Canadian Social Science
Traditional African Ethical Perspective on Climate Change
Abstract
This paper argues that a major contributory factor to climate change is human activities, and an effective solution requires strong philosophic bedrock, which we propose should be hinged on the tenets of traditional African ethical environmental conservation and principles of deep ecology. Our research questions are what is the spirit of African countries’ public policies and mitigation strategies for climate change? What is the philosophy of African scientific and environmental exploration, as well as its industrial revivalism? Is it apathetic material reductionism of the western industrial revolution or an empathetic environmentalism? Our theoretical solution explores the traditional African ethical recognition of the equal intrinsic worth of all biota regardless of human wants or needs, as well as the interconnectedness of human beings with the environment in all its plenitude. The paper thematically harnesses the close link between the traditional African ethical environmental concern with Aldo Leopold “land ethic” as an effective and sustainable solution to global warming.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/10878
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