Parr Center Presents: Peter Railton

Peter Railton, “Well-Being and Global Climate Change”

Psychological research on human happiness has developed a vast literature on what is called subjective well-being, which is a measure that combines positive feelings and a sense of how well one’s life is going. This research spans many decades, making it possible to trace the evolution of measures of subjective well-being, and also reaches to countries around the world. The research has yielded both impressive regularities and a number of notable paradoxes. Might a philosophical perspective enable us to bring together the regularities and the paradoxes under a unified understanding that tells us something important about human happiness? And might this in turn help us see why the steps needed to address long-term global climate change need not pose as stark a trade-off with short-term happiness as many have thought? I will argue that both of these questions can receive an affirmative answer.

This event is proudly co-sponsored by the Carolina Asia Center, the Center for Global Initiatives, the UNC Department of Philosophy, and the Center for Sustainable Enterprise.

This event is free & open to all! RSVP is not required. Pizza will be provided.