Content of Learning Activity

The class “Anthropology of Nature” provides students with a global view of the various ontologies of the natural world as well as on past and current approaches built by Human Sciences in that field. It familiarizes students with the environmental policies, seeking them to adopting a critical stance wit reference to their actual impact on man and the environment. The class is divided into three lessons:  Lesson 1:      Ontologies of Nature: How has the idea of Nature been thought of by human societies?  Lesson 2:      Interface Society/ Environment, interactions and respective influences, theoretical approaches: Ecological and mental determinism (Cultural Ecology, Structuralism) ; homologies between man and its environment (Ethnobiology), Traditional Ecological Knowledge (Ethnoecology) Lesson 3:      Anthropology of Environmental Policies: how do Human Sciences understand and assess public policies (Political Ecology, Green Ecology)? How do social scientists advocate for respecting the ‘having rights’ in terms of access to land and resources while those can be hardly impacted by the implementation of such policies?  Pedagogical approach combines pure transmission with analysis of emblematic texts, conferences (of PhD students from CAC-ULB on their research) and readings (articles or abstracts).     

Required Learning Resources/Tools

Not applicable

Recommended Learning Resources/Tools

Not applicable

Other Recommended Reading

Cf. French version

Mode of delivery

• Face to face

Type of Teaching Activity/Activities

• Cours magistraux
• Conférences

Evaluations

The assessment methods of the Learning Activity (AA) are specified in the course description of the corresponding Educational Component (UE)