Incorporate films, TV episodes, podcasts, and other media that include plots or conversations related to ethics and the activity of philosophical inquiry as an in-class activity. By viewing popular media, students understand that philosophical ideas and ethical issues are part of everyday, contemporary life. The suggested film and questions offer an opportunity for reflection on why the textual material matters, which can be used as the basis for discussion or assessment.

a. Promised Land (2012) 106 minutes plus discussion time.  This film tells the story of Steve Butler, a salesman for a large natural gas company, making his pitch to a small Pennsylvania community where his corporation wants to tap into the available resources. Debate ensues regarding controversial technology that Steve's employer is known for using.

b. The argument in the film that seems to propose a broader perspective on the consequences of fracking is made by the older farmer, Frank Yates, who raises the first moral concerns against fracking in the film. At one point Frank explains, " Hell, I need the money too. I guess I'm lucky…to be old enough to have a shot at dying with my dignity." The suggestion that a person's human dignity is contingent on the way they care for the environment hints at Mr. Yates's deep ecology point of view.