Philosophy as Practice in the Ecological Emergency: An Exploration of Urgent Matters

Description

This book argues that philosophy is as practical as plumbing and what we need right now is what philosophers can offer as philosophers to help us all, our species, and beyond, through this ecological emergency, this climate change, this anthropocene. This book is about the meaning and purpose of philosophy as a way of, a practice of, responding to the ecological emergency, which includes climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, habitat destruction, and all the associated impacts that fragment, and threaten to create collapse, among the systems that created and sustain us. There are the related economic and social impacts, the fragmentation of communities and political ideologies through attitude polarisation, and the increasing threats to systems by those who seek to promote further exploitation at the expense of attempts to regain some system of cooperation and an attitude of compassion which is at the heart of our survival strategies as a species.  Philosophy has always sought to address questions related both to our place in the universe, and to how to live, given our understanding of our place. Those of us committed to a philosophical life have used a range of metaphors and narratives to enlighten, and to exhort to action, those who would seek to understand what to do, how, and why. Philosophy has played a key role in helping us as a species to respond to the ecological emergency. What, then, is the practice of philosophy, given that we’re in an ecological emergency? This question is the thread, and it forms the framework for the dialogue that runs through the book.  Acknowledgments Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures Chapter 1: Introduction Philosophy Demonstrates Value Beginning with the Good of Systems Physics, Feminism and Whakapapa: Integrating Eco-Subjectivity After the Enlightenment An Emerging Search for Common Ground We Are the Emergency Justice in the Ecological Emergency: The Search for the Common Good Coming Back to Practice Philosophy as Ecological Practice Reconciling Hungry Spirits in the Ecological Emergency Embodying Egalitarianism Equality: Industrial Capitalism’s Trojan Horse Environmental Racism, Green Colonialism, and the Renewable Energies Revolution Perspectives from the More-Than-Human World Learning to See ‘Green’ in an Ecological Crisis Guidelines for a Post-Speciesist Epistemology in the Age of Anthropocene Breaking Through Cultural Boundaries Breakthrough Compass: Navigating the Injustices of the Ecological Emergency Breaking Through Philosophical Boundaries The Capabilities Approach and the Environment Secular Stewardship in the Ecological Emergency References Part I: Philosophy Demonstrates Value Chapter 2: Beginning with the Good of Systems Language Matters Modes of Value Good for a System Conscious Awareness Realisation as Agency Comparative Philosophies References Chapter 3: Physics, Feminism and Whakapapa; Integrating Eco-Subjectivity After the Enlightenment Business-as-Usual Bioegalitarianism Pace of Technology Maˉori Philosophy Two Futures; Bio-Egalitarian or the End of Nature Externalities References Part II: An Emerging Search for Common Ground Chapter 4: We Are the Emergency This is Really Happening The Human Ecology of Philosophy The Political Ecology of Creativity Micro- and Macroparasites, and What Could Lie Beyond References Chapter 5: Justice in the Ecological Emergency: The Search for the Common Good The Common Good A Legacy of Injustice and Neglect Expanding the Environmental Justice Movement References Part III: Coming Back to Practice Chapter 6: Philosophy as Ecological Practice The Practice of Ethicality Now and Here Fūdo Conclusion: Practicing Friendship with the Earth References Chapter 7: Reconciling Hungry Spirits in the Ecological Emergency Hungry Spirits Reassessing the Self The Roots of Yoga as a Technology of Connection Preventing Suffering Through the Yamas Resilience Acceptance References Part IV: Embodying Energy Chapter 8: Equality as Industrial Capitalism’s Trojan Horse: Environmental Racism, Green Colonialism, and The Renewable Energies Revolution What Is Race? Equality as Internalized Oppression and Humanitarian Imperialism Health Equity: Big Pharma’s Coercion and “Consent” Resilience and Regeneration or Business As Usual Whitewashing Racial Equity in EcoVillage Intentional and Aspirational Communities Renewables Revolution: Green Colonialism and Clean-Tech Industries What Is Social Ecology? Transforming the Anthropocene into The Ecozoic Era Works Cited Part V: Perspectives from the More-Than-Human World Chapter 9: Learning to See ‘Green’ in an Ecological Crisis Narratives of Climate Tragedy Plant Power Plant Blindness Actors Not Resources Green Education Conclusion References Chapter 10: Guidelines for a Post-speciesist Epistemology in the Age of Anthropocene Introduction A Glimpse into Our Times Beyond the Notion of Species Beyond the Domestic-Wildlife Boundary Beyond the Pandemic as a Socio-Political Phenomenon References Part VI: Breaking Through Cultural Boundaries Chapter 11: Breakthrough Compass: Navigating the Injustices of the Ecological Emergency Roads We Have Traveled: EJ History Birth of the Breakthrough Compass: Forging a New Path The Journey from Me to We Mapping Our Way Two Axes: The Dance of Learning and Action La Frontera: Where Philosophy and Action Converge Breakthrough Compass in Action: A Climate Justice Success Story Future Directions References Part VII: Breaking Through Philosophical Boundaries Chapter 12: The Capabilities Approach and the Environment Introduction Martha Nussbaum’s Capabilities Approach and the Environment Breena Holland’s Revision Nussbaum’s Revision and Expansion of Capabilities Approach Schlosberg’s Revision and Expansion of Nussbaum’s Theory Conclusion References Chapter 13: Secular Stewardship in the Ecological Emergency Section I: Introduction Section II: Further Replies to the First Objection Section III: Further Replies to the Second Objection Section IV: Pluralist Stewards, Good Stewards, and Just Plain Stewards Section V: Stewarding Human Activity or the Natural Environment? References Chapter 14: Conclusion: Learning to Live, Learning to Die References Index