A flower in full blossom?: Ecological economics at the crossroads between normal and post-normal science

Abstract

In this paper we address some potential difficulties ecological economics (EE) might be confronted with in its further development. EE has evolved with intent to tackle the urgent problems human society faces today, in particular the ones related to environmental and ecological issues. To deal with such problems, a new concept of science different from disciplinary, normal science seems to be necessary. We will present post-normal and mode-2 science as two examples of such a concept. The importance of this new concept does not lie in the fact that it provides a new framework for knowledge production. Rather, it lies in the fact that the set of values behind it can be seen as a ‘regulative principle’, i.e., as a collection of ideas and principles with the potential to guide the actions and attitudes one takes with respect to the urgent problems in a transparent way, helping to become aware of and making explicit one's own normative assumptions. EE can be seen as one manifestation of this regulative principle. On the other hand, it is increasingly developing into a normal science with its special set of institutions, what endangers it's status of being mode-2. Besides EE, there are other frameworks that try to set up sort of a ‘sustainability science’. It is important to integrate all these initiatives in some way, at least on an abstract level. Otherwise the conception of a ‘new mode of science’ dealing with sustainability becomes as inflationary as the term ‘sustainability’ itself and the discussion of this concept may go on without leading to any conclusion. It is not necessary and effective to employ too many resources being engaged in the discussion of the status of a ‘sustainability science’, however defined. What counts is to take actions and to try to solve these pressing problems—whatever label may be given to such processes—and to be engaged in a open-minded and self-reflecting way, aware of one's own system of values, shortly, according to the regulative principle given by the values behind mode-2 science.