Essay on "Progress: Community Sharing vs. Individualistic"

Essay 4 pages (1199 words) Sources: 2

[EXCERPT] . . . .

' This creates the need to have more and more material goods that are only shared in private. Dawson even envisions solidarity economies of 'ecovillages' (modeled in part upon indigenous societies) which are based upon the principles of sustainability. All authors stress the notion of environmental sustainability as a complex system in which various contributing factors all influence its development simultaneously: in contrast to a linear system where one or two variables can be easily isolated, complex systems require holistic change. For example, Dietz & O'Neill stress the need to act now to change societal values to promote sustainability: it is not enough to make small, cosmetic changes but rather the whole system of human values must be altered to prioritize positive communities over enhancing individual self-worth.

Q4. Cultural capital is often defined as the ways in which people can survive together, both socially as well as in a biological sense. Sustainable cultural capital stresses the need to focus on the future rather than just upon the here and now when conceptualizing this notion. Instead of focusing on cultural capital as a way of creating more technologically-sophisticated societies and encouraging consumption, authors such as Leonard believe that deemphasizing consumption and encouraging a new attitude towards how 'stuff' is used is essential for human beings to continue to live on this planet. Consumption should never be regarded as good in and of itself: people must ask why consumption is needed to improve human life -- and Leonard suggests that most consumption is not driven by real needs but rather by egotism and social display. If people worked few hours, she believes, they would be happier and the world would be better off. Dietz & O'Neill likewise stress that not chasing after stuff and working more hours but rather asking 'how can I give back' is needed to facilitate both justice and equality. Community participation can actually reduce the need for consumption as this allows for more opportunities to recycle what has been formerly in use in an effective fashion.

Q5. Sustainability, as its name implies, means a way of life that can be sustained for a period of time -- our current way of life is unsustainable because it makes use of nonrenewable materials and also if everyone (including members of the developing world) lived as we do, the world's resources would rapidly give way. It is necessary to reduce our ecological footprint in a holistic fashion rather than focusing on individual cosmetic changes. This includes creating widespread networks of public transportation rather than relying upon cars; changing the way we eat; and radically discouraging rather than encouraging consumption. The very way in which people value self-worth in terms of material goods must change.

Community rather than individualism is necessary. On one hand this means that all nations must work together to reduce pollutants rather than nations ineffectively working alone (given that pollution cannot be reduced on a state-by-state basis). On the other hand, this also means a resurgence of community participation and lifestyles that support one another organically and require less consumption and self-reliance since individual use (cars, goods reserved for ourselves alone, large houses) all results in more waste. The capitalist worldview of 'more is better' must shift and the structures and agencies which support it must emphasize collective rather than individualistic consumption. READ MORE

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