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SOC301

SOC301 : The Class : Introduction : Welcome : Welcome

Environment and Society

Welcome to Environment and Society

Welcome to SOC301 “Environment and Sociology.” I am very excited to teach this course as I have a strong passion for understanding our relationship to the natural world. I am concerned that our society fosters an artificial disconnection with the natural world and that this disconnection is at the root of the immense environmental problems we find ourselves facing. This course will explore our personal and societal relationships to the environment and it is my hope that if you are not already deeply committed to the health of our planet, by the end of this course you will be motivated to help maintain a healthy world.

What I have written above holds some critical assumptions that you should be aware of:
1. I have a particular point of view and see myself in relationship to the “environment” in a particular way. This is NOT the ONLY way. You should be conscious of the specific perspective that I take and realize that this is only one perspective (one that is dynamic, changes and evolves as I learn more). I encourage you to critically think about the way others perceive the environment and the way you yourself perceive the environment.

2. I interchange the words environment, natural world, planet, earth, world, etc. I find that as I try and speak about the “environment” I find no adequate word because it always seems that I am speaking about something that is “outside of me.” I have not yet found the language to speak of the natural world in a way that does not make it seem as if I am not a part of nature. This is a crucial problem as I see it. We are highly disconnected from the planet (which we are in fact part of) and our language seems to maintain this disconnection.

3. Studying sociology is not an end in itself. I believe that theory needs to be connected to practice. In other words, I hope that through studying about the environment from a sociological perspective, you will be inspired to continue to make positive contributions to maintaining a healthy world and you will seek to understand what you as an individual can do to make a difference.

4. I approach this course from a sociological perspective. Your knowledge of environmental studies and nature in general will be useful and important. I encourage you to explore your knowledge through a sociological lens. Be sure to carefully review the lesson, “What is Sociology?” and complete the assignment “Using Sociological Concepts to Understand Environmental Issues.”

Objectives:
1. Introduce yourselves.
2. Understand the course design.
3. Learn about the sociological perspective.

To complete this Topic successfully, please complete the following activities in the order shown below:

CHAT: Who am I?