Crafting a Moral Response to Climate Disaster & Consumerism
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Terrance MacMullan
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
5-7-2024 11:35 AM
End Date
5-7-2024 11:55 AM
Location
PAT 340
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Philosophy
Abstract
Climate destruction has been carried out by humankind and the thorough overpopulation of our planet over the last 250 years by the release of millions of tons of carbon emissions, destroying biodiversity. Our response has been to generally ignore the issue of climate change, or assume the status quo of society - resorting to a dark state of ignorance and imitation. However, if we were to frame climate change as an individual problem, then our response from local groups and individuals might change drastically. This turn to individualism is largely sparked from consistent failure by nation-states and international organizations to effectively combat the climate crisis. By using insights from Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American transcendentalist philosopher, and Laozi, the author of the Dao de Jing, crafting a moral response to climate disaster and consumerism is possible. The philosophy of self-reliance as instructed by Emerson, when taken in light of the dao and our human inclinations, gives all individuals the ability to transform their relationship to the earth, shed the shackles of consumerist pressure and combat the climate crisis.
Recommended Citation
Zagar, Luke Anthony, "Crafting a Moral Response to Climate Disaster & Consumerism" (2024). 2024 Symposium. 7.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2024/op_2024/o5_2024/7
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Crafting a Moral Response to Climate Disaster & Consumerism
PAT 340
Climate destruction has been carried out by humankind and the thorough overpopulation of our planet over the last 250 years by the release of millions of tons of carbon emissions, destroying biodiversity. Our response has been to generally ignore the issue of climate change, or assume the status quo of society - resorting to a dark state of ignorance and imitation. However, if we were to frame climate change as an individual problem, then our response from local groups and individuals might change drastically. This turn to individualism is largely sparked from consistent failure by nation-states and international organizations to effectively combat the climate crisis. By using insights from Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American transcendentalist philosopher, and Laozi, the author of the Dao de Jing, crafting a moral response to climate disaster and consumerism is possible. The philosophy of self-reliance as instructed by Emerson, when taken in light of the dao and our human inclinations, gives all individuals the ability to transform their relationship to the earth, shed the shackles of consumerist pressure and combat the climate crisis.
