The Seasons Alter

February 1, 2017
A philosophical exploration of climate change.Most nations across the world accept the reality of global warming, and some are taking action. Sadly, few expect action from the United States because the subject has become toxically politicized. Many conservatives consider it a liberal fad, like environmentalism or organic food, with climate scientists in cahoots. Liberals take climate change seriously, but their elected representatives often confine themselves to platitudes, aware of the firestorm any inconvenient law would produce. With the argument stalemated, why not let philosophers--who specialize in arguments--have a shot? The results from Kitcher (Philosophy/Columbia Univ.; Life After Faith: The Case for Secular Humanism, 2014, etc.) and Keller (Emerita, Philosophy/MIT; The Mirage of a Space between Nature and Nurture, 2010, etc.) are six Socratic dialogues between Jo (female, in favor of action) and Joe (male, skeptical). Jo argues for an immediate worldwide campaign to reverse global warming. She admits the uncertainties and costs but emphasizes the catastrophic consequences of inaction. Readers, agreeable so far, may roll their eyes as Jo proposes an international alliance of nations, rich and poor, whose leaders will meet to agree on the tactics, obligations, and finances. Jo, although extraordinarily articulate, is a realistic advocate, but Joe is fiction. His skeptical arguments are so reasonable that Jo works hard to deal with them. But Joe also listens respectfully, delivering comments that would never pass the lips of a climate control denier: "I see your point...," "I don't deny that...," or "I agree with you there...." The authors emphasize that they aim to start a conversation. After all, "democracy depends on fruitful discussions of important issues." If only elected officials could actually engage in such discussions. The result is a superbly rational, entirely futile exchange of ideas. "Fruitful discussion" did little to resolve slavery or segregation, and it's largely absent from America's debate on global warming.

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March 1, 2017

Distinguished philosophy professors Kitcher (Columbia Univ.) and Keller (emerita, MIT) offer tonic for the times in their series of imagined conversations about climate change. The participants are "Jo" and "Joe": avatars, respectively, for idealist and pragmatist positions. Jo represents the voice of climate action, while Joe takes a skeptical approach. Their give-and-take is always "constructive, careful and amicable" but rigorous--the science of climate change gets a full airing out, as do its politics and economics. Equally important, readers are reminded of the ethical challenges ahead: how to balance the rights and responsibilities of developing worlds, how to judge the risks of emerging technologies, and how to measure our responsibility to future generations. Not surprisingly, given the authors' professional interests, this book takes the form of dialogs; the title, however, is from William Shakespeare, and the arguments are presented in six "acts," each delving into key climate-related conundrums. This unusual mix helps to make complex subject matter readable and engaging while suggesting how significant the humanities are to the current climate debate. VERDICT A conversation starter or more hot air? Most likely the former for reader-citizens crushed by the scale of the problem or confused by its polarity. For students of environmental philosophy, an essential text. [Prepub Alert, 10/10/15.]--Robert Eagan, Windsor P.L., Ont.

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