Exploring the Text

  1. At the beginning of the first section, Bill McKibben confesses that he is pessimistic. How does such a remark affect your reading of the selection?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - from The End of Nature - Exploring the Text: At the beginning of the first section, Bill McKibben confesses that he is pessimistic. How does such a remark affect your reading of the selection?
  2. He says in paragraph 5 that there are two reasons for pessimism. What are they? Paraphrase each. Do you agree? Explain why or why not.

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - from The End of Nature - Exploring the Text: He says in paragraph 5 that there are two reasons for pessimism. What are they? Paraphrase each. Do you agree? Explain why or why not.
  3. What does McKibben mean by “the second death of nature” (para. 7)?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - from The End of Nature - Exploring the Text: What does McKibben mean by “the second death of nature” (para. 7)?
  4. What is significant about the quotation marks around such words and phrases as “multi-purpose resource” (para. 10), “environmentally sound” (para. 11), “management” (para. 12), “conservation and profit go hand in hand” (para. 18), and “planetary managers” and “genetic engineers” (para. 19)?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - from The End of Nature - Exploring the Text: What is significant about the quotation marks around such words and phrases as “multi-purpose resource” (para. 10), “environmentally sound” (para. 11), “management” (para. 12), “conservation and profit go hand in hand” (para. 18), and “planetary managers” and “genetic engineers” (para. 19)?
  5. In paragraph 12, McKibben delineates where “[e]very good argument” will lead us. Do you think each of the arguments that McKibben presents is “good,” as he states? Do you think that the public at large would agree? Explain why or why not.

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - from The End of Nature - Exploring the Text: In paragraph 12, McKibben delineates where “[e]very good argument” will lead us. Do you think each of the arguments that McKibben presents is “good,” as he states? Do you think that the public at large would agree? Explain why or why not.
  6. What is the nature of the argument McKibben advances in paragraph 14? Explain it according to the Toulmin model (see Chapter 3).

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - from The End of Nature - Exploring the Text: What is the nature of the argument McKibben advances in paragraph 14? Explain it according to the Toulmin model (see Chapter 3).
  7. Identify the analogies McKibben develops in paragraphs 16 and 17. How effectively do they contribute to his position?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - from The End of Nature - Exploring the Text: Identify the analogies McKibben develops in paragraphs 16 and 17. How effectively do they contribute to his position?
  8. Do you think that the choice McKibben discusses in paragraph 22 is a likely one for humanity to take? Why or why not? Does McKibben think it likely? Explain.

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - from The End of Nature - Exploring the Text: Do you think that the choice McKibben discusses in paragraph 22 is a likely one for humanity to take? Why or why not? Does McKibben think it likely? Explain.
  9. McKibben confesses that perhaps there is room for hope if we take action now, casting today in italics (para. 24) in 1989. He then writes, “And if what I fear indeed happens? If the next twenty years sees us pump ever more gas into the sky, and if it sees us take irrevocable steps into the genetically engineered future, what solace then?” (para. 26). We now know what those twenty years (and more) have seen. Do you think that we can still “hope against hope,” as McKibben puts it? Explain.

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - from The End of Nature - Exploring the Text: McKibben confesses that perhaps there is room for hope if we take action now, casting today in italics (para. 24) in 1989. He then writes, “And if what I fear indeed happens? If the next twenty years sees us pump ever more gas into the sky, and if it sees us take irrevocable steps into the genetically engineered future, what solace then?” (para. 26). We now know what those twenty years (and more) have seen. Do you think that we can still “hope against hope,” as McKibben puts it? Explain.
  10. What is the “brave new ethos” (para. 26) that McKibben suggests has arrived?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - from The End of Nature - Exploring the Text: What is the “brave new ethos” (para. 26) that McKibben suggests has arrived?
  11. Why is our environmental problem unique when compared to the threats posed by the human cruelty associated with slavery or atomic warfare? Do you agree with McKibben that nature has ended? Why or why not?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 12 - from The End of Nature - Exploring the Text: Why is our environmental problem unique when compared to the threats posed by the human cruelty associated with slavery or atomic warfare? Do you agree with McKibben that nature has ended? Why or why not?