Sustainability: The Integral Approach

Abstract

Whatever our job we need to integrate life theory and life practice, clarify our value priorities, distinguish life quality from mere standard of life, and contribute in our own way to diminish unsustainability. In the rich countries this requires taking the ethical norm of universalizability serious: we should not live on a material level we cannot seriously wish others to reach. Ecological sustainability implies long range sustainability of the richness and diversity of life forms on Earth, not only conservation of resources for humans. The life forms have intrinsic value. Why? Don't bother giving many reasons, we must all start with something we trust, whether mathematicians or artists. Acceptable development requires ecological sustainability and economic progress in rich as well as poor countries, but not necessarily any economic growth measured by gross national product. Slow human population decrease will in the remote future serve human life--including their economy--and serve non-human life in every way.