Cultural Theories of Risk and Nature


The above image is adapted from your course text, Why We Disagree About Climate Change, by Mike Hulme.  This graph also appears in the power point presentation for class on 10/26.

The 2x2 matrix is a continuum of perspectives on how people relate to each other, expectations for rule making and relationship to nature.  Each quadrant describes an idealized state.  In general, people likely fall somewhere 'in the middle.'  Certainly, however, people can and do fall at the extremes.  

In about 200-250 words, describe where you fall within this 2x2 matrix.  Be specific.  You can write in regards to nature and community generally or specifically in the context of climate and climate change policy.

Due Tuesday, October 31 at 11:59PM.

Comments

  1. After reading the chapter and analyzing the matrix, I think that socially I fall under the hierarchists’ category because I am "strongly group-oriented and feel bonded to larger social units." Ever since I was a kid I have always been this way whether it was sports team or something else I am a strongly group-orients person. In high school I was the captain of our soccer team senior year which I worked hard for throughout my 4 years. Also I am in a fraternity on campus which is essentially a socially run group that has a hierarchy in it. The top dog is our president, then vice president, and so on until you get to the members who are not in an office position like myself. However, many sophomores do not hold office positions which makes the hierarchy based on seniority. Just like in high school, how I worked my way through the hierarchy to be captain senior year, I plan to hold an officer position my junior and senior year in the fraternity. Environmentally speaking I think I would fall primarily into the fatalist box because I think we need to treat nature with care but different climates can change in a short amount of times. Whether it is due to natural disasters or human pollution, everything in this world is based on chance.

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  2. I fall mostly under the "Hierarchists" category. In regards to the management of human-caused climate change, I think that high social regulation is necessary. The only way we can possibly make a significant enough change to reverse the damage that we have already caused (before pushing past the Earth's tipping point), is to regulate large corporations/businesses/social policy with the purpose of reducing our carbon footprint. While most individuals may not have the ability or resources to create large scale, mass change, this can be done with policy changes that enforce these changes at a societal level. Also, large corporations and businesses have very large impacts, not just economically, but environmentally as well. If these companies are regulated with the health of the environment and the mitigation of climate change in mind, this would make a tremendous difference. However, I do hold individualistic views as well, because I believe that each of us have a personal responsibility to protect the Earth that provides us with life. Although one person may not make much of a difference, they still make a difference. The idea of collective change means that each individual is changing with the collective whole. I try to do as much as I can as an individual, even though I think societal regulations are extremely important. This is an example of how I do not fit perfectly into one category.

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  3. I believe I fall in the hierarchist category. I personally believe in high regulation of corporate companies because they are the ones that have the biggest impact on the environment. Even though Climate Change has been proven to be natural, CO2 emissions add more pollutants to the atmosphere to make the whole effect worse. These large scale companies are the ones with the money, and money in this world means power. These wealthy corporations have the power to change their ways of excreting so much pollution. Normal people like me can only do so much, and that is to minimize my own carbon footprint. I do not have a lot of money, which I do not hold to be a large value so therefore I can only do so much. If I could, I would build solar panels on my house, or even buy a wind farm to pump renewable energy to homes. These corporations have the power to build solar farms, and wind farms, but the corporation owners are all about their own money and their own overall wealth. So if the CEO's and Owners of large-scale businesses cannot spend money on renewable resources to minimize their own carbon footprint, then the government should regulate their carbon emissions on a monthly basis in order to maintain a reasonable and tolerant level.

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  4. After reading the chapter and analyzing the matrix I have found that I fall under the hierarchist category for several reasons. Firstly I feel as if I work better in groups because collaborating minds works the best for me. I have noticed in school I tend to work better in a group so I immediately fell into the hierarchist category. I also strongly believe in the regulation of large corporations and companies because that's where most of the pollution stems from. Humans are the obvious and most prevalent cause of pollution and this being a fact I would argue that reversing this problem should be at the top of our priorities. I have also found that making my carbon footprint as small as possible is extremely important because I am not a hypocrite. I believe that if you advocate something you should stick to it. Falling under this category has made me realize my values more clearly because I have been challenged to do so. Even though I am conservative I still believe in the negative impact of climate change and its detrimental cause of people's life styles. Seeing and learning about this factor has ultimately lead me to becoming the way I am today and sculpting my views to that of climate change needing to be reversed.

