Sustainable Development as a Civilizational Revolution A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Challenges of the 21st Century

About this book

As a concept, sustainable development is in conflict with traditional development based upon economic growth. Sustainable development is an attempt to formulate a programme that integrates different aspects (ecological, social, and economical) which were usually considered as separate from each other. "Sustainable Development as a Civilizational Revolution. A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Challenges of the 21st Century" expands the discussion on sustainable development, including ethical, technical/technological, legal and political aspects. Since it is not possible to solve environmental problems solely by technical means, without taking into account economic or environmental aspects, the degree to which they overlap is discussed. In addition it is necessary to emphasize the importance of social and moral considerations. A clean environment is a valuable attribute, but its achievement at the expense of high unemployment--or some other form of severe social conflict--cannot be regarded as action in line with the sustainable-development principle.

The tremendous scope of these changes makes it reasonable to expect this new vision for development to achieve the status of a revolution comparable to those known from the past: the agricultural, scientific and industrial revolutions. "Sustainable Development as a Civilizational Revolution. A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Challenges of the 21st Century" will be invaluable to graduate and post-graduate students following advanced courses on sustainable development, scientists dealing with sustainable development, and academia interested in environmental and social sciences.

Contents

About the Author
Introduction

The evolution of the idea of sustainable development in history
- Worldwide perspective
- European perspective

Theoretical basis for sustainable development
- The notion of sustainable development
- Hierarchy of planes
- The principles of sustainable development
- Indicators of sustainable development

Philosophy, religion and environmental education
- Eco-philosophy and the ethical plane of sustainable development
- Religion and sustainable development
- Ethics in practice: Ecological attitude and education
- A new research field: A philosophical audit

Level II of sustainable development: Ecological, social, and economic considerations
- Ecological plane
- Social plane
- Economic plane

Level III of sustainable development: Technical, legal and political considerations
- Technical plane
- Legal plane
- Political plane

Integration of planes, the phenomenon of globalization and the Sustainable Development Revolution
- Overlapping of sustainable development planes
- The challenges of globalization
- Breakthroughs in human history
- Sustainable development as a civilizational revolution

Conclusions
References
Index

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