Philosophy
September 2020
A Cool Head
by Bernward Gesang
To stop global warming, we must change the way we live. But this raises some veryfundamental questions: what restrictions and prohibitions are permissible in a free society? Aren’t poor countries entitled to prosperity as well? Why don’t we talk about nuclear power or population policy? En route to an ecological society, many political, moral and ethical questions, which have been debated by philosophers since antiquity, have to be answered. Bernward Gesang takes up the role of the philosopher in the climate debate. He uncovers errors and contradictions that prevent real change. Is eating meat a complete no-go? Don’t we need to invest much more money in developing countries? Gesang’s philosophical reflections lead back to the questions of everyday politics – and he provides well-founded answers.
