A Case for Personal Virtue

Abstract

In response to Vice President Cheney's famous dismissal of conservation as a mere "sign of personal virtue," I argue that personal virtue may be a necessary even if not a sufficient condition for "a sound, comprehensive energy policy." The most effective and worthwhile approach to energy policy is one that seeks both to change the overall system of energy production and distribution and to foster cultural change and personal virtue. I conclude with a selective list of personal virtues that may contribute to the development of a sustainable energy infrastructure.