The question concerning the climate crisis: Heidegger on ethics, technology and art

Hall, David Oliver (2024) The question concerning the climate crisis: Heidegger on ethics, technology and art. Masters thesis, University of Gloucestershire.

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Abstract

This thesis uses the philosophy of Martin Heidegger to ask why humanity is taking insufficient action to prevent the climate crisis. I argue that there can be no simple scientific or technical solution. Heidegger’s philosophy shows the way to a new ethics of action based on considering our common humanity and the roots of our society. Heidegger considers the way we relate to being in modern society through the essence of technology, the reduction of everything, including human beings, to resources to be used as efficiently as possible. The ultimate danger, in Heidegger’s view, is that we are so wrapped up in a self-conception of ourselves as the ultimate producers and consumers that we do not realise that we ourselves are being consumed. The leading ideology of the modern world is scientific thinking so, to address the climate crisis, we must challenge the ubiquitous scientific world view, opening ourselves up to multiple viewpoints, while avoiding the perils of relativism and anti-science thinking. Finally, to reveal alternative viewpoints, we can use dialogue with other cultures, and inspiration from great art. This thesis presents a different approach to conventional thinking on the climate crisis, which uses rational approaches to challenge a rationality which is leading us to destruction. The contribution of this thesis is to argue that the solution to the climate crisis is not simply to be found in science and technology, either by embracing or rejecting any particular technology. Nor can it be found in social change unless this involves fundamental changes in how the world works. Philosophy cannot give answers, but it can ask better questions in order to open the way to fresh answers.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Arts, Culture and Environment
Depositing User:	Rhiannon Goodland
Date Deposited:	14 Sep 2026 11:11
Last Modified:	14 Sep 2026 11:11
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/16521

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