Identify and explain the reasons why some societies make “disastrous decisions,” according to Diamond. What are the most serious problems identified by Diamond? Identify specific “signs of hope,” as discussed by Diamond. Utilize the course materials we’ve reviewed to date and your own knowledge and experience to argue in support of 3 things people could do on an individual level and 3 things we could (should?) do as a nation to address issues of environmental degradation across the globe. What objections might be raised against arguments for improving the environment? Are these objections sound? Why/why not?
In Chapter 15, Diamond discusses Big Business and the Environment. What are some of the reasons why different companies perceive it as being in their interests to adopt different policies, either harming or sparing the environment? What changes does Diamond suggest would be most effective in inducing companies that currently harm the environment to spare it instead? Please use examples from this reading.
Summarize the main ideas of Lecture 7. What, if anything, can the state and policy do to address issues of environmental justice? Please be thorough and provide examples from the course material.
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The reasons why some societies make “disastrous decisions,” according to Diamond.
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- Failure to Perceive a Problem Once it Arrives: Even when environmental problems begin to manifest, societies may fail to recognize them as significant. This can stem from a "landscape amnesia" where each generation normalizes the degraded environment it inherits, or from a slow rate of environmental decline that makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact moment of crisis. Diamond highlights the Norse Greenlanders who, despite direct evidence of environmental stress, continued unsustainable agricultural practices suited for their European homeland rather than adapting to the Arctic environment.
- Failure to Attempt to Solve a Problem Once Perceived: This is where internal factors, often driven by competing interests, short-term thinking, or deeply ingrained societal values, hinder effective action.
- "Tragedy of the Commons": Individuals or groups acting rationally in their self-interest deplete a shared, finite resource, even when it's detrimental to the long-term well-being of the collective. This applies to overfishing, deforestation, or water depletion.
Sample Answer
Understanding Societal Collapse and Environmental Action: A Diamond Perspective and Beyond
Jared Diamond's seminal work, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, meticulously examines the complex interplay of factors that lead societies to make "disastrous decisions" and, conversely, why some manage to avoid such fates. His analysis offers critical insights into environmental degradation and human resilience, providing a framework for understanding global challenges and identifying pathways toward a more sustainable future.
Reasons for Disastrous Decisions and Serious Problems (Diamond)
Diamond identifies several interwoven reasons why societies make "disastrous decisions," often leading to their collapse or severe decline. These are not mutually exclusive but frequently interact to amplify negative outcomes:
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