Guilt, responsibility and climate change

the case of the floods in Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the difference between guilt and responsibility, in the context of the ecological crisis, particularly after de floodings in Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and the following public shock. We begin by presenting a short historical and conceptual background, which will present a few important moments in the progressive occupation, by the ecological issues, of a central place in contemporary politics and society. In this moment of the argument, we will present Vandana Shiva’s criticism to the Modern development model, implemented throughout the world. We then turn our attention to the notion of ideology as discussed by Hannah Arendt, particularly regarding its purpose of total domination, legitimized by resorting to putative superhuman processes. In a third moment, we discuss what we called – tentatively – “generic form of the modern political subjectivity”, intending to show that it is dependent, along with the community it establishes, on the reproduction of existential crises for its preservation. Lastly, we discuss the distinction between guilt and responsibility, based on Hannah Arendt’s writings, closing the paper with brief remarks regarding an alternative form of political subjectivity, more capable of dealing with the ecological issues of our time.