Strengthening Sustainability Practices in the Public Sphere

• In Event: Ethical and Conceptual Analysis of Science, Technology, and STEAM in Education

Abstract

Scientific consensus proves the reality of climate change driven by anthropogenic global warming. Amidst this global crisis, the U.S. is simultaneously undergoing a political crisis defined by the rise of authoritarian leadership. These dual crises have eroded Hannah Arendt’s concept of the public sphere. Through philosophical analysis and synthesis, we review the literature on the community college mission, Danielle Allen’s perception of participatory readiness, and examine leading works by Arendt to identify concepts that explain why and how community colleges can play a stronger role in restoring the public sphere. Community colleges must foster active participation through social learning to put students in positions to critically think about science, environmental issues, and social responsibility in new and different ways.

Authors

• Jonathon Sanders, The University of North Texas

• Clifford P. Harbour, University of North Texas