IEP 511: Environmental Decision Making

AWAYMAVE - The Distance Mode of MA in Values and the Environment at Lancaster University

Environmental Decision Making

Assessment

The course work for this module is in the form of an essay of 5,000 words (max) and this is due in on the 18th April at the latest. I hope that the web contributions you make will be the starting point or dry runs of material for essays and would certainly encourage you to use them in this way. If you would like to submit a portfolio of web contributions and a 3,500 word essay please do so. Further advice on portfolios can be found on the distance learners home page under assessment.

If you would like feedback on an essay plan please send it to me in plenty of time for you to make use of the comments.

Please note there is a penalty of 5 marks for work that is seriously overlength (seriously overlength is defined as more than 10% longer than the maximum or guidline length).

I have given some essay questions below, you are welcome to make suggestions of alternatives, but please consult me first before getting too far into something.

Essay questions
Is there anything objectionable about putting market prices on environmental goods?

Does cost-benefit analysis offer an ethically justifiable procedure for making environmental policy?

How useful is the concept of ‘sustainable development’ for understanding our obligations to future generations?

Is environmentalism compatible with liberalism?

Does deliberative democracy offer a defensible procedure for environmental policy making?

Can future generations and non-humans be adequately represented in current decisions that will affect them?