Sustainability, Systems Thinking and Ecological Worldview

Abstract

Purpose – This paper explores the implications of systems thinking for the deconstructing of sustainability within the context of ecological worldview. Design/methodology/approach – A systems thinking approach to sustainability is undertaken to explore the ecological worldview. Findings – The ecological framework relates basic concepts and assumptions within the modern to postmodern thought. For the most part, the scientists, decision-makers have only been exposed to mechanistic thinking within the related subjects. The aim of systems thinking framework is to shift the ecological thinking by engaging with sustainability from different perspectives, rather than presenting one version of sustainability. The influence of and tensions between paradigms operative in the sustainability field is discussed. Then problems common to the discourse as a whole are outlined and positive recent developments that indicate a more integrative and systemic approaches are briefly presented. The framework has proven to be useful in developing critical and reflecting and discussion. Originality/value – The paper provides a summary of ecological worldview as applied to systems thinking and describes how this is used in sustainability paradigm. Paper type Research study