THIS IS A DOUBLE-WORKSHOP.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WORKSHOP TAKES PLACE ACROSS TWO WEEKS FOR A TOTAL OF SIX CLASS MEETINGS.

This workshop introduces young readers to seven great thinkers who explore the nature of our obligation to the natural environment. Is the current environmental crisis our fault? How did it happen? Why is it so hard to solve? Is vegetarianism the answer? Is technology the answer? Students will learn about the concepts of natural selection, the tragedy of the commons, deep ecology, speciesism, and net zero, among others.

This workshop uses the novel Geode as the basis for study. Students will read three to four chapters of this novel in advance of each class meeting. Note that the students will need to have read the first three chapters before the first class meeting. (See the full schedule below.)

Class Meetings: 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Dates:
– 1st Week: August 5th, 6th, 7th (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
– 2nd Week: August 12th, 13th, 14th (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)

Materials: Students will need to purchase the book Geode: A Novel about Environmental Ethics.

STUDENTS: Please read the assigned chapters of the novel by the dates listed below. The group will be discussing and debating the questions pertaining to each set of chapters in the “Explore More” section at the back of the novel in the class meetings.

Aug. 5 (Tuesday)
Geode, Chapters 1-3 and pp. 124-129 (Darwin)
Aug. 6 (Wednesday)
Geode, Chapters 4-6 and pp. 130-136 (Leopold)
Aug. 7 (Thursday)
Geode, Chapters 7-9 and pp. 137-143 (Hardin)

Aug. 12 (Tuesday)
Geode, Chapters 10-11 and pp. 144-151 (Naess)
Geode, Chapters 12-15 and pp. 152-159 (Singer)
Aug. 13 (Wednesday)
Geode, Chapters 16-17 and pp. 160-167 (Mathews)
Aug. 14 (Thursday)
Geode, Chapters 18-20 and pp. 168-177 (Gates)