climate philosophy web

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The Mad Hun is counting replies to the invitation sent out a few days ago. The invitation reads: "As climate change turns into a new reality, it is acquiring philosophical significance. I would like to set up a listserv for philosophers interested in climate and its implications. Participants will trade relevant and timely information about conferences, calls for papers, publications, and research issues. Please send your name with preferred email, institutional affiliation, and position (e.g. professor, grad student, etc.) to mschonfe@shell.cas.usf.edu. Kindly put "philosophy & climate" in the subject line of your reply. Members on the list will receive monthly electronic updates about climate-related items in our profession. Thank you very much for your consideration. Sincerely, Martin Schönfeld, PhD; Professor of Philosophy; University of South Florida"

Now I set up a data file for the first newsletter (coming soon). The statistics are nice. There are replies from colleagues at institutes and universities in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Lesotho, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, and USA.

The Climate Philosophy Web is now going to be tied to the University of Akureyri, the University of Auckland, Queen's University Belfast, Freie Universität Berlin, Universität Bern, Birkbeck College London, Bogazici University of Istanbul, Vrije Universiteit Brussel/Université Libre de Bruxelles, Cambridge University, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Cardiff University, Carnegie-Mellon University, Charles Sturt University, Clemson University, Colorado College, Cornell University, Technische Universiteit Delft, Universität Dortmund, Durham University, Drexel University, University of East Anglia, University of Essex, Flinders University, European University Institute-Florence, Universiteit Ghent, Harvard University, University of Hertfordshire, University of Hull, Imperial College London, Indiana University, Keele University, University of Leeds, University of Leicester, National University of Lesotho, University of Liverpool, University College London, Royal Institute of Philosophy London, London School of Economics, University of London, Université catholique de Louvain, University of Malta, University of Manchester, Université de Montréal, National Chi Nan University, Newcastle University, New School for Social Research-New York, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, University of Nottingham, Oxford University, University of Queensland, University of Reading, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Universita di Pisa, Simon Fraser University, University of South Florida (well, obviously!), University of Southampton, Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm, Universität Stuttgart, University of Tennessee, Towson University, Public Admin Institute for Turkey and the Middle East, Tuskeegee University, Universiteit Twente, Vaxjo Universitet, University of Victoria, University of Wales, University of Washington-Seattle, and Universität Zürich.

I suspect some of this outpouring of intellectual solidarity and willingness to explore new philosophical vistas must be compassion for sea-level Floridians who will lose their dry land sooner than they think. But then again, climate change is going to be felt at all of the addresses listed above, and with the possible exception of our friends in Sweden and Iceland, no one will benefit. Thanks, G W Bush! Speaking of the climate changer in chief, here is a great clip: the gringo Nazi points out that we're in Iraq since "Mandela is dead! Saddam Hussein killed all the Mandelas!" (watch here).

Meanwhile, the White House severely edited global warming impact testimony. And finally, here's a funny account of the peak oil conference at Houston, the most nature-hating city in the universe -- and the destination of the outgoing USF neocon provost.

Ah, life is good.

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