A Philosophy of Catastrophes or a Catastrophe of Philosophies

There are many currents in philosophical writings, that deal with today's serious ecological problems and the catastrophes they engender. The aim of this book is to show the diversity of these currents and to judge them on the basis of their ability to provide us with concrete tools for getting out of the ecological impasse in which we find ourselves today, notably the urgency to find new types of ecological and human management. Some of these currents are they only offer the prospect of a mental adaptation to these catastrophes, or invite us to leave planet earth and take refuge on other planets. Others, of a cynical bent, openly support the forces that have led to the current situation of 'ecological bankruptcy', arguing that the same economic system that has led us to the current ecological impasse will be able to provide us with miraculous technical solutions for our salvation. Still others, the vast majority, are so cut off from the realities of today's economic world, and in particular from the problems of practical business management, that their very general views offer very few operational solutions for changing the situation. And yet there are some philosophies, admittedly very few in number, that seem appropriate to the radical transformation that is needed of the management of capitalist the philosophy of catastrophes is not necessarily synonymous with a catastrophe of philosophies. The author draws on philosophy , economics, accounting, and history to address what many consider humanityâ€s most serious challeng Introduction PART ONE The Main Theories of Philosophers of Catastrophes on the Nature and the Causes of Ecological Crises Chapter 1 The philosophers of catastrophes face up to the reality and importance of the problem of climate change The first category: “negationist” philosophers The second category: “collapsologist” philosophers The third category: optimistic anti-catastrophist philosophers Chapter 2 The targets of action and the actions of the philosophers of catastrophes in the face of future disasters The case of negationist philosophers The case of collapsological philosophers The case of anti-catastrophism optimist philosophers Philosophers who target the techniques Philosophers who target all human beings Philosophers who essentially target consumers. Philosophers who question capitalists in particular Philosophers who target Europeans or Westerners Philosophers who have multiple, even all-encompassing targets Chapter 3 The means of action proposed by the philosophers of catastrophes in the face of disasters The case of stoic philosophers and collapsologists: focusing on changing mentalities The case of Stiegler and his fight against the pharmakon of techniques The case of optimistic anti-catastrophist philosophers who favour widespread local action The case of optimistic anti-catastrophist philosophers who favour action against capitalism The case of optimistic anti-catastrophist philosophers who advocate action on all fronts PART TWO A Critical Historical Study of Philosophers' Attitudes to the Causes of the Ecological Crisis and the Targets of their Action Introduction Chapter 4 Thesis 1: All consumers are responsible for environmental problems (Consumerocene thesis) Chapter 5 Thesis 2: Ecological problems are attributable to mass production techniques (Technicocene thesis) Chapter 6 Thesis 3: Ecological problems are attributable to industrial society (Industrialocene thesis) Chapter 7 Thesis 4: Modern human reason and calculation are responsible for ecological problems (Ratiocene thesis) Chapter 8 Thesis 5: Ecological problems are attributable to the development of colonial plantations (Plantationocene theory) Chapter 9 Thesis 6: Capitalism is to blame for environmental problems (Capitalocene thesis) The theses of traditional authors The new theses of Marxist ecological economists Moore's and Patel's positions on the Anthropocene concept The origins of capitalism according to Moore and Patel The nature of capital and capitalism in the new capitalist society of the 16th century according to Moore Chapter 10 Thesis 7: The thesis of an epicentre of the Anthropocene PART THREE The Philosophers of Nature and the Problem of the Reality and Definition of Capitalism: Five Theses that Counter Preconceived Ideas Introduction Chapter 11 First thesis: Capital in real modern capitalism is not a means of action Chapter 12 Second thesis: Private ownership of the means of production is not a constituent element of modern capitalism Chapter 13 Third thesis: The existence (or not) of markets for goods and services is not a criterion of modern capitalism Chapter 14 Fourth thesis: The existence of a market for labour power is not an essential criterion of modern capitalism Chapter 15 Fifth thesis: The pursuit of profit as an attribute of modern capitalism is a false obvious fact Chapter 16 Sixth thesis: A proposed new definition of modern capitalism PART FOUR Reconsidering the Different Modalities of the Anthropocene: The Errors of Natural Philosophers Chapter 17 Criticism of the Plantationocene concept Chapter 18 Criticism of the Ratiocene concept Chapter 19 Criticism of the Industrialocene concept Chapter 20 Criticism of the Technicocene concept Are techniques inherently dangerous? The development of technology took place mainly in the 20th and 21st centuries. The capitalist technique of the double entry as a “super device.” Chapter 21 Criticism of the Consumerocene concept PART FIVE The Responsibility of Capitalists in the Development of Ecological Crises Chapter 22 Historical evidence of massive destruction of 'natural capital' by modern capitalists from the early Middle Ages onwards194F Chapter 23 The destructive force of capitalist enterprise today PART SIX Milestones for a New Ecological and Human Management (The CARE/TDL Model) PART SEVEN The Anticapitalist Philosophy of the Degrowtherists: A Possibility for Joint Action with the Promoters of the CARE/TDL Model? Chapter 24 What the degrowth movement and the CARE model have in common A fundamentally anti-capitalist approach An optimistic approach based on the concept of ecological and human limits that must be respected in order to preserve life on earth A critique of the old (traditional) left-wing forces and a proposal for new types of action with new forms of support A preference for local non-violent action despite some hesitation The search for new types of support Concrete solutions for a new economy Chapter 25 Possible points of cooperation between the degrowtherists and the promoters of the CARE model PART EIGHT Audier's Eco-Republican Anti-Capitalist Philosophy: Another Possibility for Joint Action with the Proponents of the CARE /TDL Model? Chapter 26 Audier's critical theses Audier’s first thesis Audier’s second thesis Audier's third thesis Audier’s fourth thesis Audier’s fifth thesis Sixth thesis Seventh thesis Eighth thesis Ninth thesis Tenth thesis Chapter 27 Audier's positive theses First thesis Second thesis Third thesis Fourth thesis Fifth thesis Sixth thesis Seventh thesis Eighth thesis: The city model proposed by Audier Chapter 28 The possibilities of a fruitful interaction between Audier’s ecological philosophy and the CARE/TDL model A work with which I feel largely in osmosis A work which, despite its richness, has certain shortcomings Towards a fruitful collaboration with solidarist eco-republicans based on the notion of extended capital - debt General conclusion Bibliography There are many currents in philosophical writings, that deal with today's serious ecological problems and the catastrophes they engender. The aim of this book is to show the diversity of these currents and to judge them on the basis of their ability to provide us with concrete tools for getting out of the ecological impasse in which we find ourselves today, notably the urgency to find new types of ecological and human management. Some of these currents are hopeless: they only offer the prospect of a mental adaptation to these catastrophes, or invite us to leave planet earth and take refuge on other planets. Others, of a cynical bent, openly support the forces that have led to the current situation of'ecological bankruptcy', arguing that the same economic system that has led us to the current ecological impasse will be able to provide us with miraculous technical solutions for our salvation. Still others, the vast majority, are so cut off from the realities of today's economic world, and in particular from the problems of practical business management, that their very general views offer very few operational solutions for changing the situation. And yet there are some philosophies, admittedly very few in number, that seem appropriate to the radical transformation that is needed of the management of capitalist firms: the philosophy of catastrophes is not necessarily synonymous with a catastrophe of philosophies. The author draws on philosophy, economics, accounting, and history to address what many consider humanity's most serious challenge.