INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

COURSE DOCUMENTS

NOTE:  Change to syllabus - review date on Tuesday, April 23rd, has been changed to Thursday, April 18th. There is no class on Tuesday, April 23rd.  Final exam remains on Thursday, April 25th.  

EXTRA WORK:  DUE Thursday, April 18th

Part 1

(If you are feeling stressed out – that is the time to do this activity)  Dress warmly and comfortably.  Go outside and find a place in nature away from any signs of human made environments.  E.g. go for a walk in the woods or on the beach.  Find an object in nature.  Contemplate this object for at least 15 minutes, either comfortably standing or seated.  Take a few deep breaths and clear your mind of thoughts pertaining to your everyday life.  If such thoughts come to mind just let them pass through your mind.  Maintain your focus on the object and then observe what comes to mind without judging these thoughts. 

After allowing thoughts to simply pass through your mind, consider what does this object tell you about your own life, and what does it tell you about your connection or relationship with nature.  For your journal describe your experience of your contemplation of nature.  Comment on what connections/relationships you have with nature that arose from this contemplation.  What does this tell you about your life and your feelings for the natural environment.

Part 2

Where do you find yourself in terms of the Human Exemptionalism/Exceptionalism Paradigm and the  New Ecological Paradigm (you can do a search on these terms on the internet if you need more explanation of ideas)?  Comment using many of the descriptors of each paradigm, and provide an explanation as to why.  If need be, distinguish between your beliefs/attitudes/feelings and your behaviour (exercise done in Tuesday’s class with environmental questions can help you with this).  Use this to discuss how you value non-humans (consider all other life forms including air, water, insects, mammals, etc...) as compared with humans.  What criteria do you use to make your decision, i.e. what is the basis for your decision – spirituality, biology, technology, family, etc...  Be detailed in exploring this issue. 

Revised: October 11, 2002 .