Strongly recommended for those with still unchanged life styles
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I need to declare my position vis-Ã -vis climate change - I was already well convinced both about the seriousness of the issue and the need for personal action, before reading this book But I was intrigued to see what philosophy, a subject I was very ignorant of, had to offer.
Having read the book, or most of it, as expected I do not think it will change my life style - I believe I am already living most of what Garvey argues. That said, I was surprised to find the book so interesting. I gained two things from it: the gentle introduction to philosophy, and some theoretical and moral arguments (as opposed to the technical ones I have based my actions on to date) supporting the case for urgent action. For those friends of mine indisposed to make changes to their lifestyle, for example on the basis that their personal actions would be too small to matter, I now have some reasoned arguments to suggest an alternative view.
For those coming to the subject unread, or for those versed more in the arts than the sciences, there is a useful and easily read summary of the technical aspects of climate change before the philosophical and moral issues are presented. Unsurprisingly Garvey refers to the views of a number of individual philosophers. I found it interesting to have a small encyclopaedia to hand that I could use to provide something of their life, whether they were contemporary or from earlier centuries.
Garvey has a pleasant, relaxed writing style and has done well to give us a good overview of this exceedingly important subject in a small volume. The book is well referenced and indexed. I have no hesitation in recommending it to any who have not yet been convinced by the threat presented by climate change, and to the larger community who have been unable so far to change their life style accordingly.
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Good and thought provoking book.
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After being forced fed facts of climate change by the media I just assumed we should do something about it, but never really thought beyond scientific or economical grounds.
This book cuts straight to moral questions which I had never considered before and in language everyone can understand.
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An excellent introduction to both ethics and climate change
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Books on climate change are fashionable right now. The basic fact is settled: our carbon emissions are changing the global weather system, with deleterious and potentially catastrophic results. But few books address the moral questions this raises. Whose responsibility is it? What should we do about it? Why should we even care?
James Garvey presents a careful discussion of just these issues. He explains the science clearly and concisely, but his focus is on moral philosophy. It is as good an introduction to this topic as it is to climate change. Witty without being frivolous, explanatory but never condescending, it is engaging and challenging in equal measure.
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OK, I'm convinced
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Well, I must admit that before reading this book, I was not so much a climate sceptic as a climate nihilist. Warming-schwarming, I thought -- there's not much we can do, and are we really worth saving anyway? The planet can look after itself. But now, having read the work, a) I am convinced that climate change is our fault, and therefore our responsibility; b) that we owe it to our descendants to start sorting the mess out; and c) that any change made that improves the situation is worthwhile.
The procession of argument contained in the book is logical, and never condescending or patronising, which unfortunately climate-change books can be. And the angle at which the topic is approached is one I had not encountered before. That there was a moral aspect to the climate change problem was something I had not heretofore considered (though in retrospect, it seems obvious). And while the book has not turned me into a tub-thumping green proselytiser, its carefully schooled facts and cleverly marshalled arguments arising from those facts have left me, well, with no choice other than to take some action, however small, in recognition of my inherited moral responsibility as a resident of a developed nation.
I don't know whether to thank Garvey for opening my eyes, or curse him for blinding me with the truth.
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