BRIANNE DONALDSON
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Problems of Evil and Suffering
PHILOS 123 / REL St 103
Fall 2022


Class time/location: M/W 2:00–3:20; Steinhaus Hall 128 (map here)

DISCUSSION SECTIONS
Mondays, HICF 100L (map here)
Section 1: 4:00–4:50pm / Section 2: 5:00–5:50pm 

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Professor: Brianne Donaldson — [email protected]
Office Location HIB 56; map here (lowest level & end of the hall)


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 Graduate Teaching Assistant: Evan Sommers — [email protected]
Office Location HIB XXX; map here (lowest level & end of the hall)


DESCRIPTION

In this class, we will examine the problems of evil and suffering in cross-cultural philosophical perspectives, including prominent and marginal theories and responses. These include examples from Buddhist philosophy, Jain karma, the Hebrew Bible, Existentialist, Stoic and Darwinian views, among other varied perspectives addressing race, class, gender, and animal suffering. We will attempt to logically evaluate each view while retaining empathic proximity. We will reflect on the experience of suffering and death as it relates to the pursuit of a meaningful life and discuss what the problem of evil can positively generate for the future of philosophical, religious, and social reflection.

STUDENT LEARNING GOALS

  1. Distinguish key concepts within various accounts of evil and suffering (such as theodicy, karma, natural evil, moral evil, logical problem of evil, evidential problem of evil, etc.)
  2. Identify features of theistic and non-theistic accounts of evil and suffering.
  3. Contrast western and karmic/alternative accounts of evil and suffering through two short essays​​
  4. Reflect on their own inherited beliefs through evolving inqu​​iries

OPENING RECITATION

​"Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid."
—Frederick Buechner (pronounced Beek-ner)
1926–2022; American writer, novelist, poet, autobiographer, essayist, Presbyterian theologian

STUDENT VISITING HOURS: COME SEE US! (Fall 2022)

Visiting hours are a time especially for you. You are very welcome.
Where to find my office: 
Humanities Instructional Bldg, Lowest level, Room #56 (Philosophy Dept; map here). Visiting hours start Week 2, October 3, 2022.
​

Brianne's visiting hours
  • Monday noon–1pm; in person
  • Other times by appointment and Zoom (link here); just contact me (note that I often don't check email after 6pm)
  • When writing to me, please include a greeting such as "Hi _____" or "Dear _____" so I feel like a means to your success as well as my own end; I will endeavor to do the same for you.
Evan's visiting hours 
  • Tuesday 11–1pm: https://uci.zoom.us/j/4712620027
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REQUIRED TEXTS 

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Tex, a cat who lets me live with her, keeping the readings organized.
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The Problem of Evil: Selected Readings, Second Edition by Michael Peterson
  • SBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0268038473
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0268038472
  • Buy online $20–35

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Death (the Art of Living) by Todd May
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1844651649
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1844651641
  • Available here or buy online $25–30

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 The Buddha and the Terrorist by Satish Kumar
    •  ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8183282814
    •  ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8183282819
    •  Buy online $3–10 (various cover designs; all ok)

POLICIES

​ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance will begin the third week of class, after the drop/add deadline (Oct. 7, 2022). After this date, all students can miss two classes without penalty. On the third absence, students will receive a one-time 3-point deduction, and an additional 3-point deduction for every absence thereafter. If you have an extended illness, extended family emergency, or extended immigration-related issue, please contact me as soon as you are able to and we will discuss a plan going forward. *Also, if something has kept you from reading or feeling prepared for class, please still come. You can always “pass” in discussion. So long as this is not a regular occurrence, your engaged presence will still benefit you, your peers, and our collective work.

ADD/DROP DEADLINES
Students may DROP or ADD a course through 5:00 p.m. on Friday of the second week of classes October 7, 2022; click here.
  
