The Challenge of Population

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Conly
Keyword(s):  
Natural World ◽  
Violent Conflict ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Voluntary Action ◽  
Freedom Of Choice ◽  
Course Of Action ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Drinkable Water ◽  
Tax Benefits ◽  
To Come

According to the most informed estimates, if humans continue to reproduce as predicted, there will be a population of 9.7 billion by 2050 and 10.9 billion by 2100. No one knows exactly what sort of life these future generations will live, but the consensus is that it will be bad: There will be shortages of everything, especially food and drinkable water. There will be violent conflict over resources. And it will be devastating for the natural world in a way that will redound upon the humans who are causing the destruction. Given this, what should be done? The obligation to future generations is to produce fewer members of those generations. And this is an obligation that overrides other considerations. People do not have a right to freedom of choice when the wrong choice will be so harmful to those yet to come. That said, there are ways to influence people’s choices that allow people to choose freely the appropriate course of action. Contraception can be made free and readily available. People who have fewer children could be awarded with tax benefits. The fact that the fertility rate has already been falling consistently shows that people respond to non-coercive pressure to reduce family size. However, if, in the long run, voluntary action is not enough, certain sorts of coercion are permissible and can be introduced in ways that are consistent with equity between peoples.

The Anthropocene

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. Dryzek ◽  
Richard B. Norgaard ◽  
David Schlosberg
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Environmental Management ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Scientific Controversies ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Primary Driver ◽  
To Come ◽  
Global And Local

Climate change will challenge the human community in many ways for centuries to come. Human influence on the climate is now the primary driver of the shift to a less stable and more dynamic global environmental system—the Anthropocene. In this chapter we explore some profound implications of this new age. First, what we mean by “the environment” is now itself ever-changing, with human actions affecting the very makeup, functioning, and evolution of global and local ecosystems, pushing them in new directions that can be difficult to predict. Second, this new reality has consequences for the founding principles of environmental management, conservation, ecosystem restoration, and action on the environment in general. The use of the past as a baseline natural world to be restored or mimicked is no longer possible, and so the era of preservation as the basis of environmental management is over. Climate change is pushing ecological systems out of their Holocene comfort zone (the last 10,000 years of unusual climatic stability). Our conceptions of a “natural” world and how people relate to it will have to change as well. Scientific controversies, environmental politics, and ecological management begin to look very different as a result. While most environmental scientists warn of the profound difficulties of navigating the Anthropocene, some technological optimists envisage a brave new future where humanity progresses through continued advances in biotechnology, information technology, and nanotechnology (Silver, 1997; Kurzweil, 2005). In this light, climate change and the transition to the Anthropocene are just a bump in the path of human progress. This kind of thinking extends to geo-engineering the planet to both avoid the worst of climate change and even push human development in new directions. While some climate scientists are beginning to explore the possibilities and consequences of geo-engineering, others are concerned that such bold action will exacerbate environmental uncertainties. These tensions among scientists represent competing visions of the degree to which governance informed by science can really understand and constructively guide Earth processes. If humanity survives into the long run, there may be ways that the Anthropocene can be organized to provide for both ecosystem and human functioning.

A Priority and Application: Philosophy of Mathematics in the Modern Period

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Shabel
Keyword(s):  
Early Modern ◽  
Mathematical Reasoning ◽  
Philosophy Of Mathematics ◽  
Mathematical Practice ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Pure Mathematics ◽  
Philosophical Account ◽  
Mathematical Ontology ◽  
To Come ◽  
Modern Mathematics

The state of modern mathematical practice called for a modern philosopher of mathematics to answer two interrelated questions. Given that mathematical ontology includes quantifiable empirical objects, how to explain the paradigmatic features of pure mathematical reasoning: universality, certainty, necessity. And, without giving up the special status of pure mathematical reasoning, how to explain the ability of pure mathematics to come into contact with and describe the empirically accessible natural world. The first question comes to a demand for apriority: a viable philosophical account of early modern mathematics must explain the apriority of mathematical reasoning. The second question comes to a demand for applicability: a viable philosophical account of early modern mathematics must explain the applicability of mathematical reasoning. This article begins by providing a brief account of a relevant aspect of early modern mathematical practice, in order to situate philosophers in their historical and mathematical context.

