Michael Nelson (Lyman Briggs College; Fisheries & Wildlife; and Philosophy) has a new essay in the March issue of The Ecologist in which he argues that giving people hope for the health of our planet might keep them from taking real action to build a sustainable future.

Nelson and co-author John Vucetich of Michigan Tech argue that hope as a motivator is based on speculation about the future, and that we instead ought to be concerned with how to act virtuously now, regardless of what might lie ahead.

I spoke with Nelson about his argument and its origins.

-Andy McGlashen

ESPP affiliate Michael Nelson will give a talk and signing of The Wilderness Debate Rages On, a volume he co-edited with J. Baird Callicott of the University of North Texas.  He’ll be at Schuler Books and Music in the Meridian Mall (note - not the Eastwood store) on Tuesday the 27th at 7:30 p.m.  My apologies for not announcing the event sooner, but I just learned about it myself.

Nelson is jointly appointed by Lyman Briggs College and Fisheries and Wildlife, and teaches philosophy and environmental ethics.  It promises to be an enlightening talk from a friendly and engaging speaker.  And I finally returned the book to the MSU library, so it may at last be available for checkout - though it’s certain to disappear again soon after tomorrow night’s event.

-Andy McGlashen