An Evolving Definition of Sustainability

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An Evolving Definition of Sustainability

Posted By Jordana DeZeeuw Spencer On May 9, 2010 @ 2:00 pm In Departments, Higher Education, Vision for Sustainability Education | Comments Disabled

Allen, Tainter, and Hoekstra (2003) assert that, “the biophysical aspects of sustainability are central. Without a material system capable of functioning for a long time, there is nothing to sustain” (p.29). This is, of course, the literal and pragmatic conceptualization of “sustainability” that is most often associated with environmental sustainability. It addresses whether actions taken by humanity are degrading the Earth’s carrying capacity to the point where the planet will no longer be able to sustain its biodiversity. The broader and, arguably, more existential (yet just as vital) aspects to sustainability, however, lie in the less quantifiable dimensions of humanity’s capacity for embodying what sustainability at all levels, ideally, should be – namely, relationships that emulate balance, equity, justice, health, and connectivity for all constituents. When “sustainability” is framed/defined primarily within the context of the other-than-human environment, our subsequent understanding of it is reified as not pertaining to human relationships, as well. Such reification is hardly value-neutral, either. As Sprague (1993) notes, “[much of Habermas’] work is directed toward exposing the way language constitutes, sustains, and often conceals various social arrangements…[and] Habermas rejects any notion of language as a transparent code that merely transmits meanings” (p.5). Thus, by our omission of sociological dimensions and human relationships in the definition of sustainability, we divert our focus from a more holistic understanding or potential actualization. Unquestionably, human civilization has survived for centuries, while perpetrating horrific acts of injustice and violence against...