Unit 1: Introduction to Ecological Thinking
Part I. Graded Assignments
a. 5 Reflections (see Guidelines to Writing Reflections) and 1 Guest Reflection (Heartland Humane Society and and Animal Rights Activist)
b. Unit test (September 28)
c. Read The Ten Trusts and write a book reflection based on the following two questions. Due October 2.
1. Provide a brief biography of Jane Goodall and Marc Bekoff.
2. Summarize each of the ten "trusts" identified in the book. In addition, identify what was, for you, the most startling fact or statistic about each trust. Also identify at least one positive new action you could take to be more animal-friendly with regards to each of these trusts.
II. Syllabus
Reflection 1 (Due September 11)
Read Mental Models
Read Dialogue
1. Write a general response to the website reading Mental Models. (See Guidelines to Writing Reflections)
2. Give an example of how mental models are important, positive aspects of how we interpret the world. Explain.
3. Give an example of how mental models are negative aspects of how we view the world. Explain.
4. Give an example of a mental model you have. Is it positive, negative or neutral? Explain.
5. Take a situation from your own life and describe what occurred in terms of the ladder of inference. Propose an alternative ladder and possible outcome.
Reflection 2 (Due September 11)
Watch video: The Natural History of the Chicken
1. Before watching the video The Natural History of the Chicken, describe your mental model of chickens. Include answers to the following questions.
a. What are the conditions under which you believe most chickens are raised for food? Do they live outside? Inside? Explain.
b. Do chickens have personalities?
c. Do chickens have the ability to reason?
d. Do chickens have emotions?
e. Any other comments/observations?
2. After watching the video, describe any modifications, additions or deletions you have to your mental model of chickens. Explain.
3. Write a general response to the video. Did you like it? What did you learn? Will it change how you look at the world? Explain.
Reflection 3 (Due September 14)
Read Systems Theory
Activity: Systems Game
Read Wolves Reshape Yellowstone National Park
PowerPoint: Wolves in Yellowstone
Read Gaia Theory
Read Deep Ecology
1. Write a general response to Systems Theory. Describe your experience in the Systems Game.
2. Describe how the removal of wolves displayed a lack of understanding of systems, and the impacts on the ecology of Yellowstone when the wolves were reintroduced.
3. Write a general response to the article on Gaia Theory. Do you agree with any or all of the theory? What did you learn? Will it change how you look at the world? Explain.
4. Briefly explain Deep Ecology. Do you agree with this ecological philosophy? Explain. Will it change how you look at the world? Explain.
Reflection 4 (Due September 17)
Watch video: Unknown World
1. Write a general response to the video Unknown World. Did you like it? What did you learn? Will it change how you look at the world? Explain.
2. Read the following statements and decide which ones you agree with and which ones you don’t. Explain.
3. Decide which statements most closely represent a deep ecology/ecocentic world view and which represent a traditional ecology/anthropocentric world view. Explain.
A. “Plants exist for the sake of animals, and brute beasts, for the sake of man - domestic animals for his use and food, wild ones (or at any rate most of them) for food and other accessories of life, such as clothing & various tools…since nature makes nothing purposeless or in vain, it is undeniably true that she has made all animals for the sake of man.” - Aristotle
B. “We are the absolute masters of what the earth produces. We enjoy the mountains and the plains. The rivers are ours. We sow the seeds and plant the trees. We fertilize the earth. We stop, direct and turn the rivers; in short, by our hands and various operations in this world we endeavor to make it, as it were, another nature.” - Cicero
C. “The soul is the same in all living creatures although the body of each is different.” - Hippocrates
D. “To arrive at knowledge is highly useful in life, and thus render ourselves the lords and possessors of nature.” - Rene Descartes
E. “Animals experience neither pleasure nor pain, nor anything else. Although they may squeal when cut with a knife or writhe in their efforts to escape contact with a hot iron, this does not mean that they feel pain in these situations. They are governed by the same principles as a clock, and if their actions are more complex than those of a clock, it is because the clock is a machine made by humans, while animals are infinitely more complex machines, made by God.” - Descartes
F. “It was Washoe [the chimpanzee] who taught me that ‘human’ is only an adjective that describes ‘being’, and that the essence of who I am is not in my humanness but in my ‘beingness’.” - Roger Fouts
Reflection 5 (Due September 27)
Read Biophilia (HW Sep 13)
Read Ahimsa (HW Sep 13)
Read Animal Times/Best Friends (HW Sep 14)
Read Early Animal Protection Advocates
Read Excerpt from Marc Bekoff's book
Read Animal Welfare
1. Is there a place in nature that is special to you? Why is it special? Do you have a favorite animal? Do you have a favorite pet?
2. What is biophilia in your own words? Do you agree with the premise of biophilia? Explain.
3. What is ahimsa in your own words? Do you think ahimsa is an important attitude/practice? What do you think about Gandhi’s role in advocating for ahimsa? Explain.
4. Give two examples of how you practice ahimsa in your own life. Give two examples of how you might increase your practice of ahimsa.
5. Do you think it is important to care about and advocate for both human and animal welfare? Explain.
6. Do you think animals have emotions? Do you think they have reasoning ability? Explain.
7. Provide a general response to these articles. Did they provide new information? Did they change the way you look at the world? Did they reinforce ideas or beliefs you already had? Explain. Where possible draw connections between these articles and those on deep ecology.
Week 4
Guest Speaker Reflection due September 28: Heartland Humane Society and Animal Rights Activist
5 reflections due no later than September 28
Unit 1 Test September 28
The Ten Trusts reflection due October 2