This examination counts as twenty percent (20%) of your grade. You will be asked to write two (2) essays, each worth ten (10) points, with a maximum possible of twenty (20) points. At the start of the examination we will list the "names" of at least four (4) questions from which you must choose two (2). Please print out this document, put your name on it, and bring it (without notes written on it) to the examination for reference. It will be collected at the end of the examination.
Be sure to bring a blue book with you to the examination.
1. Naturally no help in answering the questions may be received from anyone (except yourself) during the examination. The work you hand in should be your own work.
2. Undergraduate students: You may bring with you to the examination one (1) 3" x 5" card (crammed as full as you care to make it) of notes to use during the examination. You may use any abbreviations or diagrams on the card you find helpful (as well as English, of course). You may not use any unusual aids (e.g., magnifying glass, microfiche reader) during the examination to read the card. (Your usual spectacles and contact lenses are not "unusual aids.") No other books or notes may be used during the examination. What appears on the card you bring to class should be your own work. Each person should be the "author" of his or her own card. One exception: you may include quotations from the textbook or from any overhead posted on the course website. Everyone who uses such a card must hand it in with the examination with her or his name clearly on it. (The card does not have to be legible otherwise--just so you can read it.) The card will not be used to help determine a grade for the examination. (So on the examination don't say "see point 6a on the card".) We will return these cards to you if and when you come to pick up your graded examination.
| "Name" | Question |
|---|---|
| GMO | Explain the potential benefits of genetically modified organisms in agriculture. What environmental problems, if any, can use of GMOs solve? How, if it all, can GMOs help to alleviate world hunger? Critically discuss. |
| Ho-Holy | Mae-Wan Ho talks of an "unholy alliance." What is this alliance she speaks of? What is her worry (or worries) about it? What does she propose be done? Critically discuss. |
| Bhopal | Explain what happened at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal. Did Union Carbide (or other parties do anything morally wrong which led to this disaster? If so, what? Explain. What can be done to ensure that such disasters do not happen in the future? Critically discuss. |
| Religion | Several authors have explored perspectives on environmental ethics from religious standpoints, particularly non-western ones. Explain one of these non-western perspectives and how it would approach issues in environmental ethics. Give examples. Critically discuss. |
| Rees-Cap | William Rees suggests a "new paradigm" for exploration of environmental issue, one which speaks of "capital." Explain his model. How does he argue that, given this model, sustainable development is possible. Explain and critically discuss. |
| SagCon | Mark Sagoff distinguishes viewing people as "consumers" and viewing them as "citizens." Explain the distinction he draws and how it affects how he proposes social decisions should be made. Critically discuss. |
| SagCBA | Mark Sagoff critiques cost benefit analysis as way of making public decisions. Why? Explain in detail and critically discuss. |
| Monkey | Dave Foreman lays out several "principles" he proposes for a "campaign of resistance" against the "machine destroying natural diversity." Explain his principles. Critically discuss his proposal/principles. |
| Convenience | Explain Pojman's "Convenience Machine." Would it be wrong to allow such a convenience machine to be used? Why or why not? Critically discuss. |
| Ad-Para | How, according to Durning, is advertising like a parasite? Explain his analogy. In what way is advertising bad for the environment? Critically discuss. |
| CSR | Explain ways in which companies could be more "socially responsible" in regard to the environment. Be specific. Offer and explore several examples of things actual companies could do (or perhaps some that some actually are doing) which would help the environment. |
| Bike | Explain the advantages to the environment of bicycling as transportation. Explore hurdles that need to be overcome in order for our society to reap these benefits. That is to say, what is preventing people from improving the environment though bicyling and how might these obstacles be overcome? |
| Present | Consider a student presentation for the class, other than your own (and one not addressed in another question on this exam). Offer a brief summary of the presentation. Then offer critique and/or development of your own concerning the issues raised. |