The Role of Philosophers in Climate Change

Abstract

Some conceptions of the role of philosophers in climate change focus mainly on theoretical progress in philosophy, or on philosophers as individual citizens. Against these views, I defend a skill view: philosophers should use our characteristic skills as philosophers to combat climate change by integrating it into our teaching, research, service, and community engagement. A focus on theoretical progress, citizenship, expertise, virtue, ability, social role, or power, rather than on skill, can allow for some of these contributions. But the skill view, I argue, uniquely captures the breadth of philosophers’ role in climate change; promises to make us more effective in practice; and offers a compelling way to overcome our own lingering climate denial by integrating climate change into all aspects of philosophical activity.

The ethics of climate activism

“…Academics can use their teaching skills for integrating climate change into their teaching, even in seemingly unrelated topics. They can use their discussion facilitator skills in organizing events on climate change for the broader public, and in counteracting misuse and misinterpretation of climate research (Chislenko, 2022; Roos & Hoffart, 2021). Academics can also use their administrative and committee skills in supporting climate organizations, and in advocating for mitigation or adaptation practices in their workplace or other organizations.…”

“…Academics can also use their administrative and committee skills in supporting climate organizations, and in advocating for mitigation or adaptation practices in their workplace or other organizations. Finally, academics can use their research skills in collecting and sharing important information, such as climate‐related syllabi, or information about planned mitigation projects in their jurisdiction (Chislenko, 2022).…”