On the Way to Ecologically Sustainable Economic Growth

Abstract

The question has been posed by many social and natural scien tists as to whether, and for how long, the carrying capacity of our planet can withstand such "progress" as mankind has made in the last quarter- century. This article shows that limits are not so much in the area of physical factors, such as energy and resources, but rather in our ability to learn and to absorb the speed of technological change, both in psychological and in political terms. Thus the problems we are confronted with are neither of a purely physical nor of a purely economic nature. From a wider perspective, it becomes obvious that man is involved in three interrelated conflicts. He is (a) in conflict with nature (environment); (b) in conflict with his fellow men (war); and (c) in conflict with himself (identity between the inner and outer worlds). The factors influencing our chances to achieve a situation which is sustainable and socially acceptable, have at least three dimensions: (1) a dimension of evolutionary history; (2) a scien tific or technological dimension; and (3) an economic-political dimension. It is shown that the key positive factor in achieving any kind of sustain ability is knowledge and the key negative factor is further population growth. Hence, if we want to achieve a morally and materially sustainable future we must break the vicious circle of ongoing population growth, more poverty, fewer chances to learn, more violence, more population growth, and so on.