What Will We Tell Our Grandchildren?: The Cultural Origins of America's Climate Inaction

With climate change accelerating, why do we fail to act?

In What Will We Tell Our Grandchildren? The Cultural Origins of America's Climate Inaction, philosopher Tom O'Neill explores how deeply rooted cultural beliefs have shaped the American mindset. He examines the tension between inherited religious assumptions, professed Enlightenment ideals, and profit-driven economic priorities-a tension that makes inaction easier and accountability harder, even as the climate consequences become impossible to ignore.

Across history, O'Neill uncovers a persistent pattern of human indifference and moral avoidance in the face of urgent warnings, from early concerns about overpopulation to today's stark climate reports. He also considers modern failures such as the media's role in shaping public perception and the limits of personal responsibility in a society built on convenience and wealth.

Ultimately, O'Neill asks readers to face a difficult truth: The choices we make today define the world future generations inherit. Understanding the cultural forces behind those choices is a first step toward breaking through our paralysis and repairing the world we pass on.