in ecology and their implications for research and applications in the field of ecology itself, the associated fields of environmental ethics and conservation biology, and how they relate to broader society. TEXTS: Texts used in the course will include the following books (to be purchased) and PDFs of peer-reviewed literature (to be provided on Blackboard). 1. Robert P. McIntosh, The Background of Ecology: Concept and Theory (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986) 2. Leslie A. Real and James H. Brown, Foundations of Ecology: Classic Papers with Commentary (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991) 3. Frank B. Golley, A History of the Ecosystem Concept in Ecology: More Than the Sum of Its Parts (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1993) EVALUATION AND REQUIREMENTS: 1. (30%) Weekly reading quiz. Five-item multiple-choice / true – false quiz on each week’s reading assignment. 2. (40%) Term paper. Together with the instructors, each student will select a topic of relevance to the philosophy or history of ecology and elaborate a term paper or “review-type” article of 6000-8000 words. In the latter case, an extensive bibliographic search will be used to determine trends in the study of a particular topic. Format and content will be discussed further in class. Deadline for definition of topic and proposal is due March 13; the finished paper is due May 1. 3. (30%) Seminar presentation, discussion leadership and participation in class. Each student will make a presentation (approx. 15 min) on a particular week’s topic. Presentation format (such as using PowerPoint, hand outs, or other approaches) can be individually decided to summarize and contextualize the week’s topic, provide a brief synthesis of the readings, and introduce questions to initiate and lead the subsequent discussions. Students are expected to ask questions, and express themselves creatively and concisely. Ways of earning credit for class participation include being prepared to contribute positively to class discussion of the assigned readings. Contributing positively requires having read and, as thoroughly as possible, understood the assigned readings and at least being able to raise important questions, if not provide definitive answers. Unauthorized absences will negatively affect participation grade. INSTRUCTOR’S ATTENDANCE POLICY Attendance is mandatory. Students are responsible for preparing ahead of time and attending all class sessions. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis, per the university attendance policy http://policy.unt.edu/policy/15-2-5 (e.g., religious holidays, call to active military duty and a certified sickness by a medical professional). ACADEMIC DISHONESTY POLICY: www.vpaa.unt.edu/academic-integrity.htm ODA STATEMENT: The University of North Texas is on record as being committed to both the spirit and the letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 – The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens. DROP/ADD POLICY: www.essc.unt.edu/registrar/schedule/scheduleclass.html TENTATIVE SCHEDULE: January 17. Introduction to course and texts (JBC). Lecture on paradigms in science and the ‘sociology’ of science (CBA) o F. Pajares, “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn: A Synopsis” (pdf) January 24. The Emergence of Ecology: From Natural History to ‘Hard’ Science McIntosh, Background of Ecology, Preface, Ch. 1-2 (pp. ix - 68). Case study of how ecosystem ecology was part of moving ecology to ‘hard’ science: o Golley, History of the Ecosystem Concept, Chapters 3-4, Transformation and Development and International Biological Program (pp. 61-140). Real and Brown, Foundations of Ecology, Article 10, by Cole (pp. 238-272). January 31. The Superorganism Paradigm in Ecology McIntosh, Background of Ecology, Ch. 3 (pp. 69 - 106) Real and Brown, Foundations of Ecology, Articles 1 and 3, by Forbes (pp. 14-27) and Clements (pp. 59-97), respectively. J. Phillips, “Succession, Development, the Climax, and the Complex Organism: An Analysis of Concepts Part III. The Complex Organism: Conclusions” (pdf) February 7. The Community Paradigm in Ecology C. Elton, Animal Ecology, Author’s Prefaces, chs. I, V, VI, VIII (pdf) McIntosh, Background of Ecology, Chs. 4-5 (pp.107-192). Real and Brown, Foundations of Ecology, Articles 9 and 17, by Hutchinson (pp. 225- 237) and Hairston et al. (pp. 357-361). S. P. Hubbell, “Neutral