The Ethics of Climate Change
Oof. This is a big one. Of all the existential threats to civilization: nuclear war, bioterrorism, asteroid impact, etc., this is the slow-moving-train-crash that we happen to be right in the middle of. This session, we’re hoping to give you some insights into what climate change is, what we can do about it, and even a little of what we should do about it.
Required Science Viewing
I could assign some rather intense technical materials. I’m going to save that for in-class though, as it’s rather dense and would benefit from some guided presentation and dialogue. Instead, I’d like to you absorb some of what our dear friends at Kurzgesagt have to offer on the topic. As you watch the video, I’d like each of you to start asking yourselves questions. This is a good segue from our last conversation on whether we’re good or evil - is it possible for each individual to be moral and good, but end up in an unjust and evil world due to the systems in place in society? For instance:
Who is responsible for climate change? Me? Them? Big corporations? Inefficient governance?
What can I do to help mitigate this catastrophe? Is there a way out that doesn’t involve changing my personal behavior, expectations, or lifestyle?
What’s the balance between my responsibility to change personal behaviors (eating less/no meat, milk, or eggs, reducing my carbon footprint by driving less, etc.) and my responsibility to pressure governments (by voting) and corporations (by voting with purchases) to do the right thing?
Fiction Reading
Please read/listen to chapter 1 from Kim Stanley Robinson’s novel, The Ministry for the Future. Content warning: there is a great deal of death depicted.