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  5. Based on the grid, I feel that I fall more in the Hierarchists category. It’s mainly based on my view that high social regulation and high social contact is very important in regards to climate change. Prevention and protection are very important to me and it takes a group effort to accomplish. The high social regulation I feel is important because the carbon footprint we have produced, has been produced by society as a whole. If regulations are put in place not just on normal citizens, but corporations, it can drastically effect the environment around us for the better. The high social contact addresses the same point. To help protect our world, a lot of people need to stand up and work together to create real change. I myself try my best to conserve energy, recycle, and pick up trash when I see it floating around, because I can say all these things and not do it myself, which is hypocritical. I don’t necessarily look at the economic part of climate change, I look at nature and how it has been effected by humans. Seeing pollution everywhere I go, animals that have to live in it, makes me angry and want to take action. If we helped make this mess, we need to help undo it. The point of why I’m in the Hierarchists category is because I believe that it will take a lot of people and regulations to ease what has been done by us all.

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  6. Douglas and Wildavsky's framework for thinking about why people perceive risk differently, divides the population into four different categories. While my feelings about society and nature have and continue to change with time, I feel that the egalitarian view is most in line with my beliefs. I do feel bonded to a larger social unit. I can appreciate and respond well to group efforts and team work. In my day to day life I feel like I am an active member in my college, work and local communities. While I can appreciate a governing being and I do understand the need to some rules and regulations I do not feel that governing social interactions, roles and ranks are as important as a hierarchists might. I favor the egalitarians view that everyone is fundamentally equal and will only respond to imposed rules and regulations if they believe they are right for them. Specifically, I know that it is the law to drive a certain speed limit on the highway, but if the highway has little to no traffic and I am running late I would disregard to law to drive at a speed I feel is acceptable for the conditions I am in. I can also relate to the egalitarians view on nature. I am inspired and amazed by the nature that surrounds me everyday. I feel that I am my best self and the happiest when in a natural environment. I feel that it takes voluntary work and effort from all members of the community to ensure its continual presence. I believe to make a difference in the way our world is currently heading with regards to the warming climate because of CO2 rising, that all members of the world need to make a joint effort to care for the future of our planet.

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  7. In the context of climate and climate change policy I would say I fall most closely in the “Hierarchists” category. As the book mentioned, a hierarchal perspective recognizes the strong social structure in society and in terms of using this as a means to address climate change issues the most broad reaching and direct way possible, it is greatly in the hands of the government, highest in terms of social structures with the ability to set rules and regulations to the rest of society. The government must be in change of setting rules and regulations that can limit the progress of human caused climate change, this would be better regulations of industry and big-business associated with generating a disproportionate amount of CO2. The government should also work to regulate transportation emissions and work to promote environmental policies. If communities then implement these polices and work to build more sustainable communities these policies can then impact communities more locally. From this perspective, I also fall towards the more individual perspective in most aspects of society in general. It is the individual that really has to embody the responsibility we have with nature in order to facilitate the policies of the government in the most effective way possible. I personally value the commitment and subsequent power of individuals to each make changes in their lifestyles that can work to combat climate change. While you may not see the changes first hand, I believe that it is possible for each small individual change to create eventually larger social change. One way I see this in my own life is my commitment to being vegetarian, for various reasons, one of them being for environmental reasons. While I might not directly see the environmental changes or the reduction in CO2 I know that by not participating in the meat industry, I am one less consumer and I am making a small change amoungst others who choose to limit their consumption of meat. It is each of our individual responsibility to recognize the impact we have on our environment, unless this happens change will never occur completely.