Theory in Community Ecology and the Hypothesis of Functional Equivalence” (pdf). February 14. The Ecosystem Paradigm in Ecology Real and Brown, Foundations of Ecology, Articles 15, 7, 40, and 27 (in that order) by A. G. Tansley (pp. 318-341), R. L. Lindeman (pp. 157-176), G. E. Likens, et al., (880-904), E. P. Odum (pp. 596-604), respectively. McIntosh, Background of Ecology, ch. 6 (pp. 193-241) Golley, History of the Ecosystem Concept, Chapters 2 and 5 on origins and impact February 21. Implications of Community and Ecosystem Ecology in Environmental Ethics C. R. Darwin, Descent of Man, ch. 4 (pdf) A. Leopold, “The Land Ethic” (pdf) J. B. Callicott, “Holistic Environmental Ethics and the Problem of Ecofascism” (pdf) Real and Brown, Foundations of Ecology, Article 27 by E. P. Odum (pp. 596-604) P. Shepard, “Ecology and Man: A Viewpoint” (pdf) J. B. Callicott, “The Metaphysical Implications of Ecology” (pdf) February 28. The Implications of Philosophy on Ecology: Reductionism versus Organicism Real and Brown, Foundations of Ecology, Paper 4 by H. A. Gleason, (pp. 98-117) D. Simberloff, “A Succession of Paradigms in Ecology” (pdf) McIntosh, Background of Ecology, ch. 7 (pp. 242-288) H. Cahen, “Against the Moral Considerability of Ecosystems” (pdf) R. P. McIntosh, “The Myth of Community as Organism” (pdf). March 6. The Flux of Nature Paradigm in Ecology L. Brubaker, “Vegetation History and Anticipating Future Vegetation Change” (pdf) P. S. White and S. T. A. Pickett, “Natural Disturbance and Patch Dynamics: An Introduction” (pdf) S. T. A. Pickett and P. S. White, “Patch Dynamics: A Synthesis” (pdf) S.T. A. Pickett and R. S. Ostfeld, “The Shifting Paradigm in Ecology” (pdf) S. T. A. Pickett, V. T. Parker, and P. L. Fielder, “The New Paradigm in Ecology: Implications for Conservation Biology Above the Species Level” (pdf) C. Kay, "Are Ecosystems Structured from the Top Down or Bottom Up: A New Look at an Old Debate" (pdf) J. B. Callicott, “From the Balance of Nature to the Flux of Nature: The Land Ethic in a Time of Change” (pdf) March 13. The Diversity-Stability Hypothesis A. Leopold, “Conservation: In Whole or in Part?” (pdf) R. MacArthur, “Fluctuation of Animal Populations and a Measure of Community Stability” (pdf) Real and Brown, Foundations of Ecology, Paper 16 by G. E. Hutchinson (pp. 342- 356) D. Goodman, “The Theory of Diversity-Stability Relationships in Ecology” (pdf) Real and Brown, Foundations of Ecology, Article 38, Paine (1966) C. L. Lehman and D. Tilman, “Biodiversity, Stability, and Productivity in Competitive Communities” (pdf) S. Naeem, “Biodiversity Equals Instability” (pdf) K. S. McCann, “The Diversity-Stability Debate” (pdf) March 20. Spring Break March 27. Ecology’s Role in the Emergence of Conservation Biology Real and Brown, Foundations of Ecology, Article 39, Simberloff & Wilson (861-879) E. O. Wilson, “The Biological Diversity Crisis” (pdf) M. Soulé, “What is Conservation Biology?” (pdf) C. Meine et al., “’A Mission-driven Discipline’: The Growth of Conservation Biology” (pdf) S. Sarkar, . “Defining ‘Biodiversity’; Assessing Biodiversity” (pdf) J. B. Callicott, Larry B. Crowder, and Karen Mumford, “Current Normative Concepts in Conservation” (pdf) H. Rolston III “Duties to Endangered Species”(pdf) J. B. Callicott, “Conservation Values and Ethics” (pdf) April 3. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning: the Role of Species in Ecosystems C. G. Jones et al. “Organisms as Ecosystem Engineers” (pdf) S. Naeem and J. P. Wright, “Disentangling Biodiversity Effects on Ecosystem Functioning: Deriving Solutions to a Seemingly Insurmountable Problem” (pdf) M. Vanni et al., “Stoichiometry of Nutrient Recycling by Vertebrates in a Tropical Stream: Linking Species Identity and Ecosystem Processes” (PDF) K. Jax, “Function versus Functioning” A. Caliman et al., “The Prominence of and Biases in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function Research” April 10. Socio-Ecology and Coupled Nature-Human Systems P. Vitousek et al., “Human Domination of the Earth’s Ecosystems” (pdf) J. Liu et al., “Complexity of Coupled Human Nature Systems” (pdf) M. Acevedo et al. “Models of Natural and Human Dynamics in Forest Landscapes: Cross-site and Cross-cultural Synthesis” (pdf) W. J. Sutherland, “Parallel Extinction Risk and Global Distribution of Languages and Species” (pdf) H. Haberl et al., “From
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