RR1

READ:

Suzuki, THE SACRED BALANCE: “Prologue” (pp 17-18 only); “Ch 1: Homo Sapiens” (pp 19-23 and 37-49 only).

Suzuki, Chapter 2: “The Breath of all Green Things” (all)

Suzuki, Chapter 3: “The Oceans Running Through our Veins”. You may SKIP the following pages if you wish:

• • p. 84-5
  • p. 87
  • p. 96-100
  • p. 113

Suzuki, The Sacred Balance: “Made from the Soil” (all)

 

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS*

* you are NOT required to submit responses to these questions, but you SHOULD take notes for yourself and be able to answer these after completing each reading. You will use your notes and insights from these questions to develop your Reading Responses (due every 2 weeks in the quarter), so it’s important to take notes as you work through the readings. 

 

First read
1. Suzuki’s book chapter discusses several factors in modern Western culture that have created a sense of disconnection from the natural world. Identify at least two.

2. One of Suzuki’s central goals is to promote “a new kind of science that approaches the traditional knowledge of indigenous communities” (47), and to refute the notion of human separateness from our environment. He elaborates on this goal on pp 17-18 and 47-49.  How does Suzuki use the four sacred elements from the indigenous worldview (earth, air, water, fire) to make this point about the interdependence of all life with larger planetary elements and functions?

3. What did you learn from Suzuki’s video clip about the way air connects us? Did you notice any discussion touching on the concept of “intrinsic value”?
4. Willott/Schmidtz: familiarize yourself with these concepts from the essay: Anthropocentrism, Biocentrism, Moral Standing

 

Second read

1. In Chapter 2(p. 53-4 hardback edition), Suzuki writes that North Americans “created a powerful myth of the primacy of the individual, free to act and move as an independent entity, But from a biological point of view, this myth is mistaken… We are not completely independent and autonomous: when we look carefully at the interactions at every level between our bodies and the elements that surround us, we see how completely we are embedded in air, all of us caught together in the same matrix.”
   What are a few examples he uses in Chapter 2 to support this argument? (please avoid vague notions – your response should demonstrate that you’ve absorbed specific detailsfrom chapter 2, so focus on the actual scientific phenomena he discusses)
2. Using Chapter 3(“The Oceans Running through our Veins”), identify three ways that human life remains dependent on water and fluids.

 

Third Read

1. 1. Suzuki explains that soil is not some dead or inert substance (mere “dirt”), but rather an infinitely complex living community. What points or details from this discussion would you cite to convince someone of the truth of this claim?

   Life itself was central to the process of creating this planet’s original soil (as it was also central to creating our atmosphere!) Explain a few key details of the process by which life itself (ie not rain, volcanoes, etc)helped create Earth’s early soils.

 

 

 

 

Students will write a response to the assigned readings, films and other course materials covered since the last reading response. This is a place for you to record your thoughts about what we’re learning, and further develop the methods of philosophical analysis we will practice in class.  Assessment will be based on evidence that you have remained engaged in class and used each entry to develop your critical thinking, philosophic and ethical perspectives, and understanding of the issues and debates.

 

INSTRUCTIONS

Review the materials assigned so far and write a ~650 word response (longer entries are OK) that touches on the most important ideas/points from *EACH* day. High-scoring responses will integrate concepts from most or ALL assigned materials (although there may be some occasional discussions where you don’t incorporate the smaller/secondary readings or media if you already covered the concepts in analyzing the primary/first reading from that day). At a minimum you must address the “main” reading (the first one listed in the module) for each day. And to earn an especially high score, you should also touch on the smaller/secondary pieces on the list for that day as well.

 

What do I write about?

Reading responses should record your thoughts and interpretations about what we’re reading, and further develop the methods of *PHILOSOPHIC* and *ETHICAL* analysis we’re practicing in class. What you choose to focus on is ultimately up to you, but it should be based on the assigned material, and ideally trace connections (or contrasts) between those materials. Please go beyond just summarizing the readings to really dig into the implications and philosophic dimensions of the issue. Assessment will be based on evidence that you have remained engaged in class and used each entry to develop your critical thinking, philosophic and ethical perspectives, and understanding of the issues and debates.

Before writing your entry, you might consult the reading comprehension questions (on the daily Canvas modules) that correspond to materials you discuss. While it will be helpful to take these into consideration, you are *NOT* required to respond directly to these Canvas questions; feel free to expand on issues you find personally interesting and share your unique perspective on them. Also keep in mind that strong philosophic writing often does NOT reduce an issue down to simpler terms, but rather expands on its complexity and ambiguity, revealing additional perspectives, philosophical insights, and possibilities within that work. Responses that engage complexity and nuance in these debates will generally earn a higher score.

 

REQUIREMENTS (grades will be based on these elements)

• Length: ~650 words (longer entries are OK too!)
• Include materials covered in the last 2 weeks. Choose as least the “primary” reading (the first one listed in the module) for EACH day. This means there will be a minimum of 4 items included if we’ve had 4 full class modules since your last submission. High-scoring responses will integrate concepts from most or ALL assigned materials (although there may be some occasional discussions where you don’t incorporate the smaller/secondary readings or media if you already thoroughly covered the concepts in analyzing the primary/”main” reading from that day).
• Take a philosophic or ethical approach to analyzing the material, rather than just summarizing it or focusing on scientific/technical aspects. Remember this is a class on ETHICS, so you should think and write like a philosopher!
• Try to trace connections (or contrasts) between the different materials, rather than discussing different issues for each reading/film featured in your essay.
• Posts should give specific evidence that you completed and understood the week’s assigned materials. This means directly responding to details from the reading (or podcast or film) so I know you completed it. Entries that do not specifically refer to points, arguments, quotes or scenes in the material, but simply lapse into generalizations or personal opinions, will receive a low score.
• You may include personal reflections & experiences related to the topic, but these should not displace the assigned reading.

• Demonstrate that you have remained engaged in class discussions but also developed your own, original thoughts
• You do NOT need to include full citations (bibliography) since these are class materials I’m already familiar with, but if you insert a direct quote, please just include the page number.