1. Introduction of students, professors, course structure and philosophy.
• What (if any) are the ethical responsibilities of human beings for the natural environment?
• What is the role of science in the environmental debate?
• Is scientific research value-neutral?
• Is evolution over?
• Does “nature” have intrinsic value?
• Are there ethical principles that constrain how we use resources and modify our environment?

2. The Interface Between Science and Society.
A case history approach that will demonstrate:
• Examples where science and society are in harmony [e.g., the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the active Meers Fault in Oklahoma];
• Examples where they are not [e.g., the asbestos debate];
• The dynamics of advocacy [e.g., the Sierra Club and “Big Oil” ; the Sierra Club and Disney; “Should trees have legal standing?”].

3. Cultural Perspectives on the Environment.
This seminar will contrast the dominant “western” perspective on the environment and those of other cultures. In particular:
• We will present the views of the Cherokee people [a discussion led by Professor Larry Adam];
• The Celtic world, including a viewing of TCU’s copy of the Book of Kells [providing a preview of the Skye Experience];
• The dynamics of the conflict between individualism and ecocentrism will be introduced.

4. The Nature of Scientific Inquiry I
A case history approach that will, in the first of two seminars, present the classic Popperian methodology of science from formulation of a problem in its context to presentation of results. [Soil erosion will be highlighted as a case history.]

5. The Nature of Scientific Inquiry II
An extension of the previous seminar that will examine the impact of deep (i.e., geological) time on scientific procedure. The contrast between “human time” (and expectation) and “earthly time” will be used to establish some of the limits on scientific predictability. The importance of appreciating the consequences of variation in the rates of change shown by overlapping natural systems will be introduced. [The concept of uniformitarianism will be demonstrated by reference to work on 500 million year old limestones.]

6. Climate I
The first of two seminars that will present an integrated view of weather and climate as an example of the complexity of natural systems, emphasizing the difficulties of prediction in such systems. [The seminar will start with a video of Dr. Slattery as a weather anchor in Southern Carolina and progress to an analysis of “instantaneous” climatic phenomena (“weather”) and short term cyclicity.]

7. Climate II
The second seminar examines long term changes in climate, focussing on the concepts of “Greenhouse” and “Icehouse” earth, introducing long term cyclic patterns (e.g., “Milankovitch” cycles) and concluding with an examination of the case for anthropomorphic global warming.

8. Natural Systems
An overview of natural systems operating on the planet, involving:
• A satellite perspective (“The View from Space”);
• The principles of ecosystem structure and dynamics providing insights into such questions as “Why are big animals rare?” and “Do little things run the world?” • Case history - Dr. Donovan and Professor Ray Drenner debate “Lakes - Ancient and Modern”.

9. Cycles
The importance of cyclicity in natural systems, expanding on the thoughts developed in the climate seminars to include chemical cycles (e.g., carbon, phosphorous) and geologic cycles (e.g., erosional cycles, the rock cycle).

10. Randomness/Order/Change
An examination of vectored processes in nature, discussing evolution, both in the broad non-aminate sense and in the more restricted biological sense. Highlighted topics will be:
• The origin of life;
• Milestone in organic evolution;
• The great extinctions;
• A critique of the Gaia concept.

11. The Coming of the Humans
The rise of Human Beings and their societies, in particular:
• The evolutionary record;
• The genetic inheritance ( four million years of nomadic behavior);
• The causes of the development of communities of stability [stabilizing sea levels at the end of the last glacial period, the development of agriculture].

12. The Land Ethic
The growth of subsistence-driven agricultural communities [case history: the dynamics of the Megalithic communities of northwestern Europe]. The principle theme of the seminar will be to trace the connections between population growth, Malthusian prediction, the Agricultural Revolution and the promise of modern commercial agriculture.

13. The Land Ethic - the Down Side I
Two seminars will deal with the unintended consequences and societal problems that have arisen as a result of human interference with the balance of natural systems. The first seminar will deal with:
• The loss of biodiversity [case histories; Hawaii; Madagascar; Europe; the Mediterranean Sea].

14. The Land Ethic - the Down Side II
The second Down Side Seminar will focus on:
• Agricultural pollution [case history: Department work on Lake Worth];
• Deforestation [case histories: Brazil and Oregon];
• Land degradation [case histories: lessons from the dust bowl, the Aral Sea].

15. Man - the Energy Glutton and his Faustian Bargains
The final seminar will develop a holistic view of the energy needs and sources of mankind, contrasting the views and priorities of North and South.