Ethics in Plant and Environmental Sciences (Note: one edition per year in person; one online)

Course description

The moral domain has traditionally been understood as limited to humans and animals, specifically focusing on sentient beings. However, in recent decades, this boundary has been expanding to include plants and the broader.
This shift acknowledges that many moral dilemmas arise beyond the sphere of human and animal life, while remaining tightly linked to their well-being. Critical issues such as transgenic crops, pesticide use, and deforestation exemplify these challenges. These are further compounded by broader environmental crises, including ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change.

Scientists often encounter moral challenges and dilemmas in their professional life. Successfully navigating these requires an understanding of the origin of key moral concepts and principles, along with the ability to apply them thoughtfully within the scientific context.

This course explores how societal and cultural values influence our understanding of plant life and the environment. It also addresses the ethical dilemmas encountered when conducting research in plant and environmental sciences. Participants will engage in hands-on activities to analyse the ethical, philosophical, and societal dimensions of scientific inquiry. This approach not only equips participants with tools for ethical reasoning but also fosters a deeper appreciation of the essential, yet often underestimated, role of plants in the biosphere and human history.

Through interactive lectures, discussions, case studies, and practical exercises, participants will:

• explore the philosophical and societal dimensions of plant ethics, including the concept of plant blindness and its implications.
• examine the ethical frameworks applicable to plant and environmental sciences.
• critically reflect and explore basic moral concepts and ideas
• critically assess the arguments for plant & environmental ethics
• deliberate about several practical ethical questions: (e.g. deforestation; environmental restoration)
• reflect on their role as scientists in relation to societal/ethical debates

We recommend taking this course in combination with Research Integrity (RI), which focuses on key principles of good science and good scientific conduct, and on (ways of coping with) integrity tensions.

General Information

Programme

1. Introduction to plant ethics

2. Introduction to plant-blindness

3. Group assignment + pitch presentation

4. Deforestation + group discussion

5. Introduction to environmental ethics

Fee

Fee includes study and training material, coffee/tea and lunch.

In person version:

In the first part of the year we organise the in person version of this course. We encourage people who are in Wageningen when the course takes place, to partake in the in person version.

Online version

We organize one online version of the course in the second half of the year. We only allow participants for this online version of the course that are working abroad at the time the course is given. We encourage people who are in Wageningen to join the in person version.

Cancellation condition

You may cancel free of charge up to four weeks before the start of the course. After this date you will be charged the University fee. Unless:

• You can find someone to replace you in the course and supply the course coordinator with the name and contact information of your replacement.
  In this case you will only be charged a € 50,- cancellation fee.
• You (PhDs and postdocs of Wageningen University) have a valid reason to cancel (illness or death in the family 1st or 2nd degree).
  In this case you will be charged the reduced fee and your supervisor/PI must send a mail indicating the reason for cancellation.

Information

For more information please contact Anouk de Plaa: anouk.deplaa@wur.nl