Reading and Discussion Questions for White and Whitney

Reading Questions on Lynn White article, "The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis"

1.  What is White's thesis? 

2.  What evidence/arguments does he offer in support of his thesis?  How persuasive is he?

3.  What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses?  Can you think of possible objections?  How might White respond to these objections?

4.  Why do you think that this article had such a widespread influence--so much so that Taylor refers to it as the "Lynn White Thesis"?

Reading Questions on Elspeth Whitney Article

1.  What does Whitney see as the assumptions and values underlying White's analysis?  Would White agree?

2.  How does Whitney complicate White's historical analysis?  How does she see medieval history as more complex?  What issues of causality does she raise?

3.  What are Whitney's arguments about the importance of social and political factors?

4.  How might White respond to Whitney's critique?

Discussion Questions from Ben Austin