Table of Contents

Part 1: Disorientation 1. In Praise of Bewilderment 2. Foundations: God and Nature 3. The Shape of Our Crisis Part 2: Five Philosophical Innovations 4. Plato: Epistocracy 5. Augustine: Love 6. Descartes: The Technosphere 7.Spinoza: Diversity in Unity 8. Hegel: Rights Part 3: Reorientation 9. Anthropocene Monism

About the Author

Byron Williston is Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada. He is the author of The Ethics of Climate Change: An Introduction (Routledge, 2018).

Reviews

"Fearing the state of being ‘lost in the world we have made,’ Williston roams far and wide for reference points in a time of bewildering climatic upheaval. With grand, Harari-like sweeps, this insightful romp through philosophy, literature, ecology, and technology displays the creative boldness the times demand." -- Christopher J. Preston, University of Montana, Missoula. Author of The Synthetic Age: Outdesigning Evolution, Resurrecting Species and Reengineering our World."An accessible and engaging analysis of the ways in which the climate crisis is analogous to other, historically significant ‘traumas.’ This is a vitally important topic, and I applaud Williston for his creative approach to bringing its philosophical aspects to a broad readership." -- Steven Nadler, William H. Hay II Professor of Philosophy, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Author of Think Least of Death: Spinoza on How to Live and How to Die."This lucid analysis of the crisis in Western thinking generated by climate change shows how previous historical disruptions have led to the kind of innovations in thought that we now urgently need. It should be read carefully by anyone wondering how to think and act in our new Anthropocene circumstances." -- Simon Dalby, Balsillie School of International Affairs. Author of Anthropocene Geopolitics: Globalization, Security, Sustainability."A timely, accessible, smart, and informed discussion of the climate crisis, and our disorienting exit from the Holocene. Williston shows why philosophy matters in these times, how it can be done with passion and rigour, and what wisdom looks like for all of us worried about the future of life." -- Todd Dufresne, Lakehead University. Author of The Democracy of Suffering: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe, Philosophy in the Anthropocene.

"Fearing the state of being ‘lost in the world we have made,’ Williston roams far and wide for reference points in a time of bewildering climatic upheaval. With grand, Harari-like sweeps, this insightful romp through philosophy, literature, ecology, and technology displays the creative boldness the times demand." -- Christopher J. Preston, University of Montana, Missoula. Author of The Synthetic Age: Outdesigning Evolution, Resurrecting Species and Reengineering our World."An accessible and engaging analysis of the ways in which the climate crisis is analogous to other, historically significant ‘traumas.’ This is a vitally important topic, and I applaud Williston for his creative approach to bringing its philosophical aspects to a broad readership." -- Steven Nadler, William H. Hay II Professor of Philosophy, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Author of Think Least of Death: Spinoza on How to Live and How to Die."This lucid analysis of the crisis in Western thinking generated by climate change shows how previous historical disruptions have led to the kind of innovations in thought that we now urgently need. It should be read carefully by anyone wondering how to think and act in our new Anthropocene circumstances." -- Simon Dalby, Balsillie School of International Affairs. Author of Anthropocene Geopolitics: Globalization, Security, Sustainability."A timely, accessible, smart, and informed discussion of the climate crisis, and our disorienting exit from the Holocene. Williston shows why philosophy matters in these times, how it can be done with passion and rigour, and what wisdom looks like for all of us worried about the future of life." -- Todd Dufresne, Lakehead University. Author of The Democracy of Suffering: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe, Philosophy in the Anthropocene."An intriguing examination of five philosophers and the current climate crisis… Williston proposes that human beings can look to the history of philosophy to find 'a new orientation and sense of energy' - as well as the long-term, big-picture thinking that’s needed now and far into the future… Although the text explores a number of complex scientific, technological and philosophical topics, Williston succeeds in making his arguments cohesive and accessible." -- Kirkus Reviews