Description
Foundations for Sustainability: A Coherent Framework of Life-Environment Relations challenges existing assumptions on environmental issues and lays the groundwork for a new paradigm, bringing a greater understanding of what is needed to help create an environmentally and economically sustainable future, which to date has been an uphill battle and not an obvious choice. The book presents the case for a paradigm based on a multi-model of life as organism, life as ecosystem, and life as biosphere, as opposed to the singular assumption that life can be viewed solely as an organism.All backed with well-cited research from top investigators from around the world, this book is a must-have resource for anyone working in ecology, environmental science or sustainability.- Introduces a holistic, systemic approach and a synthesis of the systemic root cause that underlies many surface symptoms that are part of individual environmental problems (climate, water, energy, etc.)- Complements current piecemeal approaches in order to solve many interconnected environmental problems which share root causes- Provides tests and thought experiments to challenge current views on sustainability, leveraging the power of critical thinking to find new solutions- Gives insights on how to find solutions by blending interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary focuses with disciplinary specialization in ecology and ecosystem science- Bridges concepts and methods from math to ecology to human development
Table of Contents
1. To Solve a Difficult Problem, Enlarge It2. Life as the Basis of Value3. Holistic Science of Life-Environment – Mutualistic Interfaces4. Life: From Origins to Humans5. Reforming Reductionism with Six Core Principles6. Life Science Lessons from Ecological Networks and Systems Ecology7. A Bridge Not Too Far: Spanning Theory to Science to Application8. Technology and Applications in the Context of Holistic Life-Environment9. Sustainability: A Goal for All
