ISBN 978-1-846-14448-6. “How Much is Enough? The Love of Money, and the Case for the Good Life” by Robert Skidelsky and Edward Skidelsky was published by Allen Lane (Penguin Group) in 2012. Robert and Edward are a father & son team; Robert is Professor of Political Economy whilst Edward is a lecturer in Philosophy. This work combines their interests and starts with Robert’s three volume biography of John Maynard Keynes. Their argument follows a torturous alternative path to a conclusion that we can all agree with: the pursuit of money, as an end in itself, is destructive. The Skidelskys propose a more paternalistic (less utilitarian) approach to economic management that helps us all focus on our quality of living. In their words “the good life”.
Category Archives: Philosophy
Genetic Modification in our food: the gloves come off
Nothing more clearly illustrates the division between old fashioned green thinking & the modern sustainability movement than Genetically Modified food. A recent clash of Tweets between author Mark Lynas (“The God Species“) and Dr Vandana Shiva (author “Soil Not Oil“) exposes just how deep the battle wounds have become. The gloves are off but maybe both are missing the point.
Sustainable Development Debunking with Tired Old Cliches
GreenCease? I was so disappointed. I really had hoped for more. I made the mistake of following a random Tweet to their website. On the face of it I thought they were a critique of the GreenPeace environmental organisation. But one article struck me and it concerned the “Planet Under Pressure 2012″ conference in London: http://bit.ly/L6OiJ2 Continue reading
Climate Impacts Day
Climate impacts you. But we treat it like a problem with a solution. Climate Change is not simply a problem, it is a predicament. Predicaments have mitigations, you can get insurance but you cannot make the problem go away. I have spent my time at the pit face of this predicament and have observed the vast array of responses. Today I conclude that Transition is one of the few modern ideas that has realised Climate Change as a predicament. Some of the brightest brains in the world have yet to figure this out, and even many individuals within the Climate Change movement haven’t woken up to this. Continue reading