1st Edition

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

By Artur Pawlowski Copyright 2011

    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.

    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

    Biography

    Artur Pawlowski

    "Sustainable Development as a Civilizational Revolution: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Challenges of the 21st Century is a bold concept…The author suggests creating the vision of the sustainable future, and working backwards to get there. For those interested in different aspects of the sustainable development history and concept, this book would be worthwhile."
    —The Professional Geologist, 2014