Walking the Talk: Philosophy of Conservation On The Isle of Rum

Abstract

AbstractThis paper describes our experience of teaching environmental ethics as part of a Philosophy of Conservation field trip to Rum, off the West coast of Scotland. The field trip was formalised into an M. A. Module in 1999. After outlining the educational aims of the module, and how these are implemented in this setting, we indicate some of the key issues in ethics and aesthetics that emerge as we explore two specific conservation sites. We close with a reflection on the value of experiential education in this area, and the importance of combining experiential, emotional and intellectual engagement in any exploration of normative issues.