Lawlor, R orcid.org/0000-0002-9621-2977 (2017) Rejecting Amanda Machin’s Complacent Democracy. Environmental Ethics, 39 (2). pp. 211-233. ISSN 0163-4275
Abstract
Machin defends a new approach to climate change, which some claim is an “original” and “lucid” contribution that will “revitalize” the debate. Drawing on Slavoj Žižek’s interpretation of parallax and Chantal Mouffe’s radical democracy, Machin focuses on negotiation rather than moral argument, arguing that we should embrace disagreement. In the process of defending her view, Machin dismisses Naomi Klein, and various moral philosophers, arguing that framing the debate in terms of moral argument is ineffective, divisive, and ultimately leads to extremism and climate change denial. However, Machin does not challenge, or engage with, the extensive empirical evidence that suggests that the growth in climate change denial was the result of the “Merchants of Doubt” coordinating campaigns of misinformation, and Machin’s rejection of other views is often based on misrepresentations. Furthermore, Machin’s arguments commit her to an implausible relativism, and the view she defends is morally bereft, and would leave corruption and corporate influence unchecked. Contrary to Machin’s assertions, the history of the abolition of slavery demonstrates that moral argument has a crucial role to play in social change and progress, and should be a crucial part of any democracy, as should a commitment to truth, consistency, and scientific knowledge.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This is an author produced version of a paper published in Environmental Ethics. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Climate change; Radical Democracy; Mouffe; Slavery; Klein; Merchants of Doubt |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (Leeds) > Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number Arts & Humanities Research Council AHRC AH/L006650/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 29 Nov 2017 10:09 |
Last Modified: | 03 Mar 2020 12:02 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Philosophy Documentation Center |
Identification Number: | 10.5840/enviroethics201739215 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:124295 |