scholarly journals Neomarxist approaches to environmental crisis and sustainable development

Sociologija ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-437
Author(s):  
Matija Jovanovic
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Original Work ◽  
Marxist Theory ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
Metabolic Rift ◽  
Critical Theories ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Heuristic Analysis

This paper discusses two neomarxist theories of ecological crises - theory of metabolic rift and the second contradiction of capitalism theory. The goal of the paper is to present two critical theories and to confront them so similarities, differences, flaws and contributions of those theories can be identified. In the first part of the paper author classifies different approaches to ecological crisis and sustainable development in order to relate two neomarxist theories to other approaches to the topic. In the second part, author discusses theory of metabolic rift, which is a heuristic analysis of Marx?s original work. In other words, this theory represents a new reading of the classic and tries to integrate it?s new findings about envirnmental side of Marx?s thought into a contemporary marxist theory. Third part of the paper is reserved for the second contradiction of capitalism, a neomarxist theory of economic crisis which can be applied as a theory of ecological crisis. Two theories are then confronted after which similarities and differences between them are pointed out. The author concludes the paper by stressing out the flaws and scientific contributions of the two theories.

A Scientific World-View of Nature and Environmental Problem with a Special Concentration on Seyyed Hossein Nasr’s Understanding of Environmental Sustainability (Perspektif Sains terhadap Krisis Alam dan Persekitaran: Pemikiran Seyyed Hossein Nasr tentan)

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 312-328
Author(s):  
Md. Abu Sayem
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
World View ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
World Views ◽  
Renaissance Humanism ◽  
Spiritual World ◽  
Scientific World ◽  
European Renaissance

The present paper attempts to expose how the scientific world-view of nature contributes to the present environmental crisis. Alongside this, it relates European Renaissance, humanism, secularism, the scientific and industrial revolutions, modern philosophy, scientism, technology-based modern life, consumerism-based modern society, etc. with current environmental problems. By focusing on Nasr’s traditional understanding of nature, the paper explores how materialistic and mechanistic world-views are deeply connected with the present ecological crisis. It also offers a critical analysis of Nasr’s spiritual and religious world-view of nature and examines its relevance. In doing so, it aims to highlight some demerits of the present world-view, and to call to reform current perceptions of nature by revitalizing traditional wisdom in order to protect the environment from further degradation. Thus, the paper is scholarly addition to the ongoing discourse on the issue of religions and the environment. Keywords: Eco-theology, Environmental Degradation, Materialistic and Mechanistic Views of Nature, Scientism, Spiritual Crisis of Modern humans, Religious and Spiritual World-Views.   Abstrak Kertas kajian ini menerangkan bagaimana pandangan saintifik telah menyumbang kepada krisis alam sekitar semasa. Disamping itu, kertas ini akan menhubungkaitkan Gerakan Revolusi Humanisma di Eropah, sekularisme, revolusi  sains dan perindustrian, falsafah moden, saintisme, kehidupan moden yang berasaskan teknologi, masyarakat moden yang berasaskan consumerisme, etc. dengan krisis alam sekitar yang berlaku dewasa ini.  Dengan memahami pandangan Nasr terhadap alam sekitar, kertas ini akan merungkai bagaimana pandangan materialistik (kebendaan) dan mekanistik mempengaruhi krisis ekologi masa kini. Ia juga akan menganalisa pandangan spiritual dan agama Nasr terhadap alam sekitar secara kritikal dan akan menilai sejauh mana kesesuaiannya. Dengan sedemikian dapat menyedarkan manusia tentang kecacatan pandangan semasa, yang kemudiannya akan membawa kepada pembaharuan persepsi mereka terhadap alam sekitar dengan cara menghidupkan semula nilai-nilai tradisional demi mengelakkan kemerosotan alam sekitar. Kertas ini akan memuatkan idea-idea para cendiakawan dalam membincangkan isu  berkaitan agama dan alam sekitar. Kata Kunci: Eko-Teologi, Kemerosotan Alam Sekitar, Pandangan Materialistik dan Makanistik terhadap Alam, Saintisme, Krisis Spiritual Manusia Moden, Perspektif Spiritual dan Agama.

Sustainable Development is a Dead-End: The Logic of Modernity and Ecological Crisis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Lumsden
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Ecological Sustainability ◽  
Planetary Boundaries ◽  
Western Modernity ◽  
Conceptual Frame ◽  
The Core ◽  
Dead End ◽  
Core Idea

This paper examines the theory of sustainable development presented by Jeffrey Sachs in The Age of Sustainable Development. While Sustainable Development ostensibly seeks to harmonise the conflict between ecological sustainability and human development, the paper argues this is impossible because of the conceptual frame it employs. Rather than allowing for a re-conceptualisation of the human–nature relation, Sustainable Development is simply the latest and possibly last attempt to advance the core idea of western modernity — the notion of self-determination. Drawing upon Hegel’s account of historical development it is argued that Sustainable Development and the notion of planetary boundaries cannot break out of a dualism of nature and self-determining agents.

