Climate Quote by John Barnes
““I would take it as a personal favor if you would use the term Ambient Temperature Risen American.” “Ha, ha, ha.” He saw that Reagan was not smiling. “Ah, of course, anyway, I just wanted to say that many of my close friends are at ambient temperature, in fact many of them have become estates, which I think we have to learn to think of as they are every bit as much a person as any corporation, or any other corporation if the estate happens to be incorporated or own a corporation, because we have to think about that. And I want you to know that I can identify very strongly with that, because, in fact, many of my ancestors are ambient temperature also, as I know from having attended their baptisms.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview, date unknown
The speaker humorously equates non-living entities with persons, urging recognition of their agency and rights.
In simple terms: Treat all entities, even non-living, as having personhood.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and respect the agency of all entities.
Themes
personhood
rights
anthropomorphism
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
satirical
When to use this quote
- corporate law
- environmental policy
- technology ethics
- social activism
Key Concepts
legal personhood
ethical consideration
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personifying non-living entities affect our ethical responsibilities?
- What limits should exist in extending personhood?
A Different Perspective
Equating non-living things to persons can dilute meaningful legal distinctions.
