In this class, we will join the ongoing conversation about contemporary ecological challenges and the moral concerns they evoke. We will explore philosophical methods, religious traditions, and activist stances, and examine controversies over ethical approaches and their significance. We will read classic articles in the field of environmental ethics along with recent writings in a variety of genres. Videos as well as field trips to local sites will provide living examples for discussion. Students will practice debate, write their own philosophical statements, and work collaboratively to construct persuasive messages in verbal and other media. Along the way, we will consider how architects, designers, artists, and writers contribute to the conversation through the materials, methods and messages of their creative work.