Disenchantment and the Environmental Crisis: Lynn White Jr., Max Weber, and Muhammad Iqbal

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Afzaal
Keyword(s):  
Max Weber ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
Islamic Theology ◽  
Rational Thought ◽  
Muslim Scholars

“The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis” by Lynn White Jr. poses specific challenges to Islamic metaphysics and theology that have yet to be adequately addressed by Muslim scholars. I argue that the transition from a panentheistic view of God to an increasingly supernaturalist one is indicative of a larger shift in worldview that White had failed to emphasize. Reading White’s essay in light of Weber and Iqbal, I argue that a worldview dominated by rational thought is consistent with supernatural theism. The challenges posed by White’s essay can be met through Iqbal’s postmodern reconstruction of Islamic theology in panentheistic terms.

On Sustainable Development Culture and its Construction

2011 ◽  
Vol 361-363 ◽  
pp. 1342-1345
Author(s):  
Yong Hong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Present State ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Chinese Culture ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Population Pressure ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Cultural Selection ◽  
The Times

The sustainable development culture is a culture aiming to bring culture itself into harmony with the times, promote social all-round progress and human overall and sustainable development. In today’s china, this culture is particularly needed because of the ecological crisis and population pressure we are facing, the present state of Chinese culture and the pressing need of China for construction of cultural soft power. In the construction of sustainable development culture, special attention should be given to cultural selection, education popularization and system guarantee.

scholarly journals Os entraves da tendência pragmática para uma educação ambiental emancipatória / The challenges of the pragmatic tendendy for emancipatory environmental education

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 146
Author(s):  
Liliane Samira Becari Nogueira ◽  
Catarina Teixeira
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Critical Theory ◽  
Environmental Education ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
Central Position ◽  
Theoretical Discussion ◽  
Educational Problem ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Educational Issue ◽  
Educational Field

Este artigo é um ensaio teórico fundamentado em autores que analisam as correntes e tendências político-pedagógicas da Educação Ambiental (EA). A discussão se apoia na ideia de crise ambiental da sociedade contemporânea e as compreensões acerca do conceito inerente ao termo “Desenvolvimento Sustentável”, característico da macrotendência pragmática. Discute-se as características de cada tendência da EA e os entraves do pragmatismo em contraposição a uma Educação Ambiental Emancipatória, tendo como referencial epistemológico e filosófico a Teoria Crítica. De forma geral, o pragmatismo se apresenta como um problema da Educação e, por consequência, da EA. A valorização do pragmatismo em detrimento do fazer permeado pelo pensamento crítico constitui um dos problemas da vertente hegemônica da EA. Embora haja um crescimento da vertente crítica da EA, a posição central dentro do campo ocupada atualmente pela tendência pragmática nos impõe uma Educação Ambiental incapaz de realizar o seu potencial emancipatório, por estar apoiada em práticas que não se orientam para a transformação das relações sociais vigentes.Palavras-chave: Educação Ambiental; Pragmatismo; Teoria crítica; Emancipação. ABSTRACT: The present article is a theoretical discussion based on authors who analyze current political-pedagogical trends of the Environmental Education. The discussion is substantiated on the idea of the modern society's environmental crisis and the understanding of the concept associated with the "Sustainable Development" term, representing a predominant pragmatic macrotendency in the Environmental Educational field. The article discusses the aspects of each Environmental Education tendency and the challenges of the pragmatism opposed to the Emancipatory Environmental Education idea, taking as a phisophical and as an epistemological reference the Critical Theory. In general, the pragmatism is presented as an educational problem and consequently an Environmental Educational issue. The appreciation of pragmatism compared to the devaluation of the acts reasoned on the assumptions of the critical thinking is one of the problems of the hegemonic strand of the Environmental Education. Although there is some growth of the critical strand of the Environmental Education, the central position in this field, currently occupied by the pragmactic tendency, imposes on us an Evironmental Education incapable of fulfilling its emancipatory potencial for being supported by practices that are not oriented towards the transformation of the current social relations.Keywords: Environmental education; Pragmatism; Critical theory; Emancipation.

Developing Countries: Problems of Environment and Development

2014 ◽  
pp. 88-98
Author(s):  
N. Rogozhina
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
Industrial Society ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Economic Concept ◽  
Green Development ◽  
Green World

This article deals with the role of developing countries in strengthening the global ecological security, because the focus of environmental crisis has been shifting towards them. Taking into consideration the dynamics of their socio-economic and demographic changes, these countries will determine environmental situation in the world. Ecological crisis in developing countries is subjected to the industrial society formation that is accompanied by heavy demand on natural resources and pollution of environment. The author concludes that inevitable environmental costs of extensive economic growth are multiplied by continuing population growth and poverty increase. Today the developing countries are in extremely hard situation: they won’t overcome economic gap which is the main cause of ecological disruption without accelerating the development. But at the same time, the uncontrolled increase of economic production results in intensification of environmental crisis. It determines the urgent need to shift from the traditional model of industrial development relying on the postulate "growth first clean up later" to the model of "green" development. This economic concept is defined as eco-industrial revolution. In order to carry this task these states have to include the elements of post-industrial "green" development into the model of the industrial type development catch up. In its practical realization this model may cause further differentiation of developing countries and inequality on the global level. The emerging economics of the Asia Pacific region possess enough technological, financial resources and political will to join the "green world". But scarcely the poor countries of Africa or South Asia will demonstrate the same high interest in providing secure ecological development. Sustainable economics will probably facilitate entering the "green world".