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AND PLAGIARISM
We are here to do the hard work of learning together. Academic dishonesty erodes this goal and your own self confidence, and is a serious academic offense that can result in failing a paper, failing the class, and academic dismissal from the university. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism (copying words, phrases, or ideas from other authors/sources without giving citation credit), copying answers from another student, allowing another student to copy your answers, communicating exam answers to other students during an exam, attempting to use notes or other aids during an exam, or tampering with an exam after it has been corrected and then returning it for more credit. These actions are a violation of the UCI Policies on Academic Honesty . It is your responsibility to read and understand these policies. Note that any instance of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Integrity Administrative Office for disciplinary action and is cause for a failing grade in the course.
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS
All of us have different abilities, strengths, and challenges with learning. Students who believe they may need accommodations to succeed in this class are encouraged to register online with the Disability Services Center (or call 949-824-7494) as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. This can include priority test-taking, seating preference, transportation, document conversion, among many other possible accommodations. Also, please feel free to meet with me to discuss any ways I can make any aspect of the classroom, materials, or assignments more accessible. 

UCI MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND RELATIONSHIP VIOLENCE PHONE LINES (24-HRS/DAY)
UCI has several free resources and services to support well-being and safety. Click here. ​​
FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITY
​Any student who has difficulty affording groceries or accessing sufficient food to eat every day, or who lacks a safe and stable place to live, and believes this may affect their performance in the course, is urged to contact the FRESH Basic Needs Hub and the Basic Needs Coordinator, Andrea Gutierrez, at [email protected]. Also, please notify me if you are comfortable doing so. This will enable me to inform you of resources that might be of help.

FIRST GENERATION SUPPORT!
Check out the School of Humanities' first-generation services here, including incoming seminar, peer mentor program, and more. 
 
TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM
Disciplined use of devices for note taking or looking up information relevant to an immediate discussion in class is welcome. Checking out cat memes, texting, and personal email, while tempting, is not. It is evident to everyone when a colleague is checked out of class and into their device, and it lessens what the class can be as a whole. I prefer to leave this disciplined restraint to you, but will address it myself if needed. I will do my best to facilitate an active learning environment whenever possible. 

LATE WORK POLICY 
The late policy will begin after the drop/add deadline of October 7, 2022. There is a one-hour grace period on all assignments, except online quizzes, which must be completed by class time. After the drop/add deadline, late assignments of up to 40 points will receive a one-time 3-point deduction; late assignments over 40 points will receive a one-time 5-point deduction. All work is due by the last day of the final exam.
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ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

1. Personal Reflection on Evil and Suffering (8 points) [4%]
2. Monday Canvas Quizzes (Best 6 of 8; 36 possible points) [16%]
3. Wednesday Question Sets (Best 5 of 8; 30 possible points) [14%]

4. Two Short Essays (40 points each; 80 points total) [38%]
5. Final Exam (60 points) [28%]
6. Discussion section participation (1 extra credit point per class, up to +10)
Total Points 214

1. ATTENDANCE
For Mon/Wed Lecture: See attendance policy in above "Policies" section (2 free absences; -3 points every absence thereafter)
For Monday Discussion Sections: +1 point for every attendance 


2. WEEK 1 PERSONAL "SNAPSHOT": MY PRESENT VIEW ON EVIL AND SUFFERING  (8 points)
Open worksheet here
snapshot_reflection_on_evil___suffering.docx
File Size: 13 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

3.  CANVAS QUIZZES (Best 6 of 8 will count)
Complete on Canvas by Monday class time

Description: Starting the Monday of Week 2, and seven Mondays after, student will complete a short, open-book 6-point quiz of terms and ideas for that day's readings. Student can do all 8 quizzes and drop lowest to scores or skip 2, for a total of 6. These quizzes build our vocabulary for class discussions and understanding. The quizzes will also provide content and questions for a portion of the final exam. I will endeavor to have these quizzes posted each Saturday at noon. 

