The Environmental Crisis and Art: Thoughtlessness, Responsibility, and Imagination

by Eva Maria Räpple

Climate change is a defining issue of our time for which the immediate as well as potential future scope causes enormous impediments to human understanding and comprehension. It is argued here that humans ought to make wise use of their capacity of thinking, language, and communication in working on the task of responsible action. Required is nothing less than moving out of “thoughtlessness”, an unresponsiveness and ignorance in particular towards certain environmental problems. As human beings, we are a species on this planet that is uniquely capable to think and foresee potential consequences and hold power to induce change on our actions. It is up to human beings to confront challenges such as climate change, to consider what has been critically assessed in thought and reflect on potential responses. Crucial in this dialog is the ability to take the standpoint of the other –– including that of species as well as ecosystems –– in human imagination. It also means to develop a sensibility for the other in making sense of the world that today is largely shaped by humans. Throughout history, narratives, stories, images, artistic expressions have all played a key role for imaginative ventures that allow the mind to imagine the past, present, and the future. Language and communication can serve comprehension of an issue like climate change and provide a path in developing responsible responses to abstract problems of complex global future dimensions.

150 pages, Hardcover

Published February 12, 2019

Reviews

[Cat Beaudoin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the concept and was excited to read this work. I think there is a lot to learn coming out of it, however, the artist centers her work on predominantly white men. There are a couple of references from Asian men and white women, but the text lacks perspectives from communities of color who are disproportionately affected by climate change.