Climate Change and Individual Moral Obligation. Kant's Categorical Imperative As a Basis

Seminar paper from the year 2020 in the subject Philosophy - Practical (Ethics, Aesthetics, Culture, Nature, Right, ...), grade: 2,0, University of Vienna, language: English, abstract: This paper discusses whether respectively how it is possible to ethically justify an individual moral obligation to act against climate change on the basis of Kant's categorical imperative. Actions against climate change might include using public transport instead of cars, avoid-ing travelling by aircraft, protesting for climate justice, supporting environmental organizations, boycotting oil companies, stopping wasteful consumption, refusing having a baby, using sustainable energy forms instead of fossil fuels, passing stricter laws or investing in the development of alternative energy forms.

As an example, Walter Sinnott-Armstrong discusses whether an individual has a moral obligation not to drive a gas guzzler just for fun on a sunny Sunday afternoon. It is assumed, that this action is neither necessary to fulfil a duty for the society nor that the driver intends to harm anyone with his action. It is an action just for the sake of the individual's own pleasure. Nevertheless, this action would emit greenhouse gas emissions and these are famously known to be responsible for the human-made part of global warming. Global warming might cause climate changes, including storms, floods, droughts or heat waves. This could be harmful for millions of people and future generations. Armstrong asks whether these "facts about global warming" give the individual "any moral obligation not drive a gas guzzler just for fun on this sunny Sunday afternoon"(Armstrong 2005, 334).

Based on this example, this paper discusses whether respectively how it is possible to justify an individual moral obligation not to drive a gas guzzler just for fun on the basis of Kant's categorical imperative. At first, (Chapter 2) the categorical imperative is explained in detail and will be separated from hypothetical imperatives. Afterwards (Chapter 3), examples of possible maxims of driving a gas guzzler are tested according to Kant's maxim-test. In the last section (Chapter 4), it is shown how the result of the maxim test can be applied in specific situations, like driving a gas guzzler just for fun.