In the Shadow of Sustainable Development

2021 ◽  
pp. 21-72
Author(s):  
Christina Ergas
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Environmental Justice ◽  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Developing World ◽  
Metabolic Rift ◽  
Treadmill Of Production ◽  
History Of ◽  
Autonomous Development

The prevailing notion of sustainable development has remained ineffective at reducing environmental degradation and social inequalities. The chapter argues that sustainable development, as it has been conceived, is actually a shell game for creating neocolonial dependency in the developing world rather than more sustainable, self-sufficient nations. This chapter explains the history of colonization and urbanization, contextualizing the problem of weak, neoliberal, sustainable development using social science environmental theories, such as climate denialism, ecofeminism, environmental justice, metabolic rift, and treadmill of production. It then provides an alternative, a radical sustainability that is at once socially and ecologically egalitarian, or transformative, and restores the health of people and the planet, or regenerative. These cases are presented as alternatives to sustainable development and as examples of radical sustainability and self-sufficient, autonomous development.

scholarly journals Do First-Movers in Marketing Sustainable Products Enjoy Sustainable Advantages? A Seven-Country Comparative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haili Zhang ◽  
Michael Song
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Product Introduction ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Sustainable Products ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
First Mover ◽  
Cross National

The literature suggests that first-movers enjoy sustainable competitive advantages but suffer some disadvantages. The timing of new product introduction is a major decision for executives who are concerned about sustainability issues. These executives must simultaneously strive for environmental protection, social welfare, the timing of product introduction, and the economic viability of decisions. However, few academic studies have examined how executives balance sustainable first-mover advantages and sustainable development goals in order to achieve sustainable organizational growth and performance. This study develops nine research hypotheses to examine what sustainable advantages first-movers gain by being first to market sustainable products in five industries that are important for advancing sustainable development goals. Using data collected from 1437 executives who are concerned about sustainability issues in seven countries, this study uses Duncan multiple-range tests to examine cross-national similarities and differences between Asian and Western countries. The study results reveal some interesting cross-national similarities and differences. The cross-national differences suggest some competing and signaling strategies for sustainable enterprise development. This study contributes to the existing cross-national research on first-mover advantages, provides a richer understanding of how executives who are concerned about sustainability issues perceive sustainability first-mover advantages and disadvantages, and further expands the theory of sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship.

Marx’s Theory of Metabolism in the Age of Global Ecological Crisis

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 3-24
Author(s):  
Kohei Saito
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Theoretical Foundation ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Metabolic Shift ◽  
Metabolic Rift ◽  
Social Metabolism ◽  
Climate Crisis ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Radical Left

Abstract When the existing order cannot offer a solution, the solution to climate crisis must come from the radical left, and this is precisely why Karl Marx’s idea of ecosocialism is more important than ever. In this context, it is worth revisiting not only the legacy of István Mészáros’s theory of ‘social metabolism’ and that of his successors – who can be categorised as comprising the ‘metabolic rift school’, which includes John Bellamy Foster, Paul Burkett, and Brett Clark –, but also Karl Marx’s own theory of metabolism. In order to highlight the contemporary importance of Marx’s theory of metabolism after its long suppression in the twentieth century, this paper aims at classifying the three different levels of Marx’s concept of ‘metabolic rift’, which also entails clarifying three different levels of ‘metabolic shift’ as the theoretical foundation for updating Marx’s theory of postcapitalism in the age of global ecological crisis.

scholarly journals A sound track to ecological crisis: tracing guitars all the way back to the tree

Popular Music ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Gibson
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Musical Instruments ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
Environmental Concerns ◽  
Endangered Tree ◽  
Sound Track ◽  
Endangered Tree Species ◽  
Project Tracing ◽  
The Way

AbstractAnalyses of music and environment are proliferating, yet new conceptions are needed to make sense of growing ecological crisis in the Anthropocene. From an empirical project tracing guitars all the way back to the tree, I argue for deeper conceptual and empirical integration of music into the material and visceral processes that constitute ecological crisis itself. Musicians are not only inspired by environmental concerns for compositional or activist purposes. They are entangled in environmental crisis through material and embodied relations with ecosystems, especially via the musical instruments we depend upon. I foreground three ‘more-than-musical’ themes to make sense of unfurling forces: materiality, corporeality and volatility. Musical instruments are gateway objects that invite contemplation of material and corporal relations. Such relations bind together musicians and non-human others. Material and corporeal relations with increasingly threatened upstream forests, and endangered tree species, are being confronted and reconfigured. In the context of ecological crisis, guitars do much more than make pleasing acoustic sounds. Via guitars we co-generate, with non-human others, a sound track of crisis both melancholy and hopeful.

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