Pelestarian Terbitan Berkala Koleksi Perpustakaan Nasional Republik Indonesia dengan Metode Penjilidan “Malaysia”

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-25
Author(s):  
Damaji Ratmono
Keyword(s):  
Field Research ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
National Library ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Descriptive Research ◽  
History Of ◽  
Research Interviews ◽  
To Come ◽  
Insight Into

Preservation of library materials or library collections is an effort made so that library materials can be used by future generations. This paper describes the "Malaysian" binding method used by the Sub Division of Technical Binding Materials of the National Library of Indonesia in preserving the collection of periodicals such as tabloids and newspapers. Apart from that, this paper also describes some of the advantages and disadvantages seen in the use of the "Malaysian" method as well as the early history of using this method in preserving the collection of periodicals in the National Library of Indonesia. This writing aims to make readers, especially library managers, know and gain insight into the "Malaysian" binding method. This writing method is through descriptive research with a qualitative approach. Methods of data collection are carried out through the field research, interviews, and literature study. The results show that the National Library of Indonesia uses this method after studying it from Malaysia in May 1990. From observations it is also known that this method has several advantages, namely the binding result is stronger, the collection is more preserved, the binding can be assembled and has an aesthetic side. Meanwhile, the disadvantages of this binding method are that the process tends to be longer, more expensive, cannot be put on too many shelves because the collection will shift backwards, the pages tend to come off easily if the stitches are not strong enough, and can only be used in binding periodical collections.

scholarly journals What can VAT Statistics Tell Politicians? (with a Focus on EAEU Data)

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir Tyutyuryukov
Keyword(s):  
Tax Competition ◽  
Feedback Mechanism ◽  
Tax Policies ◽  
Signal Function ◽  
Eurasian Economic Union ◽  
Course Of Action ◽  
Economic Union ◽  
Tax Benefits ◽  
Tax Loss

Abstract While policymakers use taxes for the regulation of the economy, tax authorities constantly monitor the amount of revenues from different taxes, and sometimes the tax benefits in use. However, the author believes that policymakers neglect the feedback mechanism, offered by the tax statistics – the signal function of the taxes. The author shows, on the example of tax policies and VAT statistics, how these outline the trends in the development of the Eurasian Economic Union – signs of tax competition, dependence on import and tax loss due to policy gap. The paper further suggests the possible course of action for the policymakers.

scholarly journals CULTIVATING SPIRITUALITY A NECESSITY FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS

2021 ◽  
Vol 101 (2(Ч.1)) ◽  
pp. 270-283
Author(s):  
Д. Пол Шафер
Keyword(s):  
Future Generations ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
Systemic Racism ◽  
Protest Movements ◽  
The Arts ◽  
The World ◽  
Other Substances ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Disastrous Effect ◽  
To Come

We are going through a very challenging period in human history. Not only has the COVID-19 pandemic had a disastrous effect on people and countries in all parts of the world, but also many other dangerous and life threatening problems have to be addressed and overcome, especially the environmental crisis, huge disparities in income and wealth, systemic racism, and conflicts between different genders, groups, regions, countries, and cultures. In order to come to grips with these problems, and others, it is imperative to make transcendental and not just transformational changes in our lifestyles, values, worldviews, actions, behaviour, and ways of life. The key to this lies in creating an effective balance between materialism and spiritualism, as well as placing a much higher priority on the cultivation of spirituality in our lives in the traditional and contemporary sense. Not only will this make it possible to reduce the colossal demands we are making on the natural environment – largely because most spiritual activities are "human intensive" rather than "material intensive" and therefore don’t consume as many natural resources as most other activities – but also it will enable present and future generations to experience a great deal more exuberance, exhilaration, and ecstasy in life without having to resort to drugs and other substances and devices to create "highs" and "peak experiences" because spiritual activities achieve this naturally. Many of these activities involve participating in causes that are greater than ourselves, joining protest movements aimed at creating more equality and justice in the world, going within ourselves to discover who we really are and what we were intended to realize in life, broaden and deepen our experiences in the arts, cultures, and the cultural heritage of humankind, and engage in explorations in nature and the natural realm that are capable of bringing us into contact with the sublime and possibly even the divine.

