ADPL 1810 Special Topics: Our Common Home: Philosophies of Ecology
This course is a journey through the diverse landscape of ecological thinking as shaped by diverse world philosophical systems. " Our Common Home: Philosophies of Ecology" delves into the intersections of ecology, philosophy, religion, and cultural perspectives to unravel the intricate relationships between humans and the natural world. The title, and course, emphasize the bond of responsibility between human communities as the home we share. The title, and course, also emphasize that earth is the common home not just between human beings, but also between humans and all other plants and animals. The word ecology means literally the study of home. The way we think and feel about our home shapes how we interact with it, and how we relate to one another within it. The course will feature diverse readings from ancient philosophy and religion, to poetry and literature, to contemporary articles in ecological science. Our efforts to understand the various ways of thinking about ecology will take us around the world and down through history.
Course overview
- Department
- Advancing Studies
- School
- ADV
- Credits
- 4
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Periodically
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.61 / 5 · Excellent
- Instructor rating
- 4.73 / 5 · Excellent
- Terms evaluated
- 2
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Eric Severson | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 7–9 hrs/week | 8 of 18 |
| Fall 2024 | Eric Severson | 4.8 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.4 | — | 12 of 17 |