4. WEDNESDAY QUESTION SET WORKSHEETS (Best 6 of 8 will count) Use Provided Worksheet Below
Upload to Canvas by Wednesday class time 

Description: Starting Wednesday Week 2 and seven Wednesday after, students will have an opportunity to complete a Question Set Worksheet. Student can do all 8 Question Sets and drop lowest two scores or skip 2, for a total of 6.  
  • Question sets help prepare you for your written essays and final exam
  • When videos are assigned to watch, do NOT include these in summary worksheets
Description: Starting Week 2 and seven Mondays after, students will have an opportunity to complete a Summary Worksheet. Of these 8 Mondays, students must complete 6 such worksheets. 
Grading: These will be graded in two sections: 3 points for citations using the Bedford Handbook and 3 points for the question sets. 
Question Set Worksheet, Evil&Suff.docx
File Size: 20 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

5. TWO SHORT ESSAYS
Upload to Canvas (dates TBD)

Description: Two short essays (3.5-4.5 pages, not including Works Cited) double-spaced, 12-point font. Essays will include Works Cited and in-text citations. Essay prompts will be emailed to all students and and found here
Essay 1 Prompt; Evil&Suff.docx
File Size: 15 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

Essay 2 Worksheet, Evil&Suff.docx
File Size: 22 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

6. Final Exam, Details TBD
Final Exam Study Guide (evil and suff, Nov. 2022).docx
File Size: 17 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

This is a basic Canvas grading guide
GRADE                            
A+      100--96.5%
A.     < 96.5--93.5%
A-     < 93.5--90.0%
B+    < 90.0--86.5%
B      <86.5--83.5%
B-     < 83.5--80.0%
C+    < 80.0--76.5%
C      < 76.5--73.5%
C-     < 73.5--70.0%
D+    < 70.0--66.5%
D      < 66.5--63.5%
D-     < 63.5--60.0%
F       < 60.0--0.0%

RESOURCES: 5 WAYS TO TAKE NOTES AND BEDFORD CITATION GUIDE 

5 methods for taking notes in reading and in class
Bedford Handbook for In-text Citations and Works Cited (helpful guides on p. 4 and p. 10)

 WEEKLY SCHEDULE ​(and tips for class preparation)

​Dear Students,
Your presence, participation, and growing confidence and skills are important to me this quarter. Here are some thoughts:
  • Readings and videos listed in the below schedule should be completed BEFORE coming to class (unless noted by "in-class"). 
  • Remember that many new ideas come cumulatively over time. Be patient with yourself and know that feeling a little lost or unclear is part of the process of learning something new. Feel free to raise questions in class, send me or Evan a message, or let's meet if you want to gain clarity. 
I'm looking forward to our time! BD​

TIPS FOR CLASS PREPARATION:
  • Take reading notes. See "Resources" section above for a quick overview of 5 different approaches to note taking; or ask your friends how they do it
  • Trouble following a reading? That's okay. Here are some alternatives to walking away exasperated:
    • Pick one or two terms in the reading and look them up independently using online sources and just try to understand that term in its context; sharing this info in class will be edifying for us all
    • Pick one figure named in the reading and look them up independently as in previous point . . . sharing this info in class will be edifying for us all
    • Read the opening paragraph and see if you can identify the main point/s that will be covered
  • Short on time? Here are some alternatives to skipping class for not doing readings: 
    • Read the opening paragraph and see if you can identify the main point/s that will be covered
    • Read the section heading and the closing paragraph
    • "Pass" in class discussion; a rare "pass" is perfectly acceptable so long as it does not happen regularly​​​​

Week 1​

1a Monday, Sept. 26
Welcome discussion
No assigned reading today 


Assignments
Together we will start your Personal Reflection on Evil and Suffering Worksheet​
Snapshot Reflection on Evil&Suff Worksheet.docx
File Size: 13 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

1b Wednesday, Sept. 28
Considering Mortality 
  • Read for class, Death, Ch 1, by Todd May
Assignments
None

