Product Description

The debate about the existence of climate change seems finally at an end. We now have to decide what to do about it. Here, James Garvey argues that the ultimate rationale for action on climate change cannot be simply economic, political, scientific or social, though no doubt our decisions should be informed by such things. Instead, climate change is largely a moral problem. What we should do about it depends on what matters to us and what we think is right.This book is an introduction to the ethics of climate change. It considers a little climate science and a lot of moral philosophy, ultimately finding a way into the many possible positions associated with climate change. It is also a call for action, for doing something about the moral demands placed on both governments and individuals by the fact of climate change. This is a book about choices, responsibility, and where the moral weight falls on our warming world.Articulate, provocative and stimulating, this timely book will make a significant contribution to one of the most important debates of our time." Think Now" is a brand new series of stimulating and accessible books examining key contemporary social issues from a philosophical perspective. Written by experts in philosophy, these books offer sophisticated and provocative yet engaging writing on political and cultural themes of genuine concern to the educated reader.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29589 in Books
• Published on: 2008-01-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 179 pages

Review
"It's an excellent book to think with: Garvey has a delicious style, often very funny, and a trick of ushering the reader right inside his thought experiments." --Stephen Poole, The Guardian

Review
"The Ethics of Climate Change is a model of philosophical reasoning about one of the greatest moral challenges any generation has ever faced. If you don't yet know why you should be morally outraged about the present situation, read this book. Calmly, carefully, with well-marshalled facts and sound argument, Garvey shows us just how badly the nations of the industrialized world - and the citizens of those nations - are behaving. He also tells us what we need to do about it."

Review
"[With this book] you don't get the feeling of being hectored by a preachy green, but rather of being addressesd like the intelligent adult that you are...Witty without being frivolous, explanatory but never condescending, engaging and challenging in equal measure, this book should become a campus classic."

Customer Reviews

Good and thought provoking book.
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.

An excellent introduction to both ethics and climate change
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.

A solid and well argued read
Being a novice in the world of philosophy, I found this book to be a thought provoking and worthy read as an introduction to climate change without the trappings of being forced fed a particular opinion. For me the down to earth approach to the issue worked well, with balanced arguements littered throughout the text that ultimately proved to be much more than just a book to read on the train to work. Highly recommended.