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Chapter 9 - A Perfect Planet

from Part III - Transfiguration and Global Perfection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 May 2024

Robin Gill
Robin Gill
Affiliation:
University of Kent, Canterbury
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Summary

Chapter 9 concludes this discussion of human perfection by looking at what many see as the most pressing global issue today – human environmental pollution and destruction. Viewed through the lens of the luminous television series A Perfect Planet, this chapter addresses the issues of unwarranted suffering from natural forces, religious and secular experiences of awe at biodiversity, and secular eschatological fears of ecological catastrophe. Damage to a perfect planet is viewed as a serious challenge to claims about human perfection. The Dominican theologians Herbert McCabe and Brian Davies (the latter debating with the philosopher Michael Ruse) are both used critically. Hope, however, is seen in the leadership offered by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si and in a growing consensus among both faith and secular traditions that this damage must be addressed by effective action, based upon the moral concept of the common good, for the sake of both a perfect planet and the astonishing biodiversity (including human beings) within it.

Keywords

A Perfect Planettheodicyhuman environmental pollution and destructionclimate changeeschatologyHerbert McCabeBrian DaviesMichael Rusecommon goodPope FrancisLaudato sifaith and secular groups co-operating
Type
Chapter
Information
Human Perfection, Transfiguration and Christian Ethics , pp. 195 - 221
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • A Perfect Planet
  • Robin Gill, University of Kent, Canterbury
  • Book: Human Perfection, Transfiguration and Christian Ethics
  • Online publication: 09 May 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009476775.013
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  • A Perfect Planet
  • Robin Gill, University of Kent, Canterbury
  • Book: Human Perfection, Transfiguration and Christian Ethics
  • Online publication: 09 May 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009476775.013
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • A Perfect Planet
  • Robin Gill, University of Kent, Canterbury
  • Book: Human Perfection, Transfiguration and Christian Ethics
  • Online publication: 09 May 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009476775.013
Available formats
×