Do humanists share responsibility for the climate crisis? Cover Image

Czy humaniści są współodpowiedzialni za kryzys klimatyczny?
Do humanists share responsibility for the climate crisis?

Author(s): Maciej Michalski
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Studies of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: climate crisis; humanities discourse; pro-climate education

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to critically consider the question of whether the humanities share responsibility for theclimate crisis by virtue of the dominant modes by which it is practised. As it seems, the dominant discursive practicesof contemporary humanities – cognitive, communicative, textual – which have grown out of the Westernmodel of thinking, are at odds with pro-climate demands. The tendency towards separating areas of research,towards categorisation and narrow specialisation, as well as the logic of growth and the institutional structure ofscience are not conducive to the development of interdependence, relationality, responsibility, forward thinking,among other things, i.e. the attitudes and postulates that are essential in acting for the good of the climate. Inaddition, the symbolic culture of writing, which is based on mediation, distance and high communicative competence,is also not conducive to the implementation of these postulates, and is even in conflict with them. Thediscursive practices based on these principles are worth changing. We should make wider use of other forms ofcommunication and cognitive models and focus on practising interdependence and action for climate in collaborationwith other areas of science.

  • Issue Year: 31/2023
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 1-12
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Polish