Memory as National Values

2021 ◽  
pp. 120-148
Author(s):  
Kathrin Bachleitner
Keyword(s):  
Collective Memory ◽  
Refugee Crisis ◽  
Collective Memories ◽  
Course Of Action ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
National Values ◽  
Conscious Choice ◽  
The Relationship

This chapter places collective memory at the source of a country’s values. In that regard, it enquires into the nature of normative obligations arising from memory. Based on moral-philosophical considerations, it finds normativity in the ‘processes surrounding memory’ described in the temporal security concept. Over time, the relationship between collective memory, identity, and behaviour generates a ‘duty to act’ for countries in the sense of ‘ought’. This last and most diffuse impact of collective memory unfolds and persists into the long run. Through it, collective memory, entirely outside the realm of conscious choice, channels behaviour towards one good course of action. To illustrate this, the empirical study picks up the case countries, Germany and Austria, at a late point in time. In 2015, large numbers of refugees arrived at their borders during what became known as the ‘European refugee crisis’. In this ‘critical situation’, both countries were required to react and thus position themselves vis-à-vis the highly normative issue of asylum. With the help of a content analysis of official speeches, the case study demonstrates how German and Austrian politicians came to identify different versions of what a good response entails based on their country’s diverse collective memories.

Forced Moves or Just Good Moves? Rethinking Environmental Decision-Making among East African Intensive Cultivators

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew I. J. Davies
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Dynamic Interaction ◽  
Dynamic Decision Making ◽  
East African ◽  
Social Sciences And Humanities ◽  
Individual Agency ◽  
Environmental Decision Making ◽  
Course Of Action

There has been a tendency in archaeology and in related social sciences and humanities to view human cultures as simply ‘adapted’ to or ‘in tune’ with ‘nature’ (Binford 1962; Butzer 1982; Steward 1955a; White 1959). Nature in this view is difficult to define and is principally considered in opposition to culture; it is not culture, it is external to humans, and it has an active causality of its own. This is often true even when researchers have been considering phenomena with a distinctly ‘human’ flavour such as population growth or technological development; both have often been seen as ‘natural’ aspects of human behaviour, as things which ‘just happen’. In such thinking, when human societies are impacted by nature (conceived of as a phenomenon emanating from outside of the human realm) their responsive action or behaviour is often considered to be ‘forced’, in the sense that there is only one way in which society can respond and therefore that the nature of the change is inevitable. The idea that alternative actions might be as appropriate and effective, and equally likely, is given little credence—the specific nature of the response is taken as requisite and the form of the response goes unquestioned: human agency (choice) is given little opportunity to make its mark. Cause and effect are favoured over choice, opportunism, innovation, and dynamic decision making, while the environment is seen as external to culture and shaped by natural rather than cultural forces. Moreover, this logic is self-fulfilling; things occur as they do because the result was inevitable and only one course of action was possible; ergo the problem is solved! Of course I am here describing an extreme position and most researchers today would see a much more dynamic interaction between humans and the natural world. However, unicausal thinking does remain pervasive in popular accounts (Diamond 2005, 1997; Fagan 2007: 16–17; Scarre 2005: 35) and in much influential academic work where technology, environment, and ecology remain prime mover explanations, at least partially at the expense of variable responses, individual agency, politics, and ideology (Algaze 2008: 151–4; Demarest 2004: 27–30; Pollock 1999: 22–5; Webster 2002: 327–43).