Week 2

​2a Monday, Oct. 3
Identifying the Problem in the Hebrew Bible
  • The Problem of Evil (TPE): "Job's Complaint and the Whirlwind's Answer (pdf below in case book hasn't arrived)
  • Watch before class: The Problem of Evil (Crash Course Philosophy; 10min)
Assignments
  • Quiz 1: Complete on Canvas before class
  • Upload on Canvas: Personal Snapshot on Evil and Suffering (if you haven't already)
Graduate Reading (not for undergrad students)
  • Meet or email with professor to discuss research and quarter goals
Job's Complaint
File Size: 2539 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

2b Wednesday, Oct. 5
Identifying the Problem in Literature
  • Ankit Garg, LinkedIn "Covid-19 and the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake"
  • TPE: Voltaire, "The Lisbon Earthquake"
  • TPE: "Rebellion," Fyodor a
  • "How Should Dostoevsky and Tolstoy Be Read During Russia's War Against Ukraine?" by Ani Kokobobo at The Conversation
Assignments
  • Upload Question Set Worksheet 1 to Canvas (you will use the below worksheet every time)
Question Set Worksheet, Evil&Suff
File Size: 10 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

Week 3

3a Monday, Oct. 10
Three Traditional Philosophical Responses
  • TPE: Aquinas, "No Evil Comes from God"
  • TPE: Leibniz, "Best of All Possible Worlds"
  • TPE: David Hume, "Evil Makes Belief in God​ Impossible"
  • Watch: Alvin Plantinga's "Free Will Defense" video (3.5 minutes)
Assignments:
  • Quiz 2: Complete on Canvas before class
  • In class: Go over Essay 1 Rubric (due Friday, October 28, 2pm)
​​Graduate Reading (not for undergrad students)
  • TPE, John Sanders, "God, Evil, and Relational Risk"
 3b Wednesday, Oct. 12
​
Stoicism and Existentialism
  • Seneca, "Moral letters to Lucilius" Letter 67. On ill-health and endurance of suffering"
  • Viktor E. Frankl, excerpt from Man's Search for Meaning: An Introduction to Logotherapy (pdf below; p. 16–91; *this is more pages that I typically assign but it reads more quickly as a personal memoir; pay special attention to those things that provide meaning in Frankl's narrative)
​​
Assignments
  • Upload Question Set Worksheet 2 to Canvas
mans-search-for-meaning.pdf
File Size: 6543 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Week 4

4a Monday, Oct. 17
Afterlife or This Life?
  • TPE: John Hicks, "Soul-Making Theodicy"​
  • Todd May, Death, Ch 2
  • Take a look: Pew Research Center, Views of the Afterlife (U.S. Adults)
​​​​​Assignments
  • Quiz 3: Complete on Canvas before class
Graduate Reading (not for undergrad students)
  • Mohammed Ghaly, "Evil and Suffering in Islam" (pdf below)
Ghaly, Evil, Suffering, Islam.pdf
File Size: 683 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

4b Wednesday, Oct. 19  
Living with Death and Suffering
  • Todd May, Death, Ch 3
  • Jason Mahn, excerpt Neighbor Love Through Fearful Days: Finding Purpose and Meaning in a Time of Crisis, p. xxvi–xxix; 8-12 (pdf below)
  • Read in class: Giorgios Magakis, "A Drop of Blood" (pdf below)
​​​Assignments:
  • Upload Question Set Worksheet 3 to Canvas
Mahn, Neighbor Love excerpt.pdf
File Size: 2870 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Mangakis, Drop of Blood.pdf
File Size: 373 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Week 5

