Climate Change And Individual Moral Obligation Kant S Categorical Imperative As A Basis

Seminar paper from the year 2020 in the subject Philosophy - Practical (Ethics, Aesthetics, Culture, Nature, Right, ...), grade: 2,0, University of Vienna, language: English, abstract: This paper discusses whether respectively how it is possible to ethically justify an individual moral obligation to act against climate change on the basis of Kant's categorical imperative. Actions against climate change might include using public transport instead of cars, avoid-ing travelling by aircraft, protesting for climate justice, supporting environmental organizations, boycotting oil companies, stopping wasteful consumption, refusing having a baby, using sustainable energy forms instead of fossil fuels, passing stricter laws or investing in the development of alternative energy forms. As an example, Walter Sinnott-Armstrong discusses whether an individual has a moral obligation not to drive a gas guzzler just for fun on a sunny Sunday afternoon. It is assumed, that this action is neither necessary to fulfil a duty for the society nor that the driver intends to harm anyone with his action. It is an action just for the sake of the individual's own pleasure. Nevertheless, this action would emit greenhouse gas emissions and these are famously known to be responsible for the human-made part of global warming. Global warming might cause climate changes, including storms, floods, droughts or heat waves. This could be harmful for millions of people and future generations. Armstrong asks whether these "facts about global warming" give the individual "any moral obligation not drive a gas guzzler just for fun on this sunny Sunday afternoon"(Armstrong 2005, 334). Based on this example, this paper discusses whether respectively how it is possible to justify an individual moral obligation not to drive a gas guzzler just for fun on the basis of Kant's categorical imperative. At first, (Chapter 2) the categorical imperative is explained in detail and will be separated from hypothetical

Seminar paper from the year 2020 in the subject Philosophy - Practical (Ethics, Aesthetics, Culture, Nature, Right, ...), grade: 2,0, University of Vienna, language: English, abstract: This paper discusses whether respectively how it is possible to ethically justify an individual moral obligation to act against climate change on the basis of Kant's categorical imperative. Actions against climate change might include using public transport instead of cars, avoiding travelling by aircraft, protesting for climate justice, supporting environmental organizations, boycotting oil companies, stopping wasteful consumption, refusing having a baby, using sustainable energy forms instead of fossil fuels, passing stricter laws or investing in the development of alternative energy forms.

Climate change has become the most pressing moral and political problem of our time. Ethical theories help us think clearly and more fully about important moral and political issues. And yet, to date, there have been no books that have brought together a broad range of ethical theories to apply them systematically to the problems of climate change. This volume fills that deep need. Two preliminary chapters—an up-to-date synopsis of climate science and an overview of the ethical issues raised by climate change—set the stage. After this, ten leading ethicists in ten separate chapters each present a major ethical theory (or, more broadly, perspective) and discuss the implications of that view for how we decide to respond to a rapidly warming planet. Each chapter first provides a brief exposition of the view before working out what that theory “has to say” about climate change and our response to the problems it poses. Key features: • Up-to-date synopsis of climate science • Clear overviews of a wide range of ethical theories and perspectives by leading experts • Insightful discussions of the implications of these theories and perspectives for our response to climate change • A unique opportunity to assess the relative strengths and weaknesses of various ethical viewpoints.

This book discusses the agency and responsibility of individuals in climate change, and argues that these are underemphasized, enabling individuals to maintain their consumptive lifestyles without having to accept moral responsibility for their luxury emissions.

This collection gathers a set of seminal papers from the emerging area of ethics and climate change. Topics covered include human rights, international justice, intergenerational ethics, individual responsibility, climate economics, and the ethics of geoengineering. Climate Ethics is intended to serve as a source book for general reference, and for university courses that include a focus on the human dimensions of climate change. It should be of broad interest to all those concerned with global justice, environmental science and policy, and the future of humanity.

These works articulate the most fundamental principles of Kant’s ethical and political world-view. "What is Enlightenment?" (1784) and "Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals" (1785) challenge all free people to think about the requirements for self-determination both in our individual lives and in our public and private institutions. Kant’s "Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals" is dedicated to the proposition that all people can know what they need to know to be honest, good, wise, and virtuous. The purpose of Kant’s moral philosophy is to help us become aware of the principles that are already contained within us. Innocence and dependence must be replaced with wisdom and good will if we are to avoid being vulnerable and misguided. According to Kant, freedom of thought leads naturally to freedom of action. When that happens, governments begin to treat human beings, not as machines, but as persons with dignity. Immanuel Kant begins "Toward Lasting Peace" by contrasting the realism of practical politicians with the high-minded theories of philosophers who "dream their sweet dreams." His opening line provides a grim reminder that the only alternative to finding a way to avoid the war of each against all is the lasting peace of the graveyard. The advent of total war and the development of nuclear weapons in the twentieth century give Kant’s reflections an urgency he could not have anticipated. Kant published this work in 1795, during the aftermath of the American Revolution and the French Revolution. The high hopes of the European Enlightenment had been dampened by the Reign of Terror in which tens of thousands of people died, and the perpetual cycle of war and temporary armistice seemed to be inescapable. Kant’s essay is best known as an early articulation of the idea of a league of nations that could bring "an end to all hostilities." Today The United Nations continues to pursue that dream, but lasting peace still seems to be wishful thinking. No modern philosopher is more important than Immanuel Kant. His works extend from epistemology and metaphysics to aesthetics, ethics, and political philosophy. His "Critical Philosophy" is developed in three major works: "The Critique of Pure Reason," "The Critique of Practical Reason," and "The Critique of Judgment." A German speaker, he was born in Prussia, an area that is now part of Poland. He never travelled more than 50 miles from his home in Königsberg, but his influence has since pervaded every aspect of Western culture.

Finds solutions to the world's greatest challenge climate change in global ethicsNew for this editionIncludes recent climate diplomacy and international agreementsPresents current data and information on climate scienceUpdated statistics; e.g. in chapters and sections that look at poverty and wealthExpanded learning guide for students and lecturersGlobal Ethics and Climate Change combines the science of climate change with ethical critique to expose its impact, the increasing intensity of dangerous trends particularly growing global affluence, material consumption and pollution and the intensifying moral dimensions of changes to the environment. It shows you that global justice is vital to mitigating climate change. All of the author's royalties are being paid directly to the charity Oxfam

More than two decades of international negotiations have failed to stem emissions of greenhouse gases that are causing global warming and climate change. This book identifies a way to escape this ongoing tragedy of the atmospheric commons. It takes a fresh approach to the ethics and practice of international environmental justice and proposes fundamental adjustments to the climate change regime, in the process drawing support from cosmopolitan ethics and global conceptions of justice. The author argues for 'cosmopolitan diplomacy', which sees people, rather than states alone, as the causes of climate change and the bearers of related rights, duties and obligations.