Targets, Goals, and Orientors: Concluding and Re-Initializing the Discussion

Abstract

This volume turns out to be a multilevel documentation of change. It includes reports on the unavoidability, the necessity and the objectives of change as well as the challenges and problems of the corresponding alterations. Change is discussed in a multitude of details at several levels of organization, ranging from single organisms to the interacting systems of man and nature. Parallel to the contents of the single papers, the whole line of argumentation in this volume symbolizes a dynamic change, which also includes an exemplary presentation of the associated problems. These difficulties, the related delays and the sequential time lags emerge since there are huge distinctions between the world views of the companions in this game of concept development, such as theorists (“dreamers”), applied scientists (“realists”) and planners (“pragmatists”). Similar groupings can be found with respect to eco-centric (deep ecological) and anthropo-centric (human purpose focused) ideas, or to economic (profit optimizing), social (welfare improving) and ecological (nature conserving) philosophies. Other divergences obviously exist between top-down (holistic) and bottom-up (reductionistic) approaches, between abstract (systemic) and single-case oriented (individualistic) accesses, between long term (intergenerational) and short term (intragenerational) views, between the implication of broad (interregional) and small (intraregional) spatial extents, between the pre-eminent contemplation of direct (short-term and accountable) and indirect (long-term but priceless) effects, or between conservative (museal) and more “progressive” (developmental) strategies of environmental protection. Each of these adverse features can be attributed by commendable, specifically elaborated concepts. Each of these concepts is directed by individual, societal acknowledged targets. The resultant direction of change, thus, will be determined by the power of persuasion of the single target, and theoretically the resultant should coincide with the social consensus. The demonstrated diversity of goals does not only elucidate the enormous creativity of socio-economic and scientific conceptions. The goal variety also demonstrates the helplessness that might arise due to the expectable unlimited duration of discussions. They will be necessary to find “the one applicable solution” to the questions, what concepts will be the optimal results of the imperative adaptation of targets (see Chap. 1) and how the related environmental change will be evaluated and directed with respect to the modified orientation.