In this article, UK writer Gerard Baker offers up an interesting philosophical take on whether you should be sceptical about climate change. He notes how 17th century French philosopher Blaise Pascal dealt with an interesting dilemma: if you believe in God and live life as though you will go to heaven based on your actions and God doesn’t prove to exist then you are a fool compared to those who don’t believe and live a more dissolute (though potentially more fun) life. On the other hand, if God does exist then those who laughed it off have an entirely different problem. Pascal came to the conclusion that you should live as though God and heaven are real, just in case they are. The payoff long term is much greater.
Baker says that, following Pascal’s reasoning, even if you don’t believe warming is happening or that we’re causing it, you might as well act as though it is. That way, if it is you’ll have worked to alleviate it. If it’s not happening, the worst thing we’ll have is a cleaner planet and less reliance on fossil fuels.
Philosophy- gotta love it!