At a recent on line talk for the Joy in Enough community we were privileged to hear a talk by Dr Ian Christie from the Centre for the understanding of Sustainable Prosperity at the University of Surrey (cusp.ac.uk) Ian Christie has been a good friend to Joy in Enough since the early days. Ian edits and sends out a weekly e mail which is a very valuable resource for all Green Christians full of news relating to events and new publications. Sign up for it via the CUSP web site and enjoy.
In his talk Ian discussed, amongst other things, how moral revolutions happen with particular reference to “The Honor Code” sub titled how moral revolutions happen by Kwame Anthony Appiah. Ian cited this book several times with enthusiasm so I made haste to acquire a copy and read it for myself. In the book several moral revolutions are cited:- the end of dueling as a tolerated practice among the upper classes, the end of Chinese foot binding, the suppression of Atlantic slavery and what he describes as “wars against women”.
You may be wondering what has any of this to do with the climate crisis and the environmental emergency. Ian’s answer is straightforward: without a moral revolution amongst consumers in the west progress seems unlikely. As he discussed this I thought of another book widely read in Green Christian circles: Don’t even think about it-why our brains are wired to ignore climate change by George Marshall. Clearly a re-wiring of our brains is required and “The Honor Code” describes how such re-wirings have happened in the past. It needs to happen again in relation to consumerism and the climate crisis.
A particular quotation in relation to dueling struck me as particularly relevant. Oscar Wilde said, famously, that as long as war was regarded as wicked it would always have its fascination. But when it is looked upon as vulgar it will cease to be popular.
Consumerism and an excessive consumption of fossil fuels may come to be regarded as wicked or morally dubious- we can but hope! Nevertheless such practices will remain popular. But when long haul holidays to Bali or cruises in mega ships to the Greek islands come to be regarded as vulgar and can be dismissed as such in polite society then we shall know that the necessary moral revolution has at last occurred.
By Peter Greenwood
Joy in Enough 