Substituting Hope for Knowledge: A Pragmatic Case Against Climate Fatalism

This paper explores the role of anger and courage in fostering social hope within climate justice movements. Departing from a quote often attributed to Augustine, the paper explores Hope’s “two beautiful daughters: Anger at what is, and Courage to make it different” as an antidote to climate fatalism. This paper argues that climate fatalism must be resisted not because the position is wrong, but because it too easily lends itself to white-supremacist eco-fascist ideologies. Indeed, “acceptance” of the inevitable destructive effects of climate disaster pushes many toward draconian survivalist mentalities. Ecofascists embrace this kind of climate fatalism as they advocate for the elimination of Black and Brown bodies as necessary to ensure the survival of white lives as global resources grow slimmer due to climate change. For this reason, ethicists and scholars ought to resist climate fatalism at every juncture. Citing both secular and religious climate justice movements, this paper advocates exchanging climate fatalism for climate rage to cultivate social hope, even if the data shows the situation is hopeless.