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  8. After learning more about each part of the matrix by analyzing the chart and reading the chapter, I will have to say that like many in the class, I fall under the hierarchists category when it comes to nature and the environment in general. This category includes individuals who realize that nature is being harmed by humans, yet take action because of knowing that there are many ways we can treat it with care to keep it tolerable. When it comes to the ways I take action, I am very big into things such as: recycling, picking up litter anywhere I see it, using re-usable water bottles, and choosing to walk instead of driving to places. I do not think that I'm personally responsible for helping the environment, but I do know that every little action I take can definitely make a difference in the long run. I believe that society as a whole is ruining nature and if we don't take care of it, it will only get worse. Climate change to me has already been proven, and as a society we should all take initiative to make sure it does not destroy our planet. As the chapter notes, ones who fit into this category believe that the government has enough power to make rules and regulations regarding issues such as climate change. I agree with this because the government is on a very high social platform. In my opinion, if you have the power to make change then you should act on it. However, I do know that it will take a lot of hard work and time to make change happen in this country. That is why I believe that we need to take action in our communities by implementing policies that will benefit the environment. Just like the hierarchists category on the matrix indicates, outcomes can be managed. Earth is being destroyed but I have the faith that we all can have a positive effect on the environment by not only taking action ourselves and knowing our role in society, but making the government act on it as well and take advantage of the power they have (in a positive way.)

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  9. I believe I fall on the right side of the matrix, somewhere in the middle of the Hierarchists and the Egalitarians. I hold views of nature that fit well into both categories; we owe it to the earth to treat it with care because it is the greatest gift we have and the only reason we even exist. It takes both common effort and government action to accomplish any sort of large-scale change. I feel the key to this is the “high social contact” part of the matrix, regardless of regulation; we need to share the knowledge of the damage we are causing, and the solutions that are being discovered, with as many people as possible.
    The options to make a difference are here now and the barriers we are facing are coming from people with low social contact. They are living in a world which is changing and they refuse to change with it, or maybe they are unaware of the solutions available. Either way, with the growth of interconnections between cultures and the availability of knowledge on the internet, people are becoming more aware and having more power to share their opinions on complex topics like climate change. Sometimes the best way to succeed as an individual is to ensure the success of the community.

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  10. I believe that I fall in the egalitarian section of this matrix in regards to climate change and nature. I am an egalitarian because when it comes to making decisions that affect the world and nature, these decisions affect everyone, even people who have no say in what decision should be made. So that is why I believe that the good of the world and all people should be put first before the individual in this case because too much is at stake. Nature is very fragile and the human race has come a long way in terms of technology and how that technology can affect nature, and in turn affect our lives. While I don’t think there is anything wrong with advancing technology and using the resources we have to make a better life, the use of these resources need to be responsible and moderate in their use. I believe that a more traditional, sustainable life is preferable to a life that risks dangers to nature and the environment. I believe that countries should come together and work together to fight climate change for the greater good and put aside other goals, whether they be social or economic, until this threat is properly mitigated.

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  11. After looking at the 2x2 Matrix I would consider myself to fall in the category of "Hierarchist". The following category explains that people who are Hierarchists are ones who believe that if nature is treated with care the outcomes can managed. This category can also be explained as people who believe that we as humans are the ones creating this change in the environment. I fall into this category for many reasons; the way I believe climate change works and also how I effect/prevent climate change. I may not be the most reduce, reuse, recycle person but I try to participate in day to day habits that, hopefully, play a small role in the longevity of our resources and planet. For example, when readily available, I choose to purchase recycled materials, limit my use of electricity and use eco-efficient light bulbs, as well as separate my garbage from my recycling. I may not drive an electric car and actively advocate for a cleaner environment in my community, but I do recognize that our choices as humans play a major role in the depreciation of certain climates, animal species, and natural resources. I believe that if everyone made better choices we could correct that depreciation and provide our ancestors with the opportunity to live comfortably and safely on earth, however, I am also aware of the unfortunate reality that those choices are not always easy to make. Sometimes we have to go the extra mile to make eco-friendly choices, and being that we are not immediately experiencing all the effects of climate change and global warming, we do not feel the imminent pressure to do something about it.

