Q: Can moral obligation alone be the sole motivator in pushing people to fight against and care about climate change?
A: Climate change is real and it’s happening right now, and its effects reach everyone’s lives whether they choose to believe it or not. Moore discusses how “Moral arguments appeal to what is hopeful and good in the human spirit… [they] speak to all people” (9). She’s stating that people cannot ignore moral arguments. She brings into discussion right and wrong and the way our world has normalized destroying the Earth we live on is indisputably wrong. The problem with morals is that everyone holds different ones to different degrees of importance in their lives. Moore provides the example of running shoes, saying that we know we’re destroying the Earth and contributing to climate change when we chose to buy the shoes our materialistic society attempts to shove down our throat, even though we know that it’s wrong and we care about the environment (6). So clearly people can ignore moral arguments, this alone isn’t enough motivation to get people to actually change the way they live. While this might appeal to some people, it’s not enough to get everyone on board. Other people might be more receptive to seeing the facts broken down in a way they can easily comprehend them; because the numbers alone can be daunting. McKibben states “…we’re going to have an ecologically sustainable economy for everybody or, ultimately, we won’t have one for anybody” (12). This kind of almost scare tactic can jolt people and wake them up to the realities of climate change and the impact it has on our Earth and in our lives. Cold hard facts and a harsh reality along with a moral obligation to save our Earth should be motivation enough for people to wake up and really do something to change their lives for the better and push to fight against climate change.
Hey Sarah!! I think this is a really good topic for your essay. The importance of morals is huge and can be a underlying reason as to why people make change. The way you supported your argument by including evidence from Moore and McKibben’s reading really backs up what you are trying to say. I think you could make a better connection between the two. Although what they are both saying could be powerful when mixed together they aren’t saying similar things. Morals, and being scared into doing something can be very different things. I think this is a very strong lead to forming a great essay
and I can’t wait to read it!
– Lily
Hello Sarah!:)
I think you have great ideas here and back them up with good quotes. I like how you provide information about morals and Moores views on them and then contradict them with your own ideas. I think by doing this it gives you more credibility. I like how you then followed up with what McKibben thinks is the best formula for social change. I think you do a good job of bringing them together in the end by saying how just morals isn’t enough but, morals, facts, statistics, and fear can all be powerful together. I can’t wait to read your essay as I think you have strong ideas here!!!
-Hannah