Diotima: The Marist Undergraduate Philosophy Journal
THE IMMORALITY OF ECOSABOTAGE Izzy Simon Bard College
Abstract This paper was inspired by a discussion in an Environmental Ethics class where we debated whether ecosabotage was a moral action. I was one of the few who argued for its immorality, even though my opinion was not highly regarded amongst my classmates. I had the idea to delve deeper into this tactic because of many of my classmates retaliating against my opinion, questioning: if not ecosabotage, then what? I argue for a care-based approach regarding the current climate crisis, based on Carol Gilligan’s ethics of care, using her book In A Different Voice , to deepen our understanding of the ways in which humans interact with the natural world, how those interactions could come from a place of care, and why we are programmed to ignore that fact. decision one makes to participate multi-faceted and incredibly complicated. In this essay, I will focus on how one of these responses stems from a place that is often seen as over-emotional: ecosabotage. I will argue that ecosabotage is immoral in its intentions as it stems from a place of anger yet only perpetuates that same anger after it has been completed. I will then argue that Carol Gilligan’s ethics of care has a better foundation to create the necessary change in our society regarding climate change. In section II, I will define ecosabotage in its emotional terms and consider R I. Introduction esponses to the issue of climate change fall on a spectrum, as most everything does. All of these said responses stem from a place of intense emotion, whether that be fear, anger, anxiety, etc., which makes the
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