Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2024 - HUM 360 B100

Special Topics: Great Themes in the Humanistic Tradition (4)

Ecological Grief & Radical Hope

Class Number: 5429

Delivery Method: Blended

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 8 – Apr 12, 2024: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An interdisciplinary study of a selected theme that has made a lasting contribution to the humanistic tradition in more than one field of endeavour(e.g. philosophy, politics, literature,economics, religion). This course may be repeated once for credit. Students who have credit for a course with this content under another Humanities course may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

Ecological Grief and Radical Hope

Sometimes it is hard to bear the bad news. As carbon concentrations rise, we are seeing more flooding, extinction, intense wildfire, disease, and perhaps most concerning of all despair and apathy.  

This transformative and contemplative seminar will cover heavy topics and students are invited to bring their feelings about the current crisis to this experience as we navigate not only the issues causing increases ecological distress but explore ways to address and live with uncertainty in troubled times.  

Contemplative 

Because the course covers distressing material, we will start each class with ten minutes of intentional collective silence as a contemplative spiritual practice oriented not toward prayer or meditation but grounding ourselves in our bodies and the present moment to be connected to our pain and the pain of the world.  

Transformative  

Transformative learning is designed to invite students into personal growth through the material. The course is not expected to change your life, but we will approach the material as students and human beings. You are invited to explore the material from whatever perspective and growing edges you may bring to the learning community.  

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • Examine the current state of the planet and global civilization.  
  • Explore the causes and symptoms of ecological anxiety and grief.  
  • Understand and critique the paradigms that are emerging to respond to ecological anxiety and grief.  
  • Define and explore the ways that hope is fueling.

Grading

  • Weekly Reading Reflections 20%
  • Field Journals (x4) 20%
  • Final Project (Presentation and Essay) 50%
  • Community Engagement Assignment 10%

NOTES:

  • Great and Inspiriting Ideas mini-presentation (No graded)  
  • Ecological Anxiety and Grief Assessment (x2) (Not graded) 

This course counts towards a certificate in Religious Studies.

This course also counts toward the following Global Humanities concentration:

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Ernest Callenbach, Ecotopia (1975).   

LaUra Schmidt with Aimee Lewis Reau and Chelsie Rivera, How to Live in a Chaotic Climate (2023).


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html