09/15/2014 - Casey Batterbee

I found Zizek's point of view that there are inherent benefits to the inevitability of global warming to be fascinating. It is of course crucial to note (as Zizek does in Living in the End Times) that even though there may be inherent benefits that come from global warming, that we should still do our best to prevent it. This brings up the further point that global warming may have already progressed far enough that the world has already somewhat adapted to it. This causes quite a predicament: Surely we cannot continue on the same path we are going down, but at the same time, it may already be too late. The best we can do is settle somewhere in the middle, reducing our harm to the environment as much as we can, thereby slowing the progression towards the inevitable.

Another point that Zizek touches on, is whether or not humanity is a force of nature. He argues that originally we were not a force of nature in that our impact on the environment around us was not strong enough to influence the world in any significant way. However, with the development of technology and our carelessness with using that technology efficiently and to the benefit of the world, Zizek argues that we have indeed become a force of nature. I agree with this point, but on a level that Zizek himself would likely not agree with: I find great importance in the act of seeking out our natural roots as humans, and returning to nature to some degree, whereas Zizek envisions a future where technology progresses far enough that we are able to exist no matter the conditions we cause around us.