Introduction
Singer’s discussion dwells on the issue of climate change in detail whereby he underscored the fact it is a global problem that has to be addressed carefully. Because of the urge to strengthen the global economy, as well as local financial systems, developing countries are keen on establishing industries without necessarily following the regulations set out by the environmental regimes, such as the UNEP.
The rain patterns are unpredictable leading to losses among farmers. The ongoing drought in many parts of the world is attributable to the changes in climate. Several philosophers and theorists posit varying views on the current problem of climate change. In this article, utilitarianism, the views of Locke, and the principle of time slice would be compared, as far as climate change is concerned.
Comparison
Utilitarianism is a form of consequential ethics suggesting an action is determined whether it is right or wrong by looking at its effects. In other words, an action should guarantee happiness to the greatest number of people for it to be termed right. In this regard, climate change does not maximize the happiness meaning mitigation strategies must be formulated if society is to be guaranteed of happiness.
The activities that are undertaken in various societies are harmful to the environment and this does not support human survival. Any action is assessed based on the pleasure it brings to people. If the act is good, chances are high that it would maximize happiness meaning it is the only intrinsic good that must be sought by each person.
Under utilitarian ethics, there are no chances of pain, which suggest satisfaction is pleasure minus the total pain. The problems human beings face because of climate change suggest it entails one of the things that interfere with pleasure. Its effects are negative in three major ways, including increasing temperatures, facilitating unfavorable weather conditions, and lastly increasing the chances of disease contraction.
Due to the high temperatures experienced in various parts of the world, the ice is likely to melt and the seas levels tend to rise at unprecedented rates. High sea levels are known to interfere with the normal lives of the poor locals because it sweeps away their homes rendering people refugees. The case of Tuvalu, which is a tiny island in the Pacific, serves as an example.
Apart from this effect, high sea levels lead to droughts and heat waves that are likely to kill crops meaning individuals would go for days without food.
Continuous release of carbon compounds facilitates extreme weather conditions, including tornadoes and hurricanes, such as the sandy and Katrina, which have extreme consequences given the fact many people lose their lives and property whenever they happen. Human activities are to blame for the increased release of carbon dioxide, especially when people drive, heat, and consume electricity.
According to utilitarianism, conditions that destroy life increases aggregate pain in the sense that the family is left agonizing and yearning for the love of the deceased. The agency charged with environmental protection conducted a study to establish the cost of human life.
The findings revealed that a human being is estimated to cost at least $47314.50. Unfortunately, human beings cannot do without engaging in activities that pollute the environment since they bring satisfaction and pleasure. For instance, flying saves time and driving enables other people to access food and basic services.
However, the total aggregate pain derived from emissions is above the aggregate pleasure meaning reduction of secretion to zero is the only option if the issue of climate change is to be resolved. In fact, an emission of zero carbon footprints facilitates environmental conservation implying it maximizes total aggregate pleasure. In this case, carbon should be diluted through various existing methods to mitigate the challenge of climate change.
On their part, scholars supporting the views of Locke suggest that all forms of regulations should be done away with if society is to achieve its desired interests. The existing environmental agencies tend to impede the chances of development in the sense that they urge people to focus on sustainable development meaning preserving resources for future use.
In fact, the existence of the environmental conservation policies is a hindrance to the development of the financial system. Based on this, the state has to ensure people are provided with everything if they are to realize their objectives. In other words, the government has no role intervening in economic activities since its only role is to provide an enabling environment that facilitates individual fulfillment. The idea of freewill dominated the thinking of Locke meaning people have responsibilities while the government has the duty.
The responsibility of each citizen is to take care of the surrounding since it only benefits him or her and not any other person. In this case, the use of the natural resources should be controlled since depletion would lead to human suffering.
Since individuals are highly appetitive, the government should come in only to ensure equal distribution, but not to control the usage meaning human beings should exploit what is available to achieve the interests. The environment is one of the things that could be owned privately in a moral away according to scholars supporting the views of Locke, which implies the state should never make a mistake of acquiring or owning it.
Robert Nozick was the philosopher behind the formulation of the time slice principle. He formulated the theory of entitlement, which was based on the ideas of Rawls on social justice. In his analysis, he cautioned people against insisting on distribution of natural resources because they are never up for grabs the way an individual would receive manna from heaven.
He opposed the views of Rawls that everything should be divided equally arguing that each object has an origin. In this case, an individual is simply entitled to what he or she obtained rightfully meaning the rights of another person should not be interfered with in the process. In this regard, the environment has to be protected together with everything it contains because it has an owner.
Supported Idea
The views of utilitarian scholars are valid since everything done in society should aim at maximizing happiness and reducing the chances of pain. If the environment were protected, chances are high all issues to do with climate change would be solved. Climate change has resulted in many problems ranging from deaths to contraction of serious diseases, such as malaria, which is known to kill many people globally.
In this regard, it is upon the members of society to ensure they do something to protect the environment since it would go a long way to save lives. In this case, the aggregate for happiness would exceed the aggregate for pain. Since the consequences of climate change have long-term effects, all activities that cause it are negative and cannot be undertaken in favor of environmental conservation.
For instance, driving brings pleasure, as it saves time and enables others to access services, but the carbon emissions are dangerous to human survival. Therefore, mitigation should be selected over undertaking human activities that facilitate economic development.
Disputed Idea
The views of scholars basing their arguments on the thinking of Locke are invalid since they simply encourage people to destroy the environment to boost economic development. The effect of human activities on climate change is immense because it entails a matter of life and death.
There would be no need of pleasing the current generation and neglecting the demands of the future generation since it would affect the existence of the human race. Human beings should strive to conserve the environment because nature has the capability of destroying them if it is not well maintained.
According to scholars supporting the views of Locke, the only focus should be on production and distribution of goods and services since it would facilitate development. This view is invalid because it is insensitive to the demands of the future.
Conclusion
The issue of climate change is the biggest challenge in the modern society since it has affected the way goods and services are distributed. For instance, the persistent drought in various parts is a result of climate change. Without developing strategies to conserve the environment, many people would be affected by hunger. Therefore, Singer’s ideas on climate change should be embraced to reduce human suffering.