Everywhere we turn, we are serenaded by the relentless echoes of a sustainable future. The need for future thinking reverbates through every corner of our lives. Time and time again, we find ourselves inundated with reminders about the importance of sustainability and thinking for the future. There is no shortage of information on it and there are ample times we’re urged to think about it. On a superficial level, this awareness seems sufficient because recognising a problem is always the first step in the process. The general population is well aware of the problems out there and they have even gone so far as to recognise that they want to do something about it. This suggests that we are in good hands then, doesn’t it? But we can be in great hands too, can’t we? This gap between simply being in good hands and achieving greatness is where philosophy comfortably resides. That said, we have yet to fully tap into this philosophical potential.
We may have abundant knowledge about the issues we are currently facing but what I think we lack is deeper understanding and wisdom to apply our understanding about the knowledge effectively. There is a case to be made about educating people, especially the youth, by integrating philosophy into education. By providing a philosophical base from which to understand what is happening in the world around us, we can foster a deeper understanding of the environment and cultivate the critical thinking skills necessary to tackle complex global challenges.
The key question here is: what does sustainability truly mean? While it is commonly associated with the environment and all the ecosystems present within it, including the human species, we often confuse sustainability to be synonymous with the environment, nature, and our planet. However, sustainability encompasses more than just environmental concerns. While the environment is integral to sustainability and without which the sustainability we speak of cannot be achieved, they are not the same. Pointing this distinction out and bringing it into the popular consciousness is of immediate importance.
A fundamental way to grasp the essence of what sustainability is at its core is to simply break down the word: sustain + ability. We can understand from this that sustainability is essentially the ability to sustain. But what is it that we are sustaining? It is not just the environment itself but rather the harmonious and healthy relationships that exist within it. Understanding the importance of these relationships, specifically those that we have with and within the world is central to understanding sustainability. So simply put, sustainability is about making the world a better place by improving the relationships we have with and within it.
So, if we are asking if a thing is sustainable, what we are really asking is this: does it sustain good, healthy relationships, in which we nurture and nourish each other and the environment and in turn, ourselves? Philosophy is what guides us in asking these critical questions. If we don’t raise questions, we’ll never find answers and we’ll never find a clear path forward.
All environmental issues are moral issues in some capacity. Acting sustainably is a moral practice, ideally adopted as a habit, with the aim of preventing harm to the environment, society, and economy, while fostering a harmonious relationship with these areas to support a flourishing life. It would follow then that problems surrounding sustainability are linked to philosophical theories that deal with morality. Normative theories, which are philosophical frameworks that determine what is morally right or wrong, good or bad, and what principles or rules should guide human behaviour, are divided into two major categories. Normative ethics explores how one should live by analysing fundamental principles of right and wrong actions, the value of life, and the nature of a just society. It not only examines but also offers general moral principles that should guide behaviour. Applied ethics, which deals with specific problems in different areas of human activity, naturally builds on these normative principles. Within applied ethics, teleological ethics asserts that one should focus on actions that yield the best overall consequences because it judges the morality of an action by its consequences, rather than the action itself. In contrast, deontological ethics holds that certain actions are inherently wrong, such as murder or lying, regardless of their outcomes. The central debate between these normative theories revolves around whether the rightness or wrongness of actions is determined solely by their consequences. This debate on morality, among many others on ethics, is crucial for developing solutions to applied ethics issues such as the cultivation of ‘sustainable thinking’ and ‘sustainable behaviour’.
Sustainable development should address fundamental human needs while integrating environmental protection and development, promoting equality, ensuring social self-determination and cultural diversity, and preserving ecological integrity. Despite evolving over time, the core philosophical principles and objectives of sustainable development must foster more mindful behaviour that align with environmental constraints.
However, such a meaning of the concept of sustainability and its goals is not only too vague but also inadequate. Its commitment and focus on economic growth while ensuring environmental protection can seem contradictory, and its emphasis on basic needs and equity may be philosophically problematic and therefore objectionable. This brings us back to the main point: the need for a philosophical discussion to better understand the meaning and implications of sustainability.
In conclusion, navigating sustainability and environmental challenges with utmost respect and care requires a profound understanding of the concept of sustainability. We can only successfully tackle environmental problems if all economic, political and social systems are aligned to promote the advancement of environment-friendly technologies and eco-friendly behaviours for all of us. It is crucial to place focus on not just the economic and ecological aspects but also the moral and philosophical dimensions of sustainability. Because it is only through the art of questioning and the practice of reflection that we can truly unravel the rich layers of sustainability. Only through philosophical enquiry can we start to see beyond the surface and grasp the deeper, more intricate facets of creating a truly sustainable future.