Examine what Frankenstein and ONE of the other texts studied in this unit teaches us about climate change.
The writing of Frankenstein mirrors the environmental and climatic changes over the last two centuries. The author Mary commenced writing of Frankenstein in 1818 when industrialization in western society had commenced. In general, Mary Shelley’s description of the world and the environment reveals how human activity has “damaged” the climate and the environment. In chapter four, she elaborates on how an expedition to the arctic experienced immense challenges circumnavigating the North Pole. For instance, she stated that “we were nearly surrounded by ice, which closed in the ship on all sides, scarcely leaving her the sea-room in which she floated” (Shelley, 2006, 27). The description, as mentioned earlier, shows how the arctic ice was intact over two centuries ago- to the point of hindering the effective movement of sailing/ expedition ships. This is a sharp contrast compared to today, where thick pack ice has disappeared, and the seals and polar bears population dwindled or displaced due to climate change. Overall, Frankenstein informs on how past human activities have resulted in the current problems of climate change.
Reference
Shelley, M. (2006). Frankenstein. Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
In constants, the Uninhabitable Earth examines the consequences of climate change in the future (Wallace-Wells, 2019). The author asserts that if the problems of climate change are not mitigated, there is the likelihood that people or society will have difficulties in accessing basic human needs such as food and water. Wallace-Wells (2019) estimates that the world could lose more than fifty percent of the agricultural yield if the temperature increases. The harsh climatic condition will decline farmable agricultural land. More so, conflicts are likely to occur in areas or regions that will be considered habitable. As climatic conditions worsen, habitable space will reduce because most of the coastal land will sink due to increased water bodies such as oceans and rivers across various parts of the world. Therefore, Wallace-Wells (2019) Uninhabitable Earth lenses what society is to expect in the future if proper measures are not implemented to curb global warming and environmental degradation.
Reference
Wallace-Wells, D. (2019). The uninhabitable earth (pp. 271-294). Columbia University Press.
Compare one of the ethical approaches to climate changes (weeks 10 and 11) to one of the literary approaches to climate change (weeks 12 and 13).
Essentially, the outcome of the thought experiment on the climate change issue largely depends on the moral institution of a person. The “Make no difference objection” Western Sydney University (2020)is an ethical approach that enables individuals to overcome ethical dilemmas by making “small” or “minor” decisions that can have a direct impact on climate in the long run. The “makes no difference” approach cuts the complexities associated with the decision to understand how a personal choice or decision can positively impact climate change initiatives. The ethical approach is consistent with Aristotle’s thinking that individuals should be focused on non-calculative generators of behaviors. Thus, implying that when individuals face climate change, they should try and reduce their contribution to the problem regardless of other people’s efforts and perceptions.
Reference
Western Sydney University. (2020). Thinking Critically About Texts and Society: The Ethics of Climate Change. YouTube. Retrieved November 1, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/?gl=DE.
In contrast, literature, as discussed in the week thirteen lecture, Western Sydney University. (2020) highlights how literary texts can invoke emotions. One of the literary approaches discussed relates to Anthropocene. Humans stand at the dawn of a new geological epoch in which climate change may alter the world. The new Anthropocene epoch characterized by harmful human activities will result in enormous environmental and climatic catastrophes, as observed recently with the outbreak of wildfires across Australia. Essentially, “the concept of the anthropocene defines simply the enormity of the change humans have brought up upon the world” (Western Sydney University, 2020). Coherently, the anthropocene approach demonstrates how human activities have contributed to environmental and climate change. It relates to a person’s emotions such as sadness, fear, and anxiety to impact their ethical views when deciding on climate change. Overall the “Make no difference objection” (Western Sydney University, 2020, 2:33) approach relies on the precepts of morals and values to influence ethical dilemmas or decisions regarding climate change. However, the anthropocene approach uses human experiences and emotions on climate change.
Reference
Western Sydney University. (2020). 102737 – thinking critically about texts and society: The Ethics of Climate Change. YouTube. Retrieved October 31, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d02NhIgbjs0.
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