The Climate Ethics Works-in-Progress Conference hosted a free, public symposium Sept. 8, 2011, asking four senior philosophers to engage the question, “How should we think about climate change?”

Second up that evening was Chrisoula Andreou, Philosophy professor from the University of Utah. Andreou studies human procrastination, and in this talk, applied it to environmental effects.

Our seemingly trivial individual actions, like driving a car or not recycling, hardly seem significant enough to have devastating effects. So, we manage to put off changing this behavior, even if we wish to minimize our human impacts on the environment. We manage to do this because each individual act is so trivial.

In this talk, she suggests ways that we can limit that procrastination: implementation intentions and deadlines.

This talk was recorded on Sept. 8, 2011.

Download MP3 (17:03min, 16MB)

For More Information:

Climate Ethics Public Symposium

Website and poster for Symposium

Climate Ethics Works-in-Progress

Conference website

Philosopher Chrisoula Andreou

Bio page, University of Utah

The Climate Ethics Works-in-Progress Conference hosted a free, public symposium Sept. 8, 2011, asking four senior philosophers to engage the question, “How should we think about climate change?”

First up that evening was Clark Wolf, Director of Bioethics and a professor in both philosophy and political science at Iowa State University. In his talk, he encourages us to consider framing the question of climate change between our generation and future generations as a problem of justice. When we don’t meet our obligations of justice, he argues, we create victims, and they can seek remedy. He asks us tobe accountable for our environmental debt to future generations.

This talk was recorded on Sept. 8, 2011.

Download MP3 (23:01min, 21MB)

For More Information:

Climate Ethics Public Symposium

Website and poster for Symposium

Climate Ethics Works-in-Progress

Conference website

Philosopher Clark Wolf

Bio page at Iowa State University

Philosopher Chrisoula Andreou studies how humans make decisions. She says that even if we could all agree on how to stem climate change, our own individual actions might be hard for us to complete, procrastination being the culprit.

Andreou is one of four philosophers on the symposium panel Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in LIB 307, answering the question: How should we think about climate change? The event is free and open to the public.

This phone interview was recorded Sept. 5, 2011.

Download MP3 (9:12min, 11MB)

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Climate Ethics Works in Progress Conference Sept. 8-9, 2011

Conference website

Green & Gold News

Conference story

Philosopher Chrisoula Andreou

Bio page, University of Utah

Philosopher Bryan Norton has been studying sustainability for decades. His concern for the well-being of future generations led him to build upon Aldo Leopold’s ecosystem perspective. What we need to sustain our planet, he says, is a decision-making process that accommodates ALL values—human, environmental and economic.

Norton is one of four philosophers on the symposium panel Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in LIB 307, answering the question: How should we think about climate change?

This phone interview was recorded Sept. 5, 2011.

Download MP3 (10:36min, 12MB)

For More Information:

Climate Change Works-In-Progress Conference Sept. 8-9, 2011

Conference website

Green & Gold News

Conference story

Philosopher Bryan Norton

Bio page, Georgia Institute of Technology

Clark Wolf teaches philosophy and political science at Iowa State University, with an emphasis on resource sustainability and future generations. Here he previews ideas in the paper he’ll deliver at the Sept. 8-9 Climate Ethics Conference at UAA.

Wolf is one of four philosophers on the symposium panel Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in LIB 307, answering the question: How should we think about climate change? The symposium is free and open to the public.

This interview was recorded Sept. 2, 2011.

Download MP3 (7:28min, 7MB)

For More Information:

Climate Ethics Works in Progress Conference Sept. 8-9, 2011

Conference website

Philosopher Clark Wolf

Bio page at Iowa State University

Green & Gold

Conference announcement