Programs

HUMANS AND NATURE: MORAL DILEMMAS OF PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

Why protect the environment? A lecture by Paul Wapner introduces two perspectives: the anthropocentric, which favors conservation for the quality of human life; and the biocentric, which considers the well-being of all things, plants and animals as well as humans. Wapner explores these two positions and how they have informed contemporary debates about environmentalism. Adult audiences.

Paul Wapner is Associate Professor of International Politics in the School of International Service at American University. He is the author of Environmental Activism and World Civic Politics as well as numerous articles and conference papers. He holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Politics from Princeton University.