An absurdist approach to tipping points: towards a better understanding of the climate change problem

Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation is to determine if we can conceptualise a method of revolt that more appropriately approaches the existential threat of the climate crisis through an absurdist perspective. The intention is to apply the theory of revolt, which is found in absurdism, to responses to the climate crisis and, through this application, determine how the ideal approach coupled with social tipping points can promote a better response to the climate crisis. In this sense, two broader groups are investigated in this dissertation. Radical climate activism is covered in the first article as representative of the more informal responses to the climate crisis, whilst the institutional responses, covered in the second article, are representative of the official responses from governmental bodies and non-governmental organisations. The investigation of radical climate activism focuses on the disruptive protest actions frequently used by groups in this category, whilst the investigation into the institutional responses focusses on their frequent neglect of groups that are more vulnerable to the climate crisis. This institutional harm is frequently done through their adoption of solutions that either exclude or actively harm these groups. These responses are then evaluated to determine if they are good or bad revolt, where an action of bad revolt would be considered as one that either ignores or actively harms humans whilst good revolt would be representative of actions that seek to preserve present human lives and wellbeing. Once the aspects of the approaches indicative of good revolt are understood, social tipping points are investigated to determine how these good aspects may influence the societal shift in the approach of the climate crisis. The primary method that is utilised here is in the form of a literature study. The absurd (as defined by Albert Camus), social tipping points, the radical climate activist movements, the effects of the climate crisis on vulnerable groups, and the institutional responses are investigated based on existing literature on the subject. Whilst there are contemporary articles that touch on the absurd and the climate crisis (e.g. Chaix 2019; Lowan-Trudeau 2021; Stopicr 2022), as well as the effect the crisis has on vulnerable groups, the role that revolt plays, as well as the nuances between good and bad revolt, is frequently neglected. This dissertation, therefore, will explore this section of applied absurdism.