This lecture is the first of three to theorize climate politics. Here, we look at the theory of politics as applied science or the "linear model." We explore the history of this theory and evaluate its merits.

1. 13. Climate Politics as
Applied Science
UNT Phil 4250 Climate Change
Adam Briggle (he/him/his)
adam.briggle@unt.edu
www.eesi.org

2. Ackbar asks a
‘rhetorical’
question.
• Should we even be talking
about “climate change”?
• Maybe resilience or
future-proofing

3. Outline
• Objective: to describe and evaluate a theory of climate politics that we will
call “applied science” or “the linear model.”
• The theory described
• An example
• Model
• History of the theory
• Ancient
• Modern
• The theory evaluated
• In its defense
• Critiques
• Looking ahead
• Taking more into account

4. • What if politics is just an extension of science – an applied science?
• Discover the problem, apply the solution…

5. Greta Thunberg
2019
• “Some people say that I should study to become a climate scientist so
that I can "solve the climate crisis." But the climate crisis has already
been solved. We already have all the facts and solutions. All we
have to do is to wake up and change… And what is the point of
learning facts in the school system when the most important
facts given by the finest science of that same school system clearly
means nothing to our politicians and our society.”
https://www.ted.com/talks/greta_thunberg_the_disarming_case_to_act_right_now_on_climate_change/transcript?language=en

6. The theory
Science Wise Policy ActionKnowledge Political Consensus

7. History of the theory: Ancient
• Plato and the replacement of action with making
• Escape plans from politics (frail, futile, unpredictable)
• Eidos perceived (soul/ruler/knower) Eidos executed
(body/ruled/doer)
• A blueprint enacted – philosopher king or Mon-archy
• Socrates on knowledge as virtue
• “We all think we know, and we all think everybody knows, but we
don’t.” – Thunberg
• Forgetting!
• Aristotle on how we can know the right thing but still fail to
do it
• Akrasia – weakness of will

8. History of the theory: Modern
• Hobbes vs. Boyle
• Science as a ‘neutral’ authority that can transcend politics
and secure the assent of pluralist (religious) worldviews.
• 19th century: Technocracy and scientific management – the
“one best way”
• 1945 “Science – the Endless Frontier” V. Bush
• Post-war optimism that science will solve our problems

9. Evaluating the theory: In its defense
• Leaders have a responsibility to make decisions on empirical evidence.
Science provides privileged insight into the way things are. Therefore,
policymakers have an obligation to listen to and follow the science.
• Science is the arbiter of truth for pluralist, secular societies.
• Clearly makes sense at least for ‘tame’ problems.
• A little more Spock (logic) would be a good thing.
• It foregrounds the importance of scientific independence – and the
dangers of politicizing science.
• The FDA, EPA, CDC, NIH…let alone academic science, must be
autonomous/free to speak (inconvenient) truth to power.

10. Evaluating the theory: Critiques
• Descriptively: It doesn’t always work that way.
• Plurality
• On science: uncertainty and disagreement among experts.
• On politics: disagreement about ends and means-to-ends.
• (contra Plato) Politics/Action is NOT making – it is not an applied science.
• It tends to promote the scientization of politics – people debating values in
the guise of science… as if “get the facts right” was enough to arrive at
consensus and action.
• We may not always need ‘more science’ to mitigate problems.
• Plus, as Spock said, “logic is the beginning of wisdom…not the end”

11. The theory under question…looking ahead
Science Wise Policy ActionKnowledge Political Consensus
Uncertainty
Expert disagreement
Seeing double
“Excess of objectivity”
Different media,
Different frames
Incommensurable epistemologies
Persistent factions
Alternative stories
(existential crisis or manageable issue)
Range from legitimate to conspiratorial
(not just ignorance or lies)
Multiple alternatives
(e.g., nuclear?)
Competing priorities
Uncertainties about
costs/benefits

12. “Politics may be
messy, but I run a
clean ship.”
-- Ackbar, space
commander