How can environmentalism fit into a free and liberal society?

1. How can environmentalism fit into a free and liberal society? Dan “Donny” Shahar Department of Philosophy

2. Setting the stage • “Modern environmentalism”: • The environment matters for its own sake • We should protect it with public policy • A reasonable view, but not the only reasonable view • Seemingly marginalized by traditional liberal institutions

3. Modern environmentalism and liberalism • Liberal institutions create domains where individuals are sovereign • Modern environmentalists want to restrict what individuals can do within their own domains • Are liberal institutions biased against modern environmentalism?

4. Challenges for both sides • Liberalism is supposed to be founded on respect fordiverse points of view • Modern environmentalists have argued as if their views should uniquely underpin society • We need a way to respect modern environmentalists while also respecting everyone else