Ideas of Humans and Nature
Return to main program pageEconomics, Ecology, and Ethics
Rationale
Over the last two decades, ecological economics has emerged as a vital new arena for interdisciplinary research, building the conceptual foundations for a new paradigm of economics and development. While the field struggles to gain acceptance within the narrow and traditional schools of economic thought, the tumultuous recent reality of the national and global economy has demonstrated the need for fresh thinking on the essential connections among ecology, ethics, and economics. As new fields and interdisciplinary approaches emerge, history remains an essential tool to understand the evolution of ideas. This project will examine the history of modern economics through the lens of ecological science, economic history, and environmental ethics.
History and Partners
Since its founding, the Center for Humans and Nature (CHN) has had a strong interest in the economic dimensions and ramifications of environmental science and ethics. It is “built in” to many of the projects that CHN has developed. The Economics, Ecology and Ethics project has been designed in collaboration with CHN Senior Scholar, Peter Brown. This research initiative will focus on ecological economics and the land ethic, with a particular focus on the historical economic influences on Aldo Leopold and, conversely, Leopold’s influence on and within economics. Papers from this work will be presented in Minding Nature and shorter pieces will be targeted for popular blogs.
Goals and Strategies
The goal of this project is to create and communicate new and renewed conceptual frameworks for the long-term well being of humans and nature. Our conviction is that lasting solutions to the current social and ecological crises will only emerge through fundamental transformations in our worldviews, and we are framing central research questions and targeting key audiences accordingly. To this end, we will analyze the values and accepted cultural practices that are directly linked to our systemic failure to maintain biological and cultural diversity, human and ecosystem health, and resilient human and natural communities. We will communicate these ideas broadly, through white papers, journal articles, and social media.
What’s Next
Research will be conducted during the first half of 2011 and papers/blog postings will be developed during the second half of 2011.
Back to Top