Reading Nature Religiously

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-188
Author(s):  
Nancy Menning
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Ethics ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Lectio Divina ◽  
Reading Practices ◽  
Essential Aspect ◽  
Environmental Virtue ◽  
To Come ◽  
Spiritual Reading

Our ability to live well depends not only on what we do, but also on who we are. With respect to human-land relationships, we need to become more virtuous. And virtue is cultivated through practice. This paper transforms classical spiritual reading practices into a means of cultivating environmental virtue. Lectio divina is a longstanding practice for reading scripture religiously, motivated by a desire to come to a deeper understanding of and richer relationship with the sacred dimensions of experience. I describe an adaptation of lectio divina suitable for reading nature religiously and offer two illustrations. By reading nature religiously, we may develop environmental virtues, becoming more attentive, more thoughtful, more committed, more reverent, and more humble as we encounter the natural world. This model of a practice for cultivating environmental virtue enriches an essential aspect of environmental ethics, enhancing our prospects for attaining human and ecological flourishing.

JD.com: leveraging the edge of e-business

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Allan KK Chan ◽  
Caleb Huanyong Chen ◽  
Long Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Corporate Strategy ◽  
The Self ◽  
Logistics System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Run ◽  
New Business ◽  
Internet Finance ◽  
To Come

Subject area E-Business; Corporate Strategy; Strategic Management; Operation Management. Study level/applicability Senior undergraduate; MBA; EMBA. Case overview After development for 10 years, JD was now China’s second largest business-to-customer (B2C) e-retailer and the largest in self-operated sector. It was September 2015 when Liu Qiangdong was deciding whether to persist with JD’s self-operated model and the heavy investment in the self-built logistics system. JD’s business model had been functioning well. However, as JD grew bigger and bigger, it became too expensive to expand its logistics system. JD had not made a profit since it raised funds from investors. Liu had to come up with a good proposal before the next monthly meeting to convince them that JD would finally overtake its biggest rival, Alibaba which ran on a different business model. In addition, JD was exploiting the rural and the global markets, as well as a new business in internet finance. Facing challenges and dilemmas, should JD persist with its model? How could Liu align short-term profitability with long-run development? How could JD overcome attacks from Alibaba and other competitors? Expected learning outcomes This case is appropriate for courses in e-business and strategy, particularly those with a strong focus on doing e-business in emerging markets (e.g. China). After studying the case, students should be able to: understand the e-commerce market in China; understand business models and key strategies of e-retailers; identify and analyse the pros and cons of the self-operated business model and self-built logistics system in e-commerce; learn how to evaluate performance, strategies and business models of e-commerce companies; and extract key trends in the market and compare different strategies. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code: CSS 11: Strategy.

scholarly journals Exploring the Possibility of Linking and Incorporating Future Design in Backcasting and Scenario Planning

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 9907
Author(s):  
Raja R. Timilsina ◽  
Yoshinori Nakagawa ◽  
Koji Kotani
Keyword(s):  
Scenario Planning ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Future Planning ◽  
Future Design ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
To Come ◽  
State Of Affairs ◽  
Strategy Making

There are two approaches to future planning: backcasting and scenario planning. While some studies have attempted to relate and combine these two approaches, a future design (FD) approach has recently been advocated and researched. Given this state of affairs, the paper provides an overview of the FD approach and discusses the potential benefits of linking and incorporating it into backcasting and scenario planning by summarizing the main features of such benefits for future planning for sustainability. A feature of an FD is that it explicitly orients people’s ways of thinking in the current generation to be generative for not only their own future but also generations to come, as well as in designing a plan within a coherent timeframe by demonstrating the characteristics of being prospective and retrospective from the viewpoint of a different generation. Another feature of FD lies in strategy making through some visioning process and in redefining the boundary between what is controllable and what is uncontrollable by considering the perspectives of future generations. We consider this article as a concept paper for the special issue of “Designing Sustainable Future Societies,” building on a literature review and author’s conceptual framework. Thus, our ideas and concepts suggest some potential benefits from incorporating FD into backcasting and scenario planning, further inducing people to be future-oriented and/or sustainable in terms of strategy making. We finally demonstrate some examples of FD practices and illustrative ideas of FD incorporation, remarking on possible avenues for future research.

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