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  12. After analyzing the 2x2 matrix and carefully considering each option, I have to agree with the vast majority of my classmates on this one. While I can see certain aspects of each category that may be true to some extent, I definitely lean towards high social contact and the need for higher social regulations. My fellow Hierarchists certainly know the impact and the influence that humans have on nature and that we are currently, as a society, disregarding specific trends that will only exponentiate as time moves forward. While I believe mother nature is resilient, it will begin to change at a rate that humans, and most life on Earth, will not be able to adapt to. It may seem like it is already too late to reverse the course of the last century, with carbon emissions at an all time high, however we still have the potential and the capability to if we can unify and set a new standard for what we need to do to survive and pave the way for future generations. Right now we are witnessing all sorts of warning signs of what is to come, such as mass extinctions, sea levels rising, higher magnitude of natural disasters, record temperatures and many more. We, as a society, need to recognize these signs and do everything we can to mitigate these factors before it really is too late.

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  13. Based on looking at the matrix I believe the I would fall into the hierarchist category. This category fits me well because it says we believe that with our help and efforts the climate could be controlled more or managed within the outcomes. I also think that this is kind of a middle point on the matrix and isn't too aggressive or to relaxed. I think that with the right leaders and policies this way of thinking would be highly beneficial to the environment. The same applies to community issues as well, giving some assistance could be more beneficial than doing nothing and watching. I personally try to reduce my impact by doing things such as recycling when possible, conserving electricity and water, carpooling and supporting products and companies that try and reduce their impact, in an effort to inspire growth of companies that are doing there best to protect and sustain life on earth. I think that if everyone did their best at being conscious of the footprint that they're leaving; the signs of global warming and climate change would not be as noticeable as they are in today’s world.

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  14. I feel like I fall in the egalitarian section of the 2 x 2 matrix when it comes to climate change. Everyone that lives affects the climate in some way and is equally responsible for the outcomes that they cause. We are in a critical point in time where the younger generations can make advancements and do good for the world, or we can continue down the same path we have been on and blindly ruin the resources on earth. For example, just about every person I know that tells me about climate change drives a car that uses gasoline, instead of using an electric powered vehicle. This doesn't show that this person is uneducated or indifferent about the environment, it just shows that as a society, we haven't made the use of these cars readily available, and for some reason, the cars that are available are not being bought. This speaks volumes about the current norms that are extremely detrimental to the earth. Of course, government policy has put restrictions on car manufacturers to improve the footprint of the cars they produce. However, just creating policies aren't always enough to make a difference. It will take a change of culture, not just policies to benefit the earth.

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  15. After further examination of the chapter, I have come to the conclusion that I am a spot on Egalitarian. As the framework states, I do feel strongly bonded in social unit. I was absolutely astounded when Donald Trump took us out of the Paris Climate Agreement because I believe climate change is something that affects us all as human beings. We should be uniting to find ways to stop destroying our home on earth instead of disbanding and continuing our destruction. We have a very limited amount of natural resources and once we use them up we can never get them back. The book states that a myth that is favored by us egalitarians is “the collapse of civilization is the outcome if fossil fuel use rises”. I don’t see this as a myth. If we use up all of our fossil fuels civilization as we know it will be no more. We will go into anarchy. Same goes for our clean drinking water. If we continue to soil our fresh water chaos will ensue. In conclusion, we need to work together to slow down the destruction of our earth. We don’t have the capacity to fully understand what will happen if we don’t.

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  16. Within this 2x2 matrix I can see a little bit of myself in each box. If I had to pick one I would say I fit within the “individualist” box, but I would trend closer to the center then to the lower left-hand side. I do believe that each individual is responsible for their life and for their contributions to helping or harming the planet. Some social regulation is necessary, because without any social regulation one person or company could easily undo the hard work of hundreds with excessive pollution or poor environmental practices. Some social contact is also necessary, people need to be able to communicate ideas with one another in order to progress and improve. However too much social contact can be a hinderance. There will always be some who is more environmentally friendly. I admire people who can live a vegan lifestyle and ride their bike everywhere, but I don’t want to be shamed by those people because I have a car and eat meat. It’s also not my place to try to force a person who drives a large truck and creates more waste than I do to change their lives. Change is best made when an individual chooses to change on their own accord rather than being forced. Positive influences and ideas can help to spur change in a positive direction. I would rather see positive action praised than inaction punished, but I do believe in some instances negative actions need to be punished.

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