5a Monday, Oct. 24
Evolutionary Account

"Darwin’s World of Pain and Wonder: On the great scientist’s spiritual torment" by Algis Valiunas
"'A Zombie' Creature Maligned by Charles Darwin Could Save Millions" by 
Dylan Miller and Shelly Adamo
Assignments
  • Quiz 4: Complete on Canvas before class
Graduate Reading (not for undergrad students)
  • TPE, David O'Connor, "Theism and Gratuitous Natural Evil
5b Wednesday, Oct. 26
Suffering in Black Theology
  • Anthony B. Pinn, Why Lord?: Suffering and Evil in Black Theology, "Introduction" and "Ch 1: Spirituals as an Early Reflection on Suffering" (pdf below)​
Assignments
  • Upload Question Set Worksheet 4 to Canvas
  • Essay 1 due Friday, October 28, 2pm
Pinn, Why Lord? (Intro & Ch 1).pdf
File Size: 10971 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Week 6

6a Monday, Oct. 31  
Feminist Accounts of Evil
  • Rosemary Radford Ruether, "Dualism and the Nature of Evil in Feminist Theology" (pdf below) 
​Graduate Reading (not for undergrad students)
  • Beverly Clack, ​"Feminism  and  the Problem of Evil"​ 
Assignments
  • Quiz 5: Complete on Canvas before class
R. Radford Ruether, Evil in Feminist Theology
File Size: 990 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

​6b Wednesday, Nov. 2
Animal and Ecological Suffering
  • Peter Singer, "The Significance of Animal Suffering" (p. 9–12; pdf below)
  • Michael Marder, "Do Plants Have Their Own Form of Consciousness" 

If anyone is interested in these themes, you are welcome to attend an online conference I'm hosting this weekend Nov. 3-5 called "Knowing Life: The Ethics of Multispecies Epistemologies". Sessions/speakers/titles can be found here. Free registration is here. 

Optional reading for those interested in an alternate theodicy view or contemporary issues in animal harm
Peter Harrison, "Theodicy and Animal Pain" (pdf below)
Matthew Halteman, "Varieties of Harm to Animals in Industrial Farming" (pdf below)

​Assignments
  • Upload Question Set Worksheet 5 to Canvas
Singer, The Signif. of Animal Suffering
File Size: 9884 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Halteman, Varieties of Harm in Industrial Agriculture.pdf
File Size: 733 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Harrison, Theodicy and Animal Pain.pdf
File Size: 1343 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Week 7

 7a Monday, Nov. 7
Animal and Ecological Suffering​
  • Val Plumwood, ​"Prey to a Crocodile" ​​
  • Brian G. Henning and Hope Philea Henning, "Logos, Pathos, and the Absent Presence of the Persons We Eat" (pdf below)
Graduate Reading (not for undergrad students)
  • Cora Diamond,"The Difficulty of Reality and the Difficulty of Philosophy" (pdf below)
Assignments
  • Quiz 6: Complete on Canvas before class
Henning & Henning, Logos, Pathos.pdf
File Size: 684 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

cora_diamond_difficulty_of_reality.pdf
File Size: 2358 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

7b Wednesday, Nov. 9
South Asian Perspectives: Karma, Suffering, and Evil
  • Excerpt from Karma, by Johannes Bronkhurst, Introduction, Ch 1 and 2 (approx. 30 pages; pdf below)
  • Read in class C.S. Lewis, "The Inner Ring"
Assignments
  • Upload Question Set Worksheet 6 to Canvas
  • Go over Essay 2 Rubric (due Monday, Dec. 5, 2pm)
Bronkhorst, Karma, Intro & Ch 1-2.pdf
File Size: 11471 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Week 8

8a Monday, Nov. 14
South Asian Perspectives: Jainism, Violence and Nonviolence
  • Padmanabh S. Jaini, "Ahiṃsā: A Jaina Way of Spiritual Discipline" (pdf below)
  • excerpt from the Jain text Ācārāṅga-sūtra (pdf below)
​Assignments
  • Quiz 7: Complete on Canvas before class
​Graduate Reading (not for undergrad students)
  • Anne Vallely, "Vulnerability, Transcendence, and the Body: Exploring the Human/Nonhuman Animal Divide within Jainism" (pdf below) 
P. Jaini, Ahimsa: A Jaina Way.pdf
File Size: 5341 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Vallely, Vulnerability, Transcendence.pdf
File Size: 575 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Ācārāṅga-sūtra, Ch 1 excerpt, annotated (Evil&Suff).pdf
File Size: 4031 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

