A Collapse

In "The Collapse of Western Civilization," Oreskes and Conway point out that one ideology in particular that contributed to the creation of conditions responsible for the failure to transition into renewable energies. Before it is described in detail, it's pointed out that Western civilization knew what was happening and why, and still failed to prevent the collapse. This was particularly alarming to me, because I feel the same way. When I meet someone who doesn't believe in climate change, I can't bring myself to empathize or attempt to understand and appreciate their perspective. It seems anachronistic at this point to not acknowledge that climate change is happening: How could you honestly think that way? When this book gives this phenomenon a name, calling it market fundamentalism, it points out a clear connection between economic and personal freedoms. It explains that people can put up fronts against modes of environmental thinking if their economic power or personal liberty appears to be jeopardized. To me, this seemed like a very important revelation. In a time where climate change's existence should be glaringly obvious, those with the authority to enact major changes choose to be ignorant for economic reasons. It painted my society as being one of extreme short-sightedness and greed.