What Is It
Our current way of life is unsustainable. Depletion of the ozone layer, the dwindling of the rain forest, the loss of animal habitat, and toxic runoff into lakes, streams and rivers are just a few of the environmental challenges we face. The environment is a global problem that no one nation can address on its own. Something must give, somewhere. But who will pay what costs for improving the global environment? Wealthy nations of the North? Developing nations of the South? By what principles of justice shall we decide? John and Ken take justice into their own hands with Larry Goulder from Stanford University.
Listening Notes
The lifestyles of the first-world countries seem to have a large effect on the environment. Should we change our lifestyles to help preserve the environment? Should developing nations adopt environmentally friendly policies and skip the period of relatively destructive policies? Ken introduces Larry Goulder, Professor of Economics at Stanford. Goulder says that our current way of life is not environmentally sustainable, for either the richer countries or the third-world countries. Historical considerations lead him to think that the richer countries should be the first ones to transition to environmentally friendly policies and technologies.
我们是否应该开发新的环保技术?我们应该向发展中国家提供这些技术吗?罗尔斯的正义理论难道不适用于国际社会吗?Goulder讨论了罗尔斯的差异原则，即资源应该平均分配，除非将更多的资源给予某个特定的个体会使最不富裕的群体受益。古尔德说，我们需要考虑外部性，即使用高于其市场价格的东西的社会成本。在没有国际法庭的情况下，各国是否能够抵消避免像巴西森林砍伐这样对环境造成破坏的工业的成本?Goulder thinks that there are circumstances in which it is in everyone's best interest to do so.
Do countries have obligations to people that are not their citizens? Most theories of justice are geared towards dealing with problems within a single nation. Does justice entail obligations to future generations, meaning that we must leave the world in good enough condition for future generations? Should the richer countries be forced to pay reparations to countries in the Southern Hemisphere for environmental damages? Goulder thinks that that idea is not feasible.
- Roving Philosophical Report(Seek to 04:25): Amy Standen interviews Jennifer Turner, coordinator of the China Environment Forum, about the Chinese auto and oil markets.
- Philosophy Talk Goes to the Movies(Seek to 46:50): John and Ken discuss the existential and moral dimensions of Spider Man II.
