Friday Philosophy Colloquium: Nancy Fraser (Rescheduled)

The Philosophy Department's Friday Colloquium, with guest speaker, Nancy Fraser (NSSR; critical theory, social theory). Title: Against the Environmentalism of the Rich: Why We Can’t Protect Nature without Emancipating Humanity. Abstract: In this lecture, I argue that single-issue environmentalism is “the environmentalism of the rich” and cannot save the planet. What is needed, rather, is an environmentalism from below, which links the defense of nature to the emancipation of human beings. Such an environmentalism must, I claim, be anti-capitalist and “trans-environmental”– linked to class struggles for livelihood security and labor rights, affordable housing and childcare, quality education and health care, migrant and minority rights, anti-sexism and anti-racism, peace and human rights. To support those propositions, I’ll offer a mix of arguments–some conceptual, some historical, some political.