8b Wednesday, Nov. 16
South Asian Perspectives: Jainism and Suffering 
  • Kristi L. Wiley, "The Nature of Nature: Jain Perspectives on the Natural World" (pdf below)
  • JAINA, "Jain Declaration on the Climate Crisis"​
Assignments
  • ​Upload Question Set Worksheet 7 to Canvas
Wiley, The Nature of Nature.pdf
File Size: 6166 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Week 9

9a Monday, Nov. 21 
South Asian Perspectives: Buddhism and Suffering
  •  Peter Harvey, "Dukkha , Non-Self, and the Teaching on the Four “Noble Truths”, p. 26–39; stop at "The Third and Fourth True Realities"  (pdf below)
  • The Buddha and the Terrorist​ (this is a very small story book with little-sized pages), Prologue, p. 7-17; Introduction, p 20-21, Ch 1-2, p. 23-45
​​​​​Assignments
  • ​Quiz 8: Complete on Canvas before class
Graduate Reading (not for undergrad students)
No additional reading; please focus on the Harvey readings.
Harvey, Dukkha, Non-self.pdf
File Size: 116 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

9b Wednesday, Nov. 23
​NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Week 10

10a Monday, Nov. 28 
South Asian Interventions: Suffering as Delusion
  • Peter Harvey, "Dukkha , Non-Self, and the Teaching on the Four “Noble Truths”, p. 39–45; start at "The Third and Fourth True Realities" to end (pdf below)
  • The Buddha and the Terrorist​ (this is a very small story book with little-sized pages)​, Ch 3-7, p. 47-87
​​​Assignments
  • Please come prepared to discuss your understanding of the 3rd, and 4th "Noble Truths" in Harvey with one another, and your views on the remainder of the The Buddha and the Terrorist.
  • Please complete your UCI class evaluation by Friday 12/2 at 11am (if 70% of students complete, all will get 2 points extra credit)
Graduate Reading (not for undergrad students)
  • No additional readings beyond the above; Meet or email with professor to discuss update on final project progress​​
10b Wednesday, Nov. 30
South Asian Interventions: Overcoming Suffering through Practice
  • Buddhist Scriptures, "The Bodhisattva Vow," translated by Donald Lopez (pdf below; 6 pages)
  • Buddhist Scriptures,"A Call to Practice," translated by Robert Buswell (pdf below; 5 pages)​
​Assignments
  • Upload Question Set Worksheet 8 to Canvas
  • Please complete your UCI class evaluation by Friday 12/2 at 11am (if 70% of students complete, all will get 2 points extra credit)
  • Essay 2 Worksheet due Monday, Dec. 5, 2pm
Lopez, A Call to Practice.pdf
File Size: 1986 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Lopez, Bodhisattva Vow.pdf
File Size: 307 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Week 11

FINAL EXAM (online; open book)
The final exam will be open Monday Dec. 5 at 2pm, through Friday, Dec 9 at 2pm
Please complete the exam in one sitting, two hours. 

The exam will consist of: (a) Matching, (b) Multiple choice, (c) Short answer, (d) Essay
Questions will come from quizzes, lectures and slides, and discussion.
Before you start, you will also need to download your initial Snapshot Reflection on Evil and Suffering
  • COURSE DETAILS
  • GOALS

  • VISIT US

  • TEXTS
  • POLICIES
  • ASSIGNMENTS/GRADING
  • RESOURCES
  • ​SCHEDULE

www.briannedonaldson.com

  • About
  • Writing
  • Teaching/Syllabus
  • Contact
  • Events
  • CV
  • Animal Ethics Films
  • Animals Ethics & Religion
  • Process Philosophy & Environment