Description
Human preferences, practices and actions are the main drivers of global environmental change in the 21st century. It is crucial, therefore, to promote pro-environmental behavior. In order to accomplish this, we need to move beyond rational choice and behavioral decision

Human preferences, practices and actions are the main drivers of global environmental change in the 21st century. It is crucial, therefore, to promote pro-environmental behavior. In order to accomplish this, we need to move beyond rational choice and behavioral decision theories, which do not capture the full range of commitments, assumptions, imaginaries, and belief systems that drive those preferences and actions. Humanities disciplines, such as philosophy, history, religious studies, gender studies, language and literary studies, psychology, and pedagogics do offer deep insights into human motivations, values, and choices. We believe that the expertise of such fields for transforming human preferences, practices and actions is ignored at society’s peril. We propose an agenda that focuses global humanities research on stepping up to the challenges of planetary environmental change. We have established Environmental Humanities Observatories through which to observe, explore and enact the crucial ways humanistic disciplines may help us understand and engage with global ecological problems by providing insight into human action, perceptions, and motivation. We present this Manifesto as an invitation for others to join the “Humanities for the Environment” open global consortium of humanities observatories as we continue to develop a shared research agenda.
Reuse Permissions
  • Downloads
    PDF (222.5 KB)

    Details

    Title
    • Humanities for the Environment—A Manifesto for Research and Action
    Date Created
    2015-12-21
    Resource Type
  • Text
  • Collections this item is in
    Identifier
    • Digital object identifier: 10.3390/h4040977
    • Identifier Type
      International standard serial number
      Identifier Value
      2076-0787
    Note
    • The final version of this article, as published in Humanities, can be viewed online at: http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/4/4/977

    Citation and reuse

    Cite this item

    This is a suggested citation. Consult the appropriate style guide for specific citation guidelines.

    Holm, P., Adamson, J., Huang, H., Kirdan, L., Kitch, S., Mccalman, I., . . . Wehner, K. (2015). Humanities for the Environment—A Manifesto for Research and Action. Humanities, 4(4), 977-992. doi:10.3390/h4040